Luis Palma endured a night to forget in Europe as his Lech Poznań side were stunned 2-1 by Lincoln Red Imps, a result that brought up memories Celtic fans won’t be quick to forget.
The result mirrors one of Celtic’s most infamous European nights, Brendan Rodgers’ first competitive match in charge back in 2016, when the Hoops lost 1-0 to the same Lincoln Red Imps side in a Champions League qualifier. Celtic would recover to win the return leg comfortably, but that defeat remains a sore memory in the club’s modern European story.
Palma was introduced with Lech trailing 1-0 after Kike Gómez’s opener. A Mikael Ishak penalty levelled the game midway through the second half, but Christian Rutjens’ late header sealed an historic win for the Gibraltarian champions. It was Lincoln’s first-ever victory in a European league phase match, one that leaves Lech’s Conference League campaign under serious pressure.
The winger has been one of Lech’s bright sparks this season, registering ten goal contributions across all competitions, but Thursday’s defeat was a reminder of football’s unpredictability. Palma’s spell in Poland has also had its bumps, including a recent red card against Raków, yet he remains a player of interest to Celtic, with Lech holding an option to buy next summer.
For Celtic supporters, the Lincoln name still triggers memories of Rodgers’ first few weeks in charge, a low point that quickly became a turning moment. Palma’s experience in Gibraltar will now serve as a lesson of his own: European nights can be brutal, no matter who you play or where you come from.
As for his parent club, Rodgers will hope that Palma’s loan spell continues to sharpen the winger’s edge. If he returns to Glasgow next season, he’ll arrive with experience of both triumph and embarrassment on the European stage, a balance every Celtic player eventually learns.
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