Key points
- FULL-TIME - Celtic 5-1 Slovan Bratislava View post
- GOAL! Celtic 5-1 Slovan Bratislava (Idah, 87') View post
- GOAL! Celtic 4-1 Slovan Bratislava (Maeda, 70') View post
- GOAL! Celtic 3-0 Slovan Bratislava (Engels, 56') View post
- GOAL! Celtic 2-0 Slovan Bratislava (Kyogo, 46') View post
- HALF-TIME - Celtic 1-0 Slovan Bratislava View post
- GOAL! Celtic 1-0 Slovan Bratislava (Scales, 17') View post
- KICK-OFF View post
Wednesday night saw the Bhoys kick-start their 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaign in style with a thumping 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava at Celtic Park.
Brendan Rodgers’ side were dominant from the outset and soon made their superiority count through Liam Scales, who powered home Arne Engels corner-kick.
The side could have easily doubled their advantage before the break, but the second goal did eventually arrive courtesy of Kyogo Furuhashi, who couldn’t miss from a few yards out.
Engels then added a goal to his early assist from the penalty spot, before Daizen Maeda and substitute Adam Idah rounded off a near-perfect night for the home fans.
The win was Celtic’s first in the opening match of a Champions League group stage since the competition was created in 1992. Here’s how the historic night unfolded…
That’s all for tonight!
Thank you for joining our live coverage of Celtic’s 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava in the UEFA Champions League.
Next up for the Bhoys is Falkirk in the Scottish League Cup QF on Sunday – we’ll see you then!
[Link]What did we learn tonight?
Here are some key take-away’s from tonight’s action at Celtic Park.
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Celtic’s best UCL win?
The hosts were superb tonight, which has gotten us thinking about some of the side’s best-ever Champions League wins. Check them out below…
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FULL-TIME – Celtic 5-1 Slovan Bratislava
What a win for the hosts!
For the first time ever, Celtic win their opening Champions League group stage game – and what a way to do it.
Goals from Scales, Maeda (x2), Engels and Idah did the damage on the night.
[Link]GOAL! Celtic 5-1 Slovan Bratislava (Idah, 87′)
Adam Idah scores his first Champions League goal!
It’s a wonderful assist from Forrest, who put it on a plate for the Republic of Ireland international to fire home.
The two subs combined to perfection.
[Link]Substitution – Celtic
OFF – Cameron Carter-Vickers
ON – Auston Trusty
Trusty makes his debut for Celtic after his summer move from Sheffield United.
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10 minutes left to play
Celtic are still looking to add to their tally of goals, with Maeda very nearly played in on goal for his hat-trick a few moment ago.
There’s not too long left now.
[Link]Substitutions – Celtic
OFF – Kuhn, Kyogo, Hatate, Johnston
ON – Forrest, Idah, Ralston, Bernardo
[Link]GOAL! Celtic 4-1 Slovan Bratislava (Maeda, 70′)
It’s wonderful link-up play from the Japanese trio of Hatate, Kyogo and Maeda, eventually slotted into the net by the latter.
Maeda is sent through one-on-one with the Slovan goalkeeper, and is able to guide the ball low into the bottom left corner of the net.
Three-goal advantage restored!
[Link]GOAL! Celtic 3-1 Slovan Bratislava (Wimmer, 60′)
Talk about a commentator’s curse…it’s not over just yet.
Tolic smartly plays the ball to Wimmer after a wayward Taylor clearance.
Wimmer’s finish is sublime, using the outside of his boot to curl it out and back in, finding the top corner.
[Link]Celtic target a Champions League first
The Bhoys have never won their opening match in the Champions League group stage.
Surely ‘Tonight’s the Night’, to borrow another Rod song title…
[Link]GOAL! Celtic 3-0 Slovan Bratislava (Engels, 56′)
The midfielder had added a goal to his early assist, sending Takac the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Game over?
[Link]PENALTY CELTIC!
It’s a chance to make it 3-0! Johnston is caught inside the box, and the ref points immediately at the penalty spot.
Engels is stepping up…
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GOAL! Celtic 2-0 Slovan Bratislava (Kyogo, 46′)
KYOGO! The striker scores his third Champions League goal just moments into the second-half.
It’s brilliant work by Kuhn on the right side of the Slovan box, as the German finds Kyogo with a clever cross – who has a simple tap-in finish from a few yards out.
Celtic smell blood here.
[Link]James McFadden – Engels has ‘real quality’
Speaking about the summer arrival from Augsburg, McFadden adds: “He’s come in at 20-year-old, and he’s ready, he’s ready to play.
“He looks confident, assured,” he states on BBC Scotland.
[Link]HALF-TIME – Celtic 1-0 Slovan Bratislava
The hosts will be very pleased with that half, although they arguably should have scored a couple more goals.
Nevertheless, they do have a vital lead at the break thanks to Scales’ header.
[Link]Celtic dominate possession
It’s currently 70%- 30% in terms of possession in favour of Rodgers’ men.
There are just five minutes to go until half-time.
[Link]Big opportunity for Weiss!
Slovan show they’re still a big threat on the break, as a chance falls the way of the veteran Weiss.
He powers into the Celtic box, but doesn’t pull the trigger with just Schmeichel to beat.
As a result, the Celtic defenders get back in position to block his effort. It’s a let-off for the home side.
[Link]30 mins – Chances galore for Celtic
We’ve played just under 30 minutes, and the hosts are well on top.
Engels went close with a shot from range, but not before Kyogo had a one-vs-one effort well saved.
[Link]Yellow card – Alistair Johnston
The Right-back is the first Celtic player to go into the referee’s book.
[Link]Rod Stewart watches on
Celtic are giving the legendary musician plenty to ‘Smile’ about so far…
Yellow card – Vladimir Weiss
The former Rangers winger is booked for a late challenge on Johnson.
[Link]GOAL! Celtic 1-0 Slovan Bratislava (Scales, 17′)
It’s Scales with a header from a corner!
The delivery was perfect from Engels, who picked the defender out beautifully. His header is partially saved, but the power takes it past a helpless Takac.
What a start…
[Link]Maeda should score!
It’s another big chance for the Japanese international.
Maeda has a free header inside the six-yard box, but he directs it straight into the grateful arms of the Slovan keeper.
Either side of Takac and it was a certain goal.
[Link]Slovan threaten on the break
David Strelec powers down the right-hand side on the end of a driven through ball.
He drives into the area and shoots, but Scales manages to deflect the ball over for a corner.
These are nervy moments for the hosts…
[Link]Early chance for Maeda!
Meada finds some space on the left, and is picked out wonderfully by Johnson.
The winger takes the ball down well, but fires wide from just inside the Slovan box.
It’s a great move by the hosts, who have already got the crowd going tonight.
[Link]When Celtic last met Slovan Bratislava…
The two side’s previously met in the Quarter-final of the European Cup Winner’s Cup in 1964.
Celtic won both legs 1-0, but would eventually lose to MTK Budapest in the Semi-final.
[Link]30 minutes until kick-off
We have just half an hour to wait until Celtic’s 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaign gets underway.
Bratislava’s Champions League journey (so far)
Slovan Bratislava have already had to navigate four ties to reach the league phase and are unbeaten in those eight matches.
They triumphed over Struga of North Macedonia, Celje of Slovenia, Cypriots Apoel and Midtjylland of Denmark in the champions path, netting a total of 18 goals along the way.
They sit top of the Slovakian Super Liga with 15 points from six matches.
Celtic may be strong favourites tonight, but Slovan are here for a reason.
[Link]Confirmed Slovan Bratislava starting XI
And here’s how the visitors line-up: Takac, Kashia, Wimmer, Weiss, Tolic, Barseghyan, Bajric, Strelec, Blackman, Kucka, Ihnatenko
Subs: Trnovsky, Hrdina, Voet, Medvedev, Marcelli, Mak, Zuberu, Gajdos, Vojtko, Szoke, Savvidis, Metsoko
[Link]Confirmed Celtic starting XI
Here’s how the Bhoys line-up tonight: Schmeichel; Johnson, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, Engels, Hatate; Kuhn, Maeda, Kyogo
Subs: Sinisalo, Trusty, Palma, Idah, Valle, Yang, McCowan, Nawrocki, Bernardo, Forrest, Ralston, Welsh
[Link]Hartson bullish ahead of Bratislava clash
Find out why he thinks Celtic will be ‘licking their lips’ about the match…
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Celtic’s Champions League fixtures
Here are the side’s eight games in this year’s group stage:
Slovan Bratislava (H) – Sep 18
Borussia Dortmund (A) – Oct 1
Atalanta (A) – Oct 23
RB Leipzig (H) – Nov 5
Club Brugge (H) – Nov 27
Dinamo Zagreb (A) – Dec 10
Young Boys (H) – Jan 22
Aston Villa (A) – Jan 29
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Predicted Celtic line-up
Here’s the starting XI we expect Brendan Rodgers to field for tonight’s Champions League test…
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Good evening!
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Celtic vs Slovan Bratislava in the UEFA Champions League.
We’ll keep you updated with all the developments from tonight’s game – starting with team news.
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