Celtic’s recent 5-1 victory in the Champions League is a historic achievement, marking the highest number of goals the club has ever scored in a single match in the competition. This result is also one of only a few occasions in European competition where Celtic have won by such a margin. The Bhoys previously recorded 5-1 scorelines in the 1963 Cup-Winners’ Cup against Basel and in the 1968 European Cup against Red Star Belgrade, a match remembered for Jimmy Johnstone’s brilliant performance under Jock Stein’s leadership.
This season’s Champions League campaign stands out due to its new format, which features eight group-stage games instead of the traditional six. Historically, Celtic have struggled to score prolifically in the group stages, with the highest goal tally in six games being nine, achieved during the 2012-13 campaign. In contrast, in some campaigns, they have struggled to score five goals across the entire group stage. This recent 5-1 result against Bratislava in a single game is therefore an impressive start.
Celtic have faced challenges in maintaining a positive goal difference in the Champions League. Only twice in their 12 previous campaigns have they finished with a positive goal difference, the best being a +1 in 2012-13. In contrast, they have suffered some heavy defeats in Europe, including losses to Barcelona and PSG.
Despite the impressive goal haul this week, Celtic are staying grounded, aware that tougher challenges lie ahead in their Champions League journey. However, the strong start gives reason for optimism, especially when compared to their past performances in Europe.
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