Celtic's European adventures continue to resemble a tragicomic opera, as the Scottish champions graciously accepted a 3-1 home defeat to Ferencvaros in the Europa League. This latest installment comes hot on the heels of their Champions League qualifier exit to Lask, where they managed to squander a four-goal lead - a feat that takes a certain kind of talent.

Martin O'Neill's men, fresh from a 3-0 spanking by rivals Rangers, apparently took their manager's call to respond as a suggestion rather than a command. Bamidele Yusuf opened the scoring for the visitors, because of course he did. Mika Baur equalised late in the first half, offering a fleeting moment of hope, before Kristoffer Zachariassen promptly restored Ferencvaros's lead. Daniel Arzani then capped off a fine night for the visitors with a sensational strike on his return to Celtic Park - because nothing says 'welcome back' like a dagger to the heart.

"We're naturally disappointed getting beaten," said O'Neill, mastering the art of understatement. "We started off very brightly. We had a number of balls that were flashed across the goal and no one there to put the ball in the net for us." Translation: we couldn't hit a barn door with a banjo.

He continued, "Their first proper attempt, really, on goal yielded a goal for them. We came back into the game, got the equaliser just before half-time and then conceded a really poor goal. We're hit on the break for the third goal." In other words, the defensive flaws that were exposed against Lask are still very much in business.

"It's a huge frustration, obviously, but it's also psychologically quite damning as well," O'Neill added, possibly while eyeing the exit. "It's not the start we wanted. We have seven games in which to try and get some points on the board. Really need to concentrate now on Sunday [against Rangers]." Because nothing says 'must-win' like a derby against the team that just thumped you.

"Tonight was, I think, a European lesson for us in many aspects. We'll get ourselves together. We need to re-energise ourselves as much as anything else." Lesson learned: maybe don't concede three goals at home.

In other Europa League news, Juventus hammered NEC Nijmegen 5-0, with a little help from goalkeeper Nikolas Polster, who seemed determined to hand out goals like party favors. Nicolás González stole the ball from him in the ninth minute for the opener, and after goals from Kerim Alajbegovic and Nick Woltemade (penalty), Zeki Celik made it 4-0 in the 75th. Polster, not content with one howler, gifted Randal Kolo Muani an empty net to complete the rout. Generosity: it's contagious.

Marseille's season went from bad to worse as they followed three straight Ligue 1 defeats with a 4-1 thumping at Besiktas, who scored three unanswered goals in the second half. Meanwhile, OFI Crete beat Hoffenheim 2-0, and RB Salzburg edged Levski Sofia 1-0. But let's be honest, the real entertainment was at Celtic Park.