What a game of football! It takes two teams to entertain as thoroughly, so credit to the losers. RB Leipzig worked their way into the game, took an early lead and threatened to put the match out of sight through corner kicks alone. But so much more credit to the winners.
Celtic were magnificent. We have seen one or two more impressive results this century, but the general consensus walking out of Celtic Park last night, was that perhaps only the 2-0 win over Lyon in 2003 was as impressive a performance. Perhaps.
Celtic opened well and found angles to move the ball around the Leipzig defence from the off. The visitors tried to pass through the high Celtic block but our setup was different than it was in Dortmund on matchday two.
Lopsided
Out of possession, Daizen Maeda drifted infield, often leaving Leipzig’s €18m summer signing, Geertruida in 20 yards of space. It looked dangerous, but as the game progressed it was clear that Leipzig prefer to build down their left. Daizen playing infield stifled their ability to progress the ball and he was able to make up the ground whenever Leipzig switched play.
This enabled Celtic to press 25 yards from the Leipzig goal without the vulnerabilities we saw earlier in the campaign.
Leipzig opened the scoring after a short period of possession, gained when Auston Trusty misplaced a pass. The 10 minutes which followed their opener was littered by similar mistakes throughout the midfield and defence. Celtic were rattled and at this stage, could have seen the game slip from them.
Arne Engels played a ‘round the corner’ pass to Nicolas Kuhn, who drifted past two defenders and set for a shot from outside the box. Too far out, surely?
Yesterday, a friend noted that goals change games and if two years ago against Real Madrid, Callum McGregor’s strike against the post had gone in, we may have earned a result.
Kuhn’s swerving shot struck that same post on 35 minutes, but this time, the ball fell into the net. Celtic were level and Leipzig had a game on their hands.
Reo Hatate was magnificent throughout but on two occasions he played forward passes which deserved a scoring outcome. With the game level he threaded a ball right through the middle of the Leipzig formation for Daizen Maeda to run onto. Daizen shot first time from 25 yards before the keeper was set, but failed to find the target. Later in the game, Reo’s raking 60 yard pass with the outside of his foot, swerved around the Leipzig defence before finding Kyogo. Goodness, what a pass.
In an echo of football in a former era, Kyogo dribbled past two defenders to make space for a shot inside the box, but a third managed to get a block to turn it behind. As halftime approached, Celtic continued to press and a great passing move saw Alistair Johnston free in the box; his left foot shot was saved.
The Celtic press was in full fight now. With seconds remaining before the break, five Celtic players cornered Leipzig on the right side of their box. Kyogo was knocked to the ground but the pivotal moment of the game had arrived. Reo Hatate hit the byline, looked up and saw Greg Taylor point to space along the line.
Taylor collected and smashed a low cross into the six-yard box, where Daizen Maeda replicated his fresh air shot, so successful in a recent League Cup Final. The ever-alert Kuhn beat everyone to the loose ball to put Celtic ahead.
Celtic could have extended their lead several times before Reo Hatate got the goal his play deserved on 72 minutes. Kuhn rolled a no-look pass into space for Johnston to fire another low cross into the box. All Gulacsi in the Leipzig goal could do was halt its progress for Reo to pounce and fire high into the net.
Brendan Rodgers managed the final quarter of the game through assiduous use of substitutions. Valle and Bernardo for Taylor and Engels, then Scales and Yang for Carter-Vickers and Kuhn, finally Idah for Kyogo. Every change reenergised Celtic. There was no weakness, no dropping off. It was the perfect performance.
The evidence is substantial, this is the best Celtic team since at least 2012.
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Just about coming back down to Earth after last night’s wonderful performance. What a rollercoaster it was!
The portents were there before the match as I stood outside the Main Stand chatting to friends an hour before kick off. The sky above kept exploding in a riot of colour and stars as fireworks were set alight all over the East End of Glasgow. It reminded me of a match we played under Martin O’Neill on Bonfire Night too. We were too hot for the Belgian opposition to handle that night too. One of their fans was reported, at the time, as asking, “Is Glasgow always like this when Celtic play in Europe?” I wonder if the Leipzig fans asked the same question last night?
The atmosphere inside the ground lived up to the noisy fireworks outside. We started brightly playing some lovely football. However, our hopes looked as if they were going to be dashed after Leipzig took the lead after Kevin Kampl’s excellent corner. I’m fed up looking at Kevin. He’s played against us for Salzburg or Leipzig on about 8 occasions during the last 10 years. Wonderful player. We were seriously spooked as Leipzig threatened to pour on more misery in the next 15 minutes. I said to the guy next to me that if we didn’t get a grip soon we could lose 5-0. Oh Me of little faith!
We did get a grip and what a grip it was. I can’t remember us ever playing football like we played last night and I’ve been watching since 1959. It was like Celebrity Come Dancing. Our players salsa’s and pirouetted and walzed around our opponents as if Giovanni Whatsisname, the disgraced professional, was in charge of choreography at Lennoxtown.
The team were sensational on the Park and the fans were sensational in the Stands. Hopefully we are watching a Celtic team that will establish our long lost reputation as a club to be feared in Europe. Last night’s was the type of performance that the Lisbon Lions generation was raised on. It is extremely important that we do everything in our power to maintain and build on this level of performance.
ZIGGYDOC1
UEFA restricted seating due to advertising boards has been in existence since Celtic first competed in the CL in the rebuilt stadium. The seats visible and empty are in the first three rows and season ticket holders are relocated for these games.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUAwqfKlu6g
i to thought leipzig chucked it for the last 10, they didnt expect to lose, they heads went down with kaspars two great saves, and i then though they just didnt want to lose any other goals.
special mention to kyogos defending of corners, where did the wee man learn that ?
pre match there was an interview with german media person who stated that leipzig would win easily as they are better than dortmund.
also brendans interviews, he really is top executive material, talks so much sense, and breeds confidence.
after match, he also said, sure nicholas was good, but he can improve his pressing game, and hatate was a wow, as was callum, but brendan knows this, and that scales was happy enough that he is part of it all, and indeed is mightly improved and improving still
all in, i agree with others, our best european performance in 20 years.
A thing that really stuck out for me last night was when Trusty went down and the close images showed how his ankle buckled. I thought that there was no way he could play on. Even when he came back on I thought he isn’t going to run that off as it was a pretty sore one. WOW, what a tough guy!!! Not only coming back on but shutting them down all over the field. Reo’s pass to Kyogo in the second half was nothing short of world class. The control and then megging the player in front before was just as good. kasper’s save at his near post when Baumgartner brilliantly controlled the ball in the air and shot, was awesome. Too many good things to write down. What a day to be a fan. Thanks Players, Brendan, Coaches, and the wonderful fans at the game and all over, who refused to buckle down after giving up the goal.
We are watching something very special before our eyes. Calmac, what a feckin player and role model to any player in any position.
Hail Hail,
Sean
The comments on FF last’s night Tuesday Football thread were fascinating. The majority were acknowledging that they are nowhere near us and won’t be any time soon. A fair few complained that we had the easiest CL fixtures any team could possibly wish for but plenty pointed out that was a nonsense.
Probably the biggest frustration they have is how majority of our signings were within their price range (2-4 million) but while we signed Reo, Kyogo, Daizen and Kuhn they signed crocks and crocks of shit. Most admitted that is because be have a good football operation set up and theirs is a joke. Another few noted that the speed of our players and their fitness levels leaves them looking pedestrian. What makes them even angrier is that, despite playing a much more physical game, we have no injury crisis while they have a full A&E ward while playing walking football.
Now don’t get me wrong. The forum was full of hatred and hateful language towards all things Celtic but they are not blind nor are they burying their heads in the sand. Vast majority are resigned to being second best for some time to come.
FROM FF, who says they can’t be rational?:
“I didnt watch them, but 3-1 vs the 2nd place team in Germany is nothing to laugh at.
Their group touted the easiest, but last years CL finalists, Europa winners, a very good Atalanta team and the worst pot 4 away draw possible in Villa.
We can say all we want ,they would’ve been hammered by these teams in the past, but Rogers learned from Dortmund and our manager says that a loss to Aberdeen was our best performance of the year, and goes same again vs a Motherwell team crippled by injuries and staggers over the line.
I have stuck up for Clement, but their manager and recruitment is miles ahead, and all the “lucky draw” talk in the world doesnt change a feckin thing.”
Saint Stivs on 6th November 2024 1:55 pm
“pre match there was an interview with german media person who stated that leipzig would win easily as they are better than dortmund.”
I wonder if they backtracked as quickly as Pat Nevin who “was not surprised” that we were the better team and had won. I think Tom English nearly choked describing our performance as Joyous also.
Glad to see the BBC match report has been fixed – Amy Canavan’s initial report said we beat the 2nd best team in Germany (“albeit they are 15 points behind Bayern” – it should have been 3 points, 15 GD I think). Either she can’t read a league table or it was an honest mistake to make any uninformed readers downplay the team’s achievement.
QB
What a difference in Hatate’s game now,doesn’t give the ball away as much now,Lubo would have been proud of that pass
Good afternoon all from the Torrisdale Tavern. The fun never stops. 👍🍻
3-1 ,could have been 6 was a result and display exceeding all expectations . No flukes , no against the run of plays , no Barca 10% posession with two shots on target and two goals, and no complaints from Leipzig who were beaten by the better football team .
As much as I enjoyed our goals and breathtaking attacking play , the part of the match which gives me the most satisfaction looking back ,is the last 15 minutes . I would normally be filling my pampers in a game like this expecting a storming finish from our ‘superior’ opponents to surrender our glory moment , but the comfort with which we played transmitted through the crowd and though the tv screens . We were in total control and never likely to be pegged back . That’s how top teams see out games .
I don’t think we got outnumbered in midfield once,which has always been a problem
TOSB
Great post.
100% agree.
Slightly conflicted today.
I had a whole load of teams I was happy to see winning this week and others losing.
Now with sights trained on a top 8 position ( well aiming high is surely a good thing ?) I am reassessing this and a different set of results could suit us.
Next 2 games are big :
At Kilmarnock on plastic and at Hertz at 7.;5 on a Saturday night after the Int break.
For Sunday a team with experience on that surface would do for me.
Scales McCowan Taylor etc.
B78
Think we will need 12 points for the playoffs and Uni Emry reckons 16 for top 8.
Ive been banging on for awhile about the standard of fitness and conditioning of the Celtic first team , whoever has made changes I don’t care but it’s obvious to me that both of these essentials have improved markedly, you can be outplayed by better technical players but should never be beaten for your fitness or conditioning.
Plenty miles in the legs of our team and it shows.
opta super computer predicts a 16th place finish.
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But win it they did, and Celtic’s seven points (W2 D1 L1) is already their most in a Champions League campaign since 2012-13 (10). They last scored more goals (currently 9 in 2024-25) in a Champions League/European Cup campaign in 1977-78 (13).
As a result, their chances of qualifying for the last 16 have now shot up to 40.8%, which is almost double the chance they were given at the start of the tournament (21.1%). According to the supercomputer’s predicted points totals, they are expected to finish 16h in the group phase.
https://theanalyst.com/2024/11/champions-league-upsets-sporting-milan-celtic-real-madrid-man-city-leipzig
and the virtuos circle continues to payout dividens,
————-
Celtic’s stunning win over RB Leipzig moved them closer to smashing through the £40MILLION Champions League prize money barrier – as the victory also launched Scottish football up the coefficient table.
The Hoops came from behind to dump the Germans 3-1 at Parkhead on an electric European night under the lights in the east end of Glasgow and the benefits are multiple as Scotland jumped above Greece, Denmark AND Switzerland thanks to the 0.4 points earned with the sensational triumph against the team sitting second in the Bundesliga.
Crucially, it means Scotland – who soared from 17th position to 13th – are now sitting pretty with the top 15 nations in the coefficient table earning two spots for the 2026/27 Champions League. Norway and Austria are directly above them but now within touching distance.
THe 3 0 win over Benfica in 2006 was nearly as good a performance with two goals from Kenny Miller (!) and another from Stephen Pearson.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/celtic-fc-foundation_celticfc-activity-7259855585918029825-x6yG?utm_source=social_share_video_v2&utm_medium=android_app&utm_campaign=whatsapp
From a German Tabloid
After the Celtic defeat! Rose spat with DAZN reporter
That was nothing! RB Leipzig also lose their fourth Champions League game – 1:3 (1:2) at Celtic Glasgow after a subterranean performance.
The mood after the final whistle was correspondingly tense. Leipzig coach Marco Rose (48) came to the interview with broadcaster DAZN in a state of shock. And then got into an argument with field reporter Mario Rieker, who began the interview with the question: ‘We talked about pressure before the game, how did your team deal with it?’
Rose replied: ‘Are you smiling?’
To which Rieker said: ‘Because I’m a friendly person.’
Rose: ‘Okay, then you stay as you are.’
Rieker: ‘No, I was being serious. Why should I give you a nasty look?’
Rose: ‘We’re talking about a pressure situation and you’re smirking. That’s kind of… But, I’ll answer the question professionally anyway.’
Rose then begins his analysis: ’I think that in the first five minutes we saw exactly the Celtic sequences that we discussed beforehand. From the 10th to the 35th minute, it was a very decent game from us with the lead.’
He continued: ‘Then we got the 1:1 through a nice individual move, which was of course also discussed beforehand. We didn’t defend well and consistently enough before the break – just like before the second goal in Dortmund. We have to lead tackles and not let them get where they can finish.’
Leipzig can probably tick off the Champions League play-offs after four defeats. In purely mathematical terms, this would require three wins from the remaining four games. Next up is Inter Milan, then Aston Villa, followed by Sporting Lisbon and finally Sturm Graz. Three of the four opponents are among the top eight in the table.
Veteran Kevin Kampl: ‘They always had an answer, didn’t let themselves get rattled, just like they played out from the back in the second half. We tried to press high. But they weren’t impressed. We were always one step too late, then you get into a sustained run and then it becomes difficult.’
Sporting director Marcel Schäfer (40): ‘I think we have to address things very clearly. Because it’s not our ambition: on the one hand, in terms of results. On the other hand, in terms of the way we want to play football.’
Leipzig already have the chance to do better against Gladbach on Saturday. After the performance in Dortmund, RB must also make amends in the Bundesliga…
That means, with two wins, one draws and a defeat for their opening four Champions League games, Celtic have earned: €4.2m in prize money, which equates to around £3.5m. Adding their phase allocation of €18.62m, and Celtic have earned a total of €22.8m, which is around £19.1m, before gate receipts.
———————–
fix the roof while the sun shines.
if we wont expand the stadium at least replace the main stand steel roof.
Celtic Champions League prize money
League phase participation – €18.62m (€17.87m down-payment and €750k balance).
Performance bonuses – €2.1m per win, €700k per draw.
League ranking bonus – Each club will earn at least €275k for their league phase campaign – for every position above 36th, another €275k will be added to the bonus.
Furthermore, clubs ranked 1-8 at the end of the league phase will receive an additional €2m with clubs 9th to 16th pocketing €1m.
Progression bonuses – qualification for the knockout round play-offs: €1m per club
− qualification for the round of 16: €11m per club
SAINT STIVS
Who or what gives you the right to tell posters not to respond “if you watched the game from an armchair”?
Your childish obsession with empty seats is entertaining, though not in the way you would want it to be, and is only matched by your arrogance in dictating who may and may not deign to reply to your repetitive nonsense.
I watched the match last night from the comfort of my armchair and have attended 2 games this season, having transferred my Season Card to my nephew in Glasgow who had spent 4 years on the waiting list.
I gave up my seat for age and health reasons after supporting Celtic at home and abroad for 60+ years. Does that make me any less of a supporter? Does it render my opinions invalid and unwelcome?
I used to really enjoy your contributions to CQN until you started your laborious and petulant obsession. You crossed a line today.
thanks for that considerate response, i know why you gave it up,
it is not childish obsession, it is observations from the matches.
like i said, dont read it if you find it annoying.
FAO DAVID66….
Are you and the family all okay Mate ?
Ive been texting you since last week with no response ?
I read your ONE Post yesterday about your plans for your Birthday on here yesterday, but I havent seen any Post from you TODAY after Celtics great performance last night ?
As I said, I hope that your okay ?
HH Mate.
https://allreplays.com/uefa/champions-league/celtic-vs-rb-leipzig/
For anyone who missed the game,highlights from last night’s games on TNT at 4pm
https://youtu.be/MUAwqfKlu6g?si=BcLc0jm4rAYgZQyz
Unique Angle- the effort to win the ball back for the 2nd goal is amazing
Debt of gratitude to Big Ange for bringing over the 3 Japanese talisman
The identity of the team would be entirely different without our 3 Japanese’s heros
Come all ye young rebels and list while I sing
For love of one’s country is a terrible thing
It banishes fear like the speed of a flame
And it makes you a part of the patriot’s game
My name is O’Hanlon, I’ve just gone sixteen
My home is in Monaghan and where I was weaned
I’ve been told all my life cruel England’s to blame
So I am part of the patriot’s game
It’s barely two years since I wandered away
With a local battalion of the bold IRA
I’ve read of our heroes, I’ve wanted the same
For the play up my part in the patriot’s game
This Ireland of ours has for long been half free
Six counties are under John Bull’s tyranny
And most of our leaders are greatly to blame
For shirking their part in the patriot’s game
They told me how Connolly was shot in his chair
His wounds from the battle all bleeding and bare
His fine body twisted, all tattered and lame
They soon made me part of the patriot’s game
Now I am dying, my body all holes
I think of those traitors who bargained and sold
I’m sorry my rifle has not done the same
For the Quislings who sold out the patriot game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUAwqfKlu6g
unique angle, wunderbar
sometimes it’s the little things in games that matter. I loved Liel Abada when he played for us but he used to infuriate me when a full back would overlap and he would give a hospital ball to our player. Looking at our 3rd goal last night, it is all about the timing of the run from AJ, and the release and weight of the pass from NK. They have done that so many times so far this season. It is hard to be a winger at any team never mind ours. NK is not a traditional winger but his confidence on the ball and his workrate is absolutely brilliant. he and Maeda are amazing. Yang also did very well when he came on last night, as did all the subs.
What a squad we have to choose from.
Sean
https://x.com/antearmann1967/status/1854188699740668142?s=19
Happy Birthday Celtic
Hail Hail
Sean
Did you make work today?🤣
Happy birthday to the wonderful Glasgow Celtic. 💚
one of those vlogger persons, very good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW8m2FSK358
With a couple of minor edits, Pauls’ opening today would work well for the US Election result..
“What a game of football! It takes two teams to entertain as thoroughly, so credit to the losers. RB Leipzig worked their way into the game, took an early lead and threatened to put the match out of sight through corner kicks alone. But so much more credit to the winners”
Harris should be congratulated for making it slightly competitive against all the odds. She was never going to win this thing with her strategy being totally focused on how bad Trump would be for the American people. Virtually no ideas other than the usual nonsense soundbites to grab an ever willing media’s attention. The fact that she hasn’t had the grace to accept defeat and congratulate the winner says everything about her character. One day there will be a female American president, but I’m very glad this honor was not granted this time round. Biggest problem for me is that we now get Tim Walz back as our MN governor 😒