Celtic got their first European win of the season on Thursday against Sturm Graz.
After a poor start to their campaign on the continental front, it was a much-needed win for Brendan Rodgers and his side.
A disastrous Champions League qualifying exit against Kairat Almaty had paved the way for the intense discontent that we are still seeing among Celtic supporters.
The Kairat result was an embarrassing one – and frustratingly, there have been far too many of them for the Hoops over the last ten years.
But Luis Palma, who is out on loan at Lech Poznan, was caught up in a hugely embarrassing result on Thursday – which will be familiar to Celtic fans.
Celtic’s Luis Palma defeated by part-timers with Lech Poznan
Rodgers’ defeat to Kairat was not the first time that his Celtic side had fallen in Champions League qualifying.
In the final season of his first spell in Glasgow, the Hoops were knocked out by AEK Athens. But it was a first-leg defeat in 2016 which left the deepest scars.
READ MORE: Five things we learned as Celtic come from behind for first Europa League win against Sturm Graz
Photo by Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Celtic fans will remember the Lincoln Red Imps tie, which was the club’s first competitive match under Rodgers.
The part-time side from Gibraltar won 1-0 in a disastrous first leg for the Hoops – Celtic turned it around with a 3-0 win in the return leg at Celtic Park.
But now, the Red Imps are at it again. Featuring in the competition proper for just the second time in Europe, they hosted Lech Poznan on Thursday.
And it was a night to forget for the Polish side. Lincoln took the lead in the first-half, forcing Lech into a triple substitution at half-time.
One of those introduced at the break was Palma – Robert Gumny, once linked with a move to Celtic, was withdrawn.
Mikael Ishak’s penalty looked to have broken the Red Imps’ hearts, but an 88th-minute winner by Christian Rutjens sealed the hosts’ biggest upset win since the Celtic match of nine years ago.
Palma has established himself as a key player at the Polish side – it isn’t a surprise that he was rested for such a winnable fixture.
But as we Celtic fans know all too well, there are no easy games in Europe.
Luis Palma’s spell at Lech Poznan so far
Palma moved on loan to Poland with an option to buy, having spent the last six months of last season on loan at Olympiacos.
Having fallen out of favour under Rodgers, he has rediscovered his form in Poland, despite the embarrassing defeat.
Operating in a more central position, the Honduran has already picked up ten goal involvements. He was also sent off for a horror tackle against Rakow, after which he had to issue an apology.
It looks that the Hoops will have their resolve tested next summer, given his form.