EUROPEAN nights bring pressure of their own, and for Celtic, hosting Braga was a chance to gain control of their Europa League campaign. With points at stake and expectations high, this was no gentle run-out. The match carried weight, both for standings and for belief. Supporters wanted to see a statement, a strong showing that underscored the club’s credentials.
Instead, the evening unravelled. What followed was a frustrating performance marked by early promise, defensive uncertainty, and a contentious VAR decision. By full-time, Celtic had slipped to a disappointing defeat that left more questions than answers.
By the second half, many non gamstop betting sites had Celtic down to 4/1 odds for live in-play bets. These sites are gaining popularity in the UK thanks to quick sign-up processes, wide international coverage, and flexible deposit options. Many also offer fast withdrawal times and minimal verification steps, which appeal to users looking for speed and convenience. However, for Celtic fans and punters, it was one to forget.
Celtic began with energy. Sebastian Tounekti and Kieran Tierney combined down the left flank and forced Lukas Hornicek into an early save around the 13th minute. The hosts looked capable. Braga waited patiently. The breakthrough came when Horta received a pass from Jean‑Baptiste Gorby and unleashed a powerful shot beyond Kasper Schmeichel, who could only palm it into the inside of the net.
In the second half, Celtic believed they had levelled when Kelechi Iheanacho’s effort struck the net, but after a lengthy VAR check, the goal was disallowed for handball. Momentum shifted heavily in Braga’s favour. Tierney and Tounekti went close, but Hornicek stood firm with two fine saves. Late on, and still fresh off his new deal, Dane Murray got in a clearance that was blocked down by Gabri Martinez and turned home. That sealed the win and left Celtic now winless in their last three fixtures.
Tounekti stood out amid the frustration, registering the most shots (three), most touches in the box (13), completing seven of eleven dribbles, and winning ten duels. Still, the Celtic attack remains blunt. The side posted a low 0.65 expected goals (xG) across three shots on target, while Braga managed 1.05 xG from six shots.
This defeat adds to an alarming trend. Things were already bad enough early in the year. However, Celtic have now failed to score in five of their twelve matches this season. That matches the total number of blanks they had over the whole of last season. The team has now endured its quickest run of five games without a goal since 1991‑92.
VAR was introduced to bring clarity and fairness to decision-making, but it’s increasingly becoming a source of confusion and frustration. Delays in play, inconsistent outcomes, and a lack of transparency have led many fans and players to question whether it improves the game at all. Moments of celebration are regularly paused, often killed altogether, as everyone waits to see if a goal or decision will be overturned. Instead of eliminating controversy, it has in many cases shifted the debate from the referee’s view to the interpretation of off-site officials.
What’s most troubling is how subjective the system has become. While offsides can sometimes be clear-cut, decisions around handball, fouls, and intent often seem to vary wildly from match to match. Supporters in stadiums are left in the dark, with little explanation as to what’s being reviewed or why a goal has been disallowed.
However, none of this should detract from the fact that Celtic need drastic improvement. Two losses in two games and sitting horribly low on the table now, fans demand better and hope the club can provide it soon.
