THERE are days when the medical reports are more important than the scoreline, and Celtic came through this fixture without injury.

Manager Neil Lennon and his assistant, Johan Mjallby, were in Sweden yesterday to watch a match of greater significance to them than this one at Parkhead.

Elfsborg drew 1-1 at Atvida-bergs in the Swedish champions' final match before facing Celtic in the Champions League third qualifying round on Wednesday.

That game will have very few similarities to this one, or so Celtic must hope. They were a clear second best to Borussia Monchengladbach and could have lost by more.

"They kept the ball very well against our young team," said coach Garry Parker. "We got some players back from injury which was good, so losing 2-1, I'm pleased with that. They are a very good side."

Celtic had only two of their first-choice XI on from the start – Scott Brown and Kris Commons. Teenagers Darnel Fisher, Calum Waters and John Herron were on and so was 20-year-old Callum McGregor.

It was an unfamiliar team playing to a predictably modest attendance of around 15,000.

Parkhead saw 80 minutes from Amido Balde. When he was substituted near the end there was polite applause and the 22-year-old should have felt grateful for their warmth and generosity after what had been a disappointing performance.

He was no threat to Borussia and nothing came off for him, although, in mitigation, he wasn't given much to work with.

Anthony Stokes was immediately more dangerous when he came on at half-time. Stokes later revealed he has yet to sign the new contract which has been on the table for him for weeks, while club sources denied that bids had been submitted for the Porto winger Christian Astu or Sunderland's James McClean.

Borussia Monchengladbach won all five of their German titles and their two Uefa Cups in the 1970s and have been such a force again.

They were eighth in the Bundesliga last season and arrived in Glasgow at about the same level of physical readiness as Celtic, given that both of them start their domestic campaigns next weekend.

Half of their team was 22 or under, including the bright midfielder Amin Younes whose zestful play on the left wing made him a handful for Fisher.

But the athletic, firm-tackling right-back coped well and was named Celtic's man of the match.

It was Fisher who booted an early Lukas Rupp shot off the line. Lukasz Zaluska dived at Max Kruse's feet to deny a chance and Raffael ought to have scored with a shot on the turn, but scuffed his connection.

Borussia went ahead in the 36th minute when Granit Xhaka swept in an elegant shot from the edge of the box.

The Germans were always comfortable in possession, leaving Celtic to do a lot of harrying and chasing. Stokes came on along with Charlie Mulgrew and Dylan McGeouch at half-time and soon Joe Ledley and Adam Matthews were also introduced as the Celtic team gradually became more familiar. But the game was largely unaffected.

Branimir Hrgota doubled Borussia's lead after 66 minutes. Steven Mouyokolo should have done far better, but stood off as the 20-year-old made room for himself to shoot into the far corner.

Stokes dinked a delicious little free-kick into the net for Celtic's goal.

There were 16 minutes left for them to find an equaliser but neither Celtic, nor Borussia, would have deserved that.