FORMULA WIN

Celts find German efficiency as they rev up for crunch time with victory on road

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HOOPS fans hit the Mercedes and Porsche museums during the day then watched their Honda Civic give souped-up Stuttgart a run for their money at night.

In a season full of unlikely twists, here was another surprise Celtic's first win on German soil in 17 attempts.

It was just a pity the wheels had already come off the wagon in the first leg in Glasgow.

There was never a realistic chance of turning around the 4-1 deficit but the Hoops did salvage some pride in Motor City.

It was all the more impressive given boss Martin O'Neill sent out so many fringe men with a view to keeping some of his key men in cotton wool for Sunday's crucial Old Firm Premiership clash at Ibrox.

It was an opportunity for others such as keeper Viljami Sinisalo, youngster Dane Murray and front man Junior Adamu to chuck their names into the frame for the weekend.

A chunk of the 2500 travelling fans were simply in town to sink a few pilsners and hope for the best before gearing up for an epic spell on the domestic front.

And they would have been pleasantly chuffed at their team's battling display.

At one stage they might have even been dreaming of doing the unthinkable when Luke McCowan pounced with an opener inside just 32 seconds.

The midfielder brilliantly clipped low into the bottom corner after a neat break involving Yang Hyun-Jun and Adamu.