A dead rubber?

No game is ever a dead rubber at a club like Celtic.

Certainly not for Ange Postecoglou.

The Aussie was at pains to stress that he was treating this final Europa League group match against Real Betis seriously.

Ange scoffed at the idea that this was a meaningless match and even joked he’d love to be out there himself in the build-up.

Ange said: “Every game is an opportunity to do something special, do something that is memorable. I don’t see it as a dead rubber.

“I’ve got one bad knee and I’m overweight – but I’d love to play. I don’t think anyone wouldn’t want that opportunity. European nights are always special for this club.”

READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou's Celtic Q+A in full: Celtic boss laments Kyogo injury amid 'ridiculous' schedule

He was talking the talk but the 56-year-old was fooling nobody you know.

To be fair, Ange had already achieved an objective of sorts by securing European football for Celtic after Christmas.

Falling into the inaugural Europa Conference League and not the knockout phase of the higher-ranked competition was not ideal but it was still a massive consolation prize from a standing start for the Aussie.

How serious he was taking the challenge of Real Betis would be only too evident in his starting eleven.

Real Betis are currently third in La Liga and had defeated Barcelona at the weekend in a run that saw them win five matches on the bounce.

Manuel Pellegrini's had also triumphed 4-3 over Celtic in a thriller back in September on Matchday one.

Ange took absolutely no chances with the tried and tested first-team squad as a barely recognisable Celtic team took to the field.

READ MORE: Detailed Celtic player ratings as Liam Scales and Osaze Urhoghide help claim Betis scalp

Out went the whole eleven who had started in Sunday’s 3-0 Premiership win at Tannadice.

In came the likes of goalkeeper Scott Bain, Irish defender Liam Scales and Ivorian midfielder Ismalia Soro.

Forgotten man Osase Urhoghide and Liam Shaw made their debuts after summer moves from Sheffield Wednesday.

True to his word Ange was giving his fringe players their opportunity to do something special.

Indeed the only real surprise was that the boss actually didn’t list himself on the substitutes bench - dodgy knee and excess timber aside!

Whilst on the surface nothing was at stake in terms of the group standings there was the small matter of £500,000 up for grabs for Celtic if they could win the match as well as amassing some invaluable coefficient points for Scottish clubs in the process.

It was a definite case of Opportunity Knocks as the fringe players got to show the manager what they could do.

Celtic came racing out the blocks and took the lead on three minutes when Stephen Welsh expertly glanced Liel Abada's corner kick into the net.

It was the perfect start for Celtic.

Even that must have impressed the section of the supporters - indulging in their silent protest on the rumoured appointment of Bernard Higgins to the Parkhead staff - and they will have been partaking in their own version of Norwegian expressionist artist Edvard Munch's painting 'The Scream'.

Celtic's injury jinx struck again though on 25 minutes as Ajeti closed down Betis goalkeeper Silva and charged down his kick with the ball rolling inches wide.

Ajeti then collapsed to the turf holding his hamstring and it was game over for the Swiss attacker.

On came Kyogo Furuhashi whose rest time had lasted less than half an hour as Ange's hand was forced.

It was not what the Australian wanted or needed considering the punishing schedule in December.

Akoukou thumped the post for Betis in first-half injury time but Celtic was hanging onto their slender lead at the break.

It was all-square on 69 minutes when Iglesias smashed the ball which Bain pushed onto the post but it broke off the goalkeeper and back into the net.

Paradise was hushed and there was a collective gasp when Kyogo limped off the field and appeared to be clutching his hamstring.

READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou's Celtic Q+A in full: Celtic boss laments Kyogo injury amid 'ridiculous' schedule

It was most definitely a blow for Celtic to lose their talisman.

How Ange may well rue the decision to risk his first-choice striker when he had fielded a second-string eleven all evening. Moments later Celtic were in front when substitute Mikey Johnston fed fellow replacement Ewan Henderson to tap home to make it 2-1 to the hosts.

It was a  beautiful moment in sport as the two former academy teammates combined.

Iglesias then broke through the Celtic defence to expertly slot into the net to make it 2-2.

The drama wasn't over as Abada was upended just on the line inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot.

Up stepped Turnbull to coolly fire home and all of a sudden it was 3-2 to Celtic.

Then Bitton and Urhoghide clashed heads as both men looked to be suffering from a bout of concussion.

Sadly for the Aussie, his players are dropping like flies.

Nine minutes of injury-time came and went with thankfully no more...dare we say it injuries.

On a night when both the fringe and academy players really ought to have stolen the show, Ange has been left to rue the cost of risking Kyogo when he really didn't need to.

Ange may not do dead rubbers but there is no doubt the Celtic manager will wish he could erase the needless Kyogo substitution from his memory banks.