MIKA BAUR has played a mere 65 minutes of Champions League football and is now within touching distance of realising a lifetime ambition.
The German midfielder arrived from Bundesliga club SC Paderborn in a deal that will rise to £6.8million in add-ons earlier this month and made his first Hoops start and also his debut in European football’s elite competition six days ago.
Baur slotted in beside skipper Callum McGregor and Benjamin Nygren for the first leg of the £40million winner-takes-all play-off against Austrian champions LASK under the lights in the east end of Glasgow.
The 22-year-old smooth operator was blown away by the Hoops fans in the packed arena as Martin O’Neill’s side earned a 3-0 advantage ahead of this evening’s return in Linz.
DOUBLE THE JOY…Benjamin Nygren celebrates his strike in the 4-0 Premier Sports League Cup victory over Dundee United at Tannadice with Mika Baur about to join in.
Baur, who was replaced in the opening tie with Reo Hatate after the hour mark, revelled in the atmosphere and admitted it was a dream to play alongside Nygren who thundered the hosts into the lead against LASK with a breathtaking left-foot volley.
Camilo Duran walloped in an equally-spectacular second goal before the interval and the Sweden World Cup ace set up the Colombian raider with the opportunity to whip in the third.
Baur was unstinting in his praise of his new team-mate as he enthused: “Benji’s an incredible player. He’s so good on the ball.
“Also, his work-rate is quite high. He also speaks a lot with me and helps me. I really enjoy playing alongside him.”
Skipper McGregor also earned an accolade from the Germany Under-21 performer who said: “Callum also really helped me. It’s not like I can tell you exactly what he said to me. It’s more some tips during the match, before, after and during the break.
“Just small details, but they helped me a lot to feel comfortable.”
EURO STARS…Mika Baur and Yang Hyun-jun race to congratulate Benjamin Nygren after the Swede’s stunning opening goal against LASK at Parkhead last week.
Baur, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “I feel really good coming here. Last week was a tough match, with a lot going on for me personally, but it was a big win for us as a team.
“I felt really comfortable because the team helped me a lot. It was just amazing to feel the atmosphere, to feel the energy. It pushed me a lot.
“I had goosebumps. When it stopped and everyone was shouting, it was so loud, it was incredible.
“I’ve never experienced anything like that before.
“Did I sign to play in the Champions League? For sure it was one reason.
“To have the Champions League nights, everyone talks about them. But it was also other points like the size of the club, the playing style, which is really dominant.
VOLLEY GOOD SHOW…Camilo Duran thunders a second goal into the LASK net.
“Our mentality and our energy need to be the same as we had last week. We need the ball, we need to attack, we need to defend. So, I hope it should be no different.
“LASK showed they are a dangerous team. They played well, had a couple of chances and two goals disallowed. So, we have to be focused and concentrated.”
Emphasising his belief Celtic will get the job done tonight, Baur added: “We know we are always able to create chances.
“We are always able to score goals, but we are also able to defend and fight.
“Everyone loves the club, everyone wants to give positive energy, especially on a Champions League night.
“Everybody felt it in the team last week, especially me. It was new for me.”
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