Brendan Rodgers emphasises first-goal importance for Celtic in Valencia

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Brendan Rodgers has expressed to everyone the importance of the first goal in Valencia on Thursday night.

The Hoops trail the La Liga giants 2-0 thanks to a woeful Europa League last-32 first-leg defeat at Parkhead last week. Celtic have already won 3-0 away from home in Europe this season, but it was away to Armenian minnows Alashkert in the first qualifying round of the Champions League.

If Celtic were to repeat the feat at the Mestalla, it would be up there with the club’s best away result ever in Europe.

But Rodgers has hinted that will only happen if Celtic notch the first goal. Speaking to the official Celtic website, the Northern Irishman outlined the importance of a positive start on Thursday.

“The first goal in this game will be important. If we can get the first goal in the game, we don’t need to go flying in after that. We just need to settle ourselves into the game and find our confidence.

“We have to go there with the belief and confidence that we can get a result. No matter how tough, we’ll go there and if we can get the first goal it can open things up for us.”

Stats don’t lie

It’s difficult to argue with Rodgers on this one. After all, it’s been 25 matches since Celtic came back from a goal behind to win a match in Europe. That was only against Icelandic outfit Stjarnan too.

Away from home on the continent has consistently been a problem for Celtic. But they have actually netted the first goal away from Parkhead more frequently in recent times.

In Celtic’s last four European matches abroad, they’ve opened the scoring in three of them. Not a bad record considering RB Salzburg and Rosenborg are on that list.

Valencia, however, will prove to be a different challenge altogether. They’ll be in the hunt for more goals themselves after being held to a 0-0 draw at home by Espanyol at the weekend.

So Rodgers’ calls for a quick start have to be heeded by the players. If they don’t, then we might as well just close the curtains on this one now, if you haven’t done already.