Brendan Rodgers took his Celtic side to the Netherlands to face Feyenoord as they looked to make fast start in Champions League Group E, with Lazio and Atletico Madrid looming over the horizon.
De Kuip, translated literally to ‘The Tub’, filled up almost half an hour before kick off as the players were subject to a raucous warm-up on a blustery Rotterdam night.
Reo Hatate returned to the starting XI alongside debutant Luis Palma as Celtic started the brighter of the sides.
The Japanese midfielder had the first real opening of the match with 15-minutes gone, driving forward only to unleash a tame effort towards the grateful arms of Timon Wellenreuther in the Feyenoord goal.
The hosts were missing talismanic Mexican forward Santiago Gimenez, serving a suspension carried over from the previous campaign, and although the grew in confidence as the half wore on, their forwards remained blunt in the final third.
Feyenoord remained in control of possession whilst Celtic looked dangerous with their, albeit occasional, counter attacks as Daizen Maeda tested the goalkeeper with 8 minutes left of the half.
The Scottish Champions were almost undone minutes before the break when Maeda was caught napping out wide as the hosts robbed possession and drove up the field, only for Quilindschy Hartman’s shot to be deflected wide.
As it looked as though the side would go in level at the break, Feyenoord broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time. Calvin Stengs lined up a free kick and curled his effort beyond the palms of Joe Hart, sending the home fans delirious.
The former England stopper looked aggrieved the his wall had not done more to block the shot although the veteran keeper seemed to make Stengs mind up for him, with the left hand corner gaping for the attacker to find the net.
