Over the years, Celtic has suffered several crushing defeats in the Champions League.
Munich, Bayern. The Paris Saint-Germain. Just to mention three, that season’s 6-0 loss to Atletico Madrid.
On an immediately iconic European night at Parkhead, however, a Celtic team spurred on by its Japanese players put Slovan Bratislava to the sword of a Samurai, and it was just good for Brendan Rodgers to finally be on the losing side of a crushingly lopsided result.
Not only did Celtic win their first-ever Champions League match, but they also triumphed. They completely destroyed it. Slovan Bratislava was pureed, mashed, and sliced by them, and the ultimate 5-1 triumph may have pleased the struggling visitors more than their alluring hosts.
The £11 million summer acquisition Arne Engels immediately went about repaying his club-record transfer cost by kicking a crisp corner that set up Liam Scales’ first goal. Engels launched his Hoops career from the penalty spot after Nicolas Kuhn’s outstanding play set up Kyogo Furuhashi’s second-half double.
Celtic hammer Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League
Kevin Wimmer of Slovan threatened a comeback with a stunning finish, but Kyogo, Reo Hatate, and the unstoppable Daezen Maeda of Celtic put an end to any hopes of a comeback almost instantly.
An aim created in Scotland, but built in Japan.
Replace Late in the race, Adam Idah added the glacier cherry to the cake with a spectacular one-touch finish. With great elegance, Celtic achieved their greatest-ever Champions League group-stage victory.
Head coach Vladimir Weiss Sr. of Slovan Bratislava says, “Of course, I congratulate Celtic on a well-deserved victory, even if it was a cruel one for us,” on the team’s official YouTube channel.
“It was played in a fantastic atmosphere. We managed the first-half well, Vlado (Weiss Jr, the manager’s son) had a chance to equalise. Ufortunately, we didn’t score. “In the second-half, two quick goals decided the course of the match.” “We lost 1-5. Of course, I can’t be satisfied with the result, but I’m not disappointed with performance. Celtic were very effective. We wanted to play football and I think we left a decent impression, even though we lost by a margin of class.” Weiss Sr was, however, disappointed by how easy his Slovan side made it for Celtic at times.
Playing into the hands of Rodgers’ high-pressing team, Slovan lost possession countless times in their own half; Callum McGregor and co snapping into tackles for a Hoops side who never once relented in their pressure.
Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi and Arne Engels shine
“You have to appreciate the quality of the opponent, the excellent players and the excellent coach in Rodgers,” Weiss adds. “In the three and a half years with Slovan, it was definitely the most difficult match in terms of intensity. “It was very instructive for us. We were ready for everything, but that quality showed.”
Weiss then highlighted four areas of the game in which Slovan simply could not live with the reigning Scottish champions. “Their pressing, passing speed, (their ability to) open the game, (their) one-touch play. They were better at that. They should be congratulated,” the former Slovakia and Georgia manager says. “At home, we would have a better chance for a better result. It was practically impossible in this atmosphere. “They have typologically smaller but fast players. We have taller ones. They were faster, more accurate (with their passing), better quality in many phases of the game. “Celtic deservedly won – but you won’t hear any criticism of my players. I am proud that they are here, the emotion they have given to this club.”
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