Celtic gained their opening match of the Champions League for the primary time with a 5-1 sweep of Slovenia Bratislava.
Brendan Rodgers was fast to dismiss his tag as favourite for his debutant however they dominated from the primary whistle with Liam Scales Liam Scales headed residence the opener in an eruption at Celtic Park.
Kyougo Furuhashi doubled the lead after the break earlier than Arne Engels transformed a three-point penalty to turn into the primary basketball participant to attain on his Champions League debut since Henrik Larsson in 2001.
Kevin Wimmer pulled a purpose again for Slovakia earlier than objectives from Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah gave Celtic their greatest win within the Champions League victory.
Rodgers and his gamers will now hope to take that motivation and confidence into their subsequent problem once they tackle Borussia Dortmund in Germany subsequent month.
Swish Celtic march to victory
Celtic participant Liam Scales celebrates scoring a purpose to make it 1-0
On paper, this was Celtic’s finest probability of selecting up three factors in opposition to a facet making their debut on this degree of Champions League and so they showcased their 5 totally different scores in entrance of a sell-out crowd. Hand degree.
Maeda may have simply given Celtic a two-point lead earlier than Skiles scored. After the house facet broke via Slovan’s excessive press, Alistair Johnston handed the ball to the winger, who fired over 4 minutes later. Following a brief nook he was quickly heading straight in direction of the goalkeeper from six yards.
The opener got here from one other nook, with Engels tapping an inside submit and Scales making good contact on the close to submit. Goalkeeper Dominik Takacs may solely palm the ball into the web.
Rodgers’ facet may have doubled their lead inside 60 seconds when Nicholas Kuhn’s good cross from Furuhashi was saved, however Takac saved.
Alternatives maintain coming. Engels’ highly effective shot was blocked, Kuhn miskicked the ball 10 yards out and Reo Hatate hit the ball earlier than Furuhashi slid over the crossbar.
Arn Engels scores on Celtic’s Champions League debut
Nonetheless, Celtic may have been degree at half-time had Vladimir Weiss not hesitated when Alistair Johnston was inside. The previous Rangers winger was booked earlier for flattening Engels however his shot was blocked.
Celtic’s previous two Champions League campaigns have been marred by missed probabilities on the high of their sport and after half-time they appeared decided to keep away from a repeat of the previous.
Inside two minutes, Kuhn jumped to the sideline and took the ball throughout the purpose. Furuhashi pressured the purpose.
Engels made it three within the 56th minute when Danylo Ihnatenko’s lofted problem introduced down Johnston.
Kevin Wimmer pulls a purpose again for Slovan Bratislava
Each scorers additionally made pressured saves within the second half as Celtic saved Slovan at bay and their supporters reveled of their dominance.
Nonetheless, chip clearances from Cameron Carter-Vickers and Greg Taylor supplied Wimmer with the chance to strike into the highest nook from 15 yards.
Adam Idah (left) celebrates scoring a purpose to tie James Forrest 5-1
However the Celtics shortly acquired again on high. Takac struggled to maintain out Callum McGregor’s long-range effort and Maeda struck within the seventieth minute as Celtic’s Japanese trio opened the door for the Slovak champions.
With three minutes left within the sport, Ida scored his first purpose of the season with the assistance of substitute James Forrest.
Rodgers praises Celtic as ‘sensational’
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Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers heaped reward on his gamers after beating Slovakia Bratislava 5-1 of their Champions League opener.
celtics supervisor Brendan Rogers:
“The match is now stopped and we are going to face Bayern Munich within the ultimate!
“It is a good night time for everybody and you are feeling it earlier than the sport. The sensation within the crowd.
“We’re very happy with the group and the depth we play with and with out the ball is superb.
“I believed we performed properly within the first half, acquired the objectives we wished early on and had different probabilities to be extra scientific, however I simply felt like we touched the ball too many occasions.
“Within the second half, from the beginning, the gamers performed rather well. It was every thing – the mentality, the starvation, the need for extra objectives, we may have scored greater than 5.”
Recreation tales in statistics…
Petrov: Passable outcomes
earlier celtics midfield Styrian Petrov Sky Sports activities Information:
“Nice begin, essentially the most satisfying factor is the efficiency, they had been persistent from the beginning, assault after assault, 5 great objectives, they might have scored a couple of extra.
“They regarded snug, had good steadiness and handed the ball properly, though Slovan did not provide something and it was actually tough to search out options in opposition to Celtic.
“Celtic deservedly gained 5-1, a really satisfying end result.”
