However, in a thrilling European night at Parkhead, Brendan Rodgers’ side, led by their impressive Japanese players, turned the tables and delivered a dominant performance against Slovan Bratislava. For once, it was Celtic handing out the one-sided defeat, securing a 5-1 victory that flattered their opponents more than themselves.
Not only did Celtic win their opening Champions League match for the first time, but they also did so in spectacular fashion. Arne Engels, the £11 million summer signing, provided the assist for Liam Scales’ opener from a corner. Kyogo Furuhashi doubled the lead early in the second half, following a mesmerizing display from Nicolas Kuhn. Engels then opened his account with a penalty, making it 3-0.
Slovan Bratislava briefly hinted at a comeback with a stunning goal from Kevin Wimmer, but Celtic quickly quashed any hopes of a revival. Kyogo, Reo Hatate, and Daizen Maeda combined for Celtic’s fourth goal – a move made in Japan but crafted in Scotland. Substitute Adam Idah capped off the victory with a sublime finish, giving Celtic their biggest-ever group stage win.
Slovan’s head coach, Vladimir Weiss Sr, acknowledged Celtic’s superiority in a post-match interview. Despite the heavy defeat, he praised the intensity of the match and Celtic’s clinical play, admitting that his team struggled to cope with Rodgers’ relentless pressing and high tempo.
Weiss highlighted the areas where Slovan fell short, including Celtic’s pressing, passing speed, and one-touch play. While he expressed pride in his players’ efforts, he conceded that Celtic were the deserved winners, particularly given the atmosphere at Parkhead.
Looking ahead, Celtic still face tough group stage opponents like Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, and Atalanta. Although Celtic are favored in matches like these, Moravcik cautioned that they shouldn’t underestimate Slovan Bratislava. With experienced players like Kevin Wimmer and Juraj Kucka, Slovan could present a challenge if Celtic’s key players, particularly Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda, aren’t at their best.
Celtic will need to rely on their pressing game and the speed of their Japanese forwards to break down Slovan’s defense. Even without Matt O’Riley, Celtic have the talent, including new signing Arne Engels and the in-form Paulo Bernardo, to push through the group stages. Maeda’s relentless work-rate and ability to unsettle defenses could be crucial against tougher opponents like Dortmund and Atalanta.
GET MORE CONTENT HERE
Leave a Reply