Celtic have a great chance to progress in the Champions League after their rousing defeat of RB Leipzig last night.
To a man, Celtic’s players were outstanding as they battled RB Leipzig to take another big step to secure a place in the play-off places.
Nicolas Kuhn was immense hitting a double and Celtic hero, Reo Hatate, put in an excellent shift and added the Hoops’ third goal to seal the win to end another memorable Champions League night at Celtic Park.
And as the Celtic players earned the adulation of the support, the German media reacted to a result that many of them didn’t expect.
Celtic cause RB Leipzig ‘crisis’ as Nicolas Kuhn causes Champions League ‘shock’
Confidence must have been high in Germany of Leipzig pulling off a result. The performance in Dortmund must have given the media hope that Leipzig could come to Glasgow and get their first win of the tournament.
Well, false hope is better than no hope but after the Bundesliga recorded their fourth defeat of the league phase, the German media were scathing in their criticism.
Rheinische Post: “In Glasgow, RB Leipzig concede the next bankruptcy. A German becomes the match-winner for Celtic. In the Scottish cauldron at Celtic Glasgow, the Saxons deservedly lost 3-1 thanks to a brace from Kühn and are without points after four games.”
ZVW: “Glasgow – Zero points in the Champions League and in the Bundesliga, the problems after the defeat in Dortmund are not getting any less: The 3-1 defeat at Celtic Glasgow revealed a lightning drop in the system at RB Leipzig despite taking the lead.”
Aachener Zeitung: “Celtic played the best defence in the Bundesliga until the final phase, sometimes dizzy. When Peter Gulacsi bounced the ball from Alistair Johnston, Hatate dusted off to make it 3-1. The game was decided.”
RAN: “A German shocks RB Leipzig: The ambitious Bundesliga club must seriously fear for progress in the Champions League after a gala by its former youth player Nicolas Kühn.”
LVZ: “For RB Leipzig, everything is going according to plan at Celtic FC. Then an ex-Leipzig player turns the game around and plunges the Saxons deeper and deeper into crisis, threatening an early exit.”
Where Club Brugge sit in Champions League ahead of Celtic Park visit
Club Brugge are Celtic’s next opponents in the Champions League and if Brendan Rodgers can collect all three points against the Belgians then a play-off place is a shoo-in.
But where does Brugge currently stand? Currently sitting 27th with three points, the Belgians face English Premier League side Aston Villa at the Jan Breydel Stadium.
Villa are flying high and are favourites for the match. If John McGinn’s side defeat Brugge tonight then they are almost certainly heading out of the tournament with a Celtic Park visit up next.
Celtic fans will be hoping for a Villa win so that the Belgian Pro League side have the prospect of heading to Celtic Park lacking in confidence.
Brendan Rodgers is in a great place as Celtic have four fixtures left to secure a Champions League play-off place or, dare I say it, automatic qualification from the group.
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