Celtic FC kicked off their UEFA Champions League (UCL) campaign in style, marking their first opening match win since 2001 with a dominant 5-1 victory over ŠK Slovan Bratislava. This triumph is especially significant as it only represents the fourth win in their last 33 UCL matches. The emphatic win follows a perfect start to their domestic season, where they have won all five league games without conceding.
Early Pressure and Opening Goal
From the first whistle, Celtic exhibited an attacking intent. Daizen Maeda, quick off the mark, nearly opened the scoring but saw his shot sail over the bar. The pressure soon paid off when Liam Scales scored from a corner, becoming the first Republic of Ireland international to find the net in the UCL since 2011.
Missed Opportunities and VAR Drama
Celtic’s relentless pressure continued, with Kyogo Furuhashi nearly doubling the lead. However, his effort was blocked by Slovan’s Dominik Takáč. In a moment of controversy, Slovan thought they had a penalty after a shot from Vladimír Weiss struck Scales’ arm, but the referee Danny Makkelie waved play on. Despite Celtic’s eight shots and four on target, they only had a slender one-goal lead at halftime.
Second Half Surge
The second half saw Celtic return with renewed vigor. Within two minutes, Furuhashi capitalized on a swift team move to score Celtic’s second. The atmosphere at Celtic Park was electric as Alistair Johnston won a penalty shortly after. Arne Engels converted from the spot to give Celtic a commanding three-goal lead.
Slovan’s Brief Resurgence
Slovan managed to pull a goal back on the hour mark through Kevin Wimmer, who finished neatly after Celtic failed to clear their lines. However, any hopes of a Slovan comeback were quickly extinguished. With his fourth attempt, Maeda finally scored, assisted by Reo Hatate, and Adam Idah completed the rout with a fifth goal after being set up by James Forrest.
Looking Ahead
Celtic’s perfect start to their UCL campaign positions them well for their next challenge against Borussia Dortmund. Meanwhile, Slovan Bratislava faces a challenging task as they host Manchester City.
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Conclusion
Celtic’s impressive 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava is a promising start to their UCL campaign. With a perfect domestic record and a solid European performance, Brendan Rodgers’ side looks set to make waves this season. Keep up with all the UCL action and more with BangSports for the latest betting opportunities and sports news.