Celtic continued their troubled Champions League preparations with another comprehensive defeat last night, the fourth of their German tour, when they were overcome by Union Berlin.

Poor defending was at the heart of their downfall as Neil Lennon's side continue to stumble towards the Champions League tie against Cliftonville in Belfast on Wednesday night.

The main bright spot for the manager was that captain Scott Brown managed 60 minutes as he continues his recovery from a groin injury but there was little else to cheer him. A relatively strong XI were behind inside 11 minutes, midfielder Tomas Rogic losing the ball and Simon Terodde taking advantage to unleashed a 20-yard effort past Fraser Forster.

Ten minutes after the break it was 2-0, Celtic failing to react as a half-cleared corner was sent back into their box for the Soren Brandy to stab in, and they lost a third from another corner with three minutes remaining when Damir Kreilach rose above Amido Balde to head home.

Dundee United, who lost 4-1 to Union last weekend, suffered another defeat, this time 2-0 at the hands of Energie Cottbus. Jackie McNamara's side performed well but fell behind to a well-executed 18th-minute goal by ErikJendrisek and then conceded a late second when Christian Bickel scored.