Five things learned from Celtic’s 3-2 defeat to Estrela as Brendan Rodgers has one huge problem

Add as preferred source on Google

Celtic lost their first pre-season friendly this summer as defensive issues handed Estrela da Amadora a 3-2 win in Lisbon.

In the Hoops’ third pre-season friendly of the summer, which was behind closed doors, Celtic started the brighter of the two teams.

Reo Hatate delivered a composed finish to make it 1-0, before young Colby Donovan’s needless handball handed Estrela a way back into the match.

They scored from the penalty spot as a result before doubling their lead just before the half-time whistle with a header from a corner, as Ben McPherson failed to pick up his man in the box.

Brendan Rodgers changed the whole team at the interval with the exception of captain Callum McGregor, although he was soon subbed off for Sean McArdle.

Celtic looked better in the second-half and equalised through Adam Idah after some good play between James Forrest and Benjamin Nygren.

However, Celtic’s defensive woes reared its ugly head again as Dane Murray was caught way out of position for Estrela’s third goal.

The game finished 3-2 to Estrela, as 67 Hail Hail pick out five things we learned from the defeat below.

• READ MORE: Kieran Tierney’s former club and Roma ‘fighting’ with Celtic to sign Cercle Brugge starlet

Celtic’s first-half vs Estrela

Kieran Tierney’s second debut verdict

Kieran Tierney started at left-back and in all honesty, there wasn’t too much to report. He was steady enough and played some nice through balls forward for Daizen Maeda.

This was obviously more about getting minutes into Tierney’s legs, and he was subbed off at half-time as Rodgers changed the team.

Colby Donovan & Ben McPherson have learning to do

Not the best day for Donovan after a good performance against Cork City. Donovan was solely at fault for the concession of a penalty in the first-half with a needless handball.

He actually looked okay in the lead up to his moment of madness, but he’s got some learning to do. The same can be said for McPherson, who needs to work on marking at set-pieces.

Callum Osmand has quiet debut

Signed from Fulham in June, Callum Osmand started as the central striker as part of a front three featuring Daizen Maeda and Marco Tilio. He was quiet and did not see too much of the ball.

Osmand looks quick and nippy, but overall it would be hard to judge him fully yet.

Celtic’s second-half vs Estrela

Benjamin Nygren

We saw just 45 minutes of Benjamin Nygren but he already looks like a shrewd capture. Nygren played as a No.8 alongside Arne Engels in the second-half and the Swede played well.

He was the man to assist Idah for his goal early in the second period as he played a perfectly weighted pass into the Irishman’s stride.

Celtic’s central defensive woes continue

The biggest takeaway for Rodgers after losing to Estrela is so clear. Celtic are very vulnerable at centre-back when Cameron Carter-Vickers is absent.

Auston Trusty still doesn’t convince, while young Donovan does have potential, but of course he’s still prone to a mistake or two.

Liam Scales and Dane Murray played as a pair in the second-half, with the latter horribly out of position for Estrela’s winning goal.

He was caught out far too high up the pitch and it left Scales on his own at the back as Estrela drove forward.

This match may convince Rodgers to seek a quality centre-back in the transfer market between now and the end of the window.