Paulo Bernardo has been handed a brutally honest review of his Celtic display against Braga.
Bernardo was handed a start by manager Brendan Rodgers as he decided to bench Reo Hatate, who has only just recovered from a hamstring issue.
The midfielder is a talented option and played well in his previous start for Celtic against Livingston. But that wasn’t the case versus Braga.
Bernardo – and, in fairness, the rest of the midfield – failed to get a grip of the game in the first-half and Braga, as such, were the more dominant team on the ball.
He was subbed off in the second period for Arne Engels, who really wasn’t much better as Celtic went on to concede another goal and lose 2-0.
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‘Unhappy’ Bernardo handed scathing Portuguese review
Bernardo was singled out by Portuguese media outlet Desporto Ao Minuto, saying it was unsurprising that he was hooked in the second-half.
As part of a wider report, they wrote: “Brendan Rodgers. It’s been a tough life for the Northern Irishman.
“True, it was only his first defeat in 2025/26, but the Champions League playoff defeat to Kairat Almaty left its mark on his relationship with the fans, who left the stadium in the final moments of the match against Sporting Braga.
“The team’s football isn’t helping either, as there’s a significant lack of efficiency. The former Liverpool player is already being questioned about his coaching tenure.
“Paulo Bernardo was unhappy upon his return to the starting lineup, seeing little action and failing to contribute offensively.
“The former Benfica player performed poorly and was not unsurprisingly substituted in the 67th minute.”
Celtic Park’s muted atmosphere noted
Elsewhere, a rival and more renowned publication A Bola explained how Celtic Park’s atmosphere was not up to its usual standards on a European night.
Many Celtic fans decided to boycott the match as a protest against the running of the club by the incumbent board, who were present at the game.
The attendance was around 42,000, a figure well below the capacity 60,000. By full-time, Parkhead was so quiet that you’d have been able to hear a pin drop.
A Bola stated: “In the heart of Catholic territory – which has seen better days, since the fans are turning their backs on the club’s directors, which is why the usual fervour of British stadiums was not felt (at all), which even allowed the Braga fans to be heard loud and clear for long minutes – the warriors demonstrated their faith and after taking the lead, they knew how to manage, suffer when necessary, and even dared to increase the score.”
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