A goal three minutes from time scored by Basel?s Egyptian star, Saleh ensured that the Swiss outfit beat Chelsea for the second time on a night that Jack Wilshere’s first career double for Arsenal secured victory for the Gunners over Marseille and edged them closer to the Champions League knockout stages.
Basel had also beaten the former European champions at home in the first leg of this competition this season. However, the defeat did not cost the Blues a place in the last 16 of the elite competition.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund’s win over Napoli denied Arsenal the chance to automatically qualify on Tuesday, but the Londoners remain top of Group F.
Wilshere scored within 32 seconds, exquisitely finding the top corner.
Mesut Ozil failed with a poor penalty, but Wilshere struck from close range to do justice to Arsenal’s dominance.
And Celtic crashed out of the Champions League and indeed European competition altogether courtesy of a systematic dismantling by Milan.
The Italians were just too clinical for their hosts, though they were aided by some dreadful defending.
Kaka headed the only goal of a largely even and entertaining first half.
But Milan took charge after the break as Cristian Zapata and Mario Balotelli added further goals to end Celtic’s hopes of another crack at the last 16.
It leaves them firmly rooted to the bottom of Group H, with just three points and a solitary win at home to Ajax.
Barcelona’s defeat by Ajax in Amsterdam also puts the Dutch side out of reach in third place, meaning Celtic do not even have the solace of Europa League football.
Prior to this match, Milan were on a run of seven games without victory and languish in 13th place in Serie A.
Celtic’s phenomenal record at Celtic Park in Europe coupled with Milan’s dire form had many expecting a home win, but Neil Lennon’s warning that the Italian giants could be a “wounded animal” was proved correct as they ran out comfortable winners.
Their opener was a goal of infuriating simplicity from Celtic’s point of view, with the hitherto exemplary Virgil van Dijk guilty of a total loss of concentration.
As Valter Birsa curled in a corner, Van Dijk drifted off Kaka, who was left to head unchallenged past Fraser Forster from six yards out.
UEFA LEAGUE RESULTS
Basel 1 – 0 Chelsea
Steaua Bucharest 0 – 0 FC Schalke 04
Arsenal 2 – 0 Marseille
Borussia Dortmund 3 – 1 Napoli
Zenit St Petersburg 1 – 1 Atl?tico Madrid
FC Porto 1 – 1 FK Austria Vienna
Ajax 2 – 1 Barcelona
Celtic 0- 3 Milan
