The colours which lit up the Glasgow sky last night had nothing on the fireworks inside Celtic Park as Brendan Rodgers’ side produced a scintillating display to see off Leipzig, a team who currently sit second in the Bundesliga.
It was a mature and composed display from a Celtic side will feel that it may even have been more. Other than a tentative ten minute spell when they were rocked by Leipzig’s opener, it was a game where they were bold but measured as they claimed what could come to be regarded as a pivotal win in their Champions League campaign.
A double from the excellent Nicolas Kuhn flipped the game in Celtic’s favour after Christophe Baumgartner had opened the scoring for the visitors before Reo Hatate claimed a deserved third in the second period.
It puts Brendan Rodgers’ side on seven points after four games and with two home games remaining; the possibility of the knockout stages will now come into sharp focus.
This game is also means that it is the first time in 17 years that Celtic have enjoyed three successive Champions League victories at Celtic Park. It is also only the second time that Celtic have conceded first in the Champions League but have come back to win the game.
More notably was the fact that this was Celtic’s first win over a top five league in the competition for 12 years and their first win over a German side in the Champions League.
Celtic started brightly as they looked to absorb the energy of a frenetic crown into their performance but it was Leipzig who were first to celebrate.
Baumgartner netted the Bundesliga side in front midway through the opening period as Leipzig took the sting out of the game.
Kasper Schmeichel’s first real save of the night came he got down low to tip Lois Openda’s effort wide.
From Kevin Camp’s resultant corner, the ball was flicked off the head of Cameron Carter-Vickers with Baumgartner nodding into the back of the net.
It spooked Celtic with the hosts losing their composure in the immediate aftermath of the goal. Willi Orban glanced and effort wide of the post as Leipzig threaded to double their lead.
It Kuhn who pulled Celtic back into it with an audacious curling effort that may well have been a cross that was intended for Daizen Maeda. In any case, whether it was a cross or a shot, his ball arched its way into the far corner to put Celtic onto level terms.
Suddenly, the vibrancy of Celtic’s early play was back. Maeda hit an effort wildly over from the edge of the box and Alistair Johnston had an effort straight into the arms of Leipzig keeper Peter Gulacsi before Kyogo broke through only to be denied by last gasp block.
As the interval beckoned, Celtic made the most of their pressure. Greg Taylor’s cutback was missed by Maeda but was anticipated by Kuhn who drove his effort low into the back of the net.
Both teams had chances in the second period.
Schmeichel had to push away ban effort from Benjamin Sesko while Reo Hatate drew a stop from Gulacsi down after Kuhn had turned provider.
It prompted a flurry of Celtic chances with an Auston Trusty effort blocked before Kyogo skied an effort. McGregor then let fly with a half-volley that flew wildly over the bar.
Not that the traffic was all one way; Schmeichel was called into action as he dived low to his left-hand side to push away an effort from Baumgartner.
Celtic got the third they craved to ease the pressure. Gulacsi won’t want to see it action. The Leipzig keeper made a mess of Johnston’s ball across the face of goal, spilling the effort with Hatate quick to manipulate the situation and turn the ball into the back of the net.
There might have been a fourth. A glorious ball from Hatate picked out Kyogo and sent him rushing towards goal before his ball across to Maeda was blocked.
Hatate, too, blasted a wild effort well wide in added time.
Maeda thought he was in on the act only for an offside flag to rule his effort at the death.
Celtic could afford a wry smile. By that stage the work was done.
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