Billed as another major test for Martin O’Neill and his side, Celtic answered all questions asked of them as they produced a superb performance against French Cup holders Bordeaux.

Celtic dominated large chunks of the game, and in the first period of the game in particular they caused all manner of discomfort for Bordeaux.

Full of vim and vigour they hustled and harried their hosts, never quite allowing them time to settle on the ball, and Celtic could even have got in to the interval with a much coveted lead.

Nevertheless, the 1-1 draw is an immense result for Celtic, and one which gives them a fantastic opportunity to overcome the French side in the return leg in a fortnight’s time.

There was only 40 seconds on the clock when Henrik Larsson almost sent Celtic into an incredible lead.  Petta collected the ball on the left before weaving his way into the box and sending in a looping cross.

The ball eluded both the Bordeaux keeper and defender, but Larsson’s header sneaked just over the bar.

The Swede also took a blow in the face when Rame, the goalkeeper, connected with him whilst going for the ball.

At the other end Christophe Dugarry made his presence felt just a few seconds later when he worked his way down the right-flank, but his final cross into the box was too heavy and Bobby Petta cleared the danger.

In the 11th minute Celtic were fortunate not to concede a penalty when Johan Mjallby appeared to obstruct Portugese striker Pauleta, but Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo waved play on.

Seconds later though Paul Lambert tried his luck with a rasping volley from the edge of the area after Jackie McNamara’s corner had been punched away, but his shot took a deflection and crept narrowly wide of the right-hand post.

In the 19th minute Larsson sneaked behind the Bordeaux defence and remained onside, but the striker’s first-touch was uncharacteristically slack, and he weakly prodded the ball into the outstretched arms of Rame.

Three minutes later however, Celtic were looking at a one goal deficit. 

So deadly themselves this season from set-pieces, they allowed some sloppy defending to enable Bordeaux to take the lead when Dugarry pounced at the near post to head the ball high beyond the reach of Jonathan Gould.

Their lead however didn’t last long, when Henrik Larsson quickly atoned for his earlier misdemeanour in the most perfect fashion.

The SPL’s top goalscorer was brought crashing to the ground following a crude tackle from Sommeil, and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.  Larsson duly converted the kick to give Martin O’Neill’s side a valuable away goal.

On the half hour mark Larsson split the Bordeaux defence when he slipped the ball through to Lubomir Moravcik.  Rame came out quickly to block, but the ball broke back to the Slovak.  Under pressure from the Bordeaux defence Moravcik scooped his attempted chip well wide of the target.

Dugarry had another chance in the 35th minute, but his header was well smothered by Gould.

Celtic however kept their composure and stuck well to their gameplan, and only a superb fingertip save from Rame kept the sides level.

A Didier Agathe cross was met by the head of Larsson, but Rame was equal to the attempt as he acrobatically tipped it over.

Three minutes after the interval Mjallby nipped the ball from the toe of Lillian Laslandes to clear the threat of a Bordeaux attack.

Bordeaux enjoyed more pressure in the second period, and in the 74th minute they spurned a wonderful chance to re-establish their earlier lead.

Dugarry threaded the ball through to Laslandes who had skipped well beyond the Celtic defence, but he overhit the ball before Mjallby scooped it clear.

Paul Lambert had an excellent match in which he shackled, for large parts of the game, the potent threat of Dugarry.

Similarly, in the second period, Agathe and Petta worked tirelessly on either flank, in turns surging forward whilst also ensuring they stuck to their defensive duties at the back.

Substitute Saveljic almost converted a Bordeaux corner seven minutes from time, but his effort was straight into the arms of Gould.

Four and a half nervous minutes of additional time produced probably the biggest disappointment of the night for Martin O’Neill when Stilian Petrov collected a yellow card which rules him out of the return leg.

Dugarry also hit the woodwork in the 93rd minute, whilst Pauleta thought he had won a penalty in the 94th minute after a tackle from Tom Boyd, but the referee dismissed his claim much to the fury of the striker who earned a booking for his reaction.

Celtic however held out for a precious 1-1 draw which gives them a superb chance to qualify for the next round of the competition for the first time in 17 years.