Bellingham’s late heroics for Real Madrid stuns Man City – A Celtic Perspective…
Real Madrid Edge Thriller in Stoppage Time
Manchester City let a late lead slip as Real Madrid secured a dramatic 3-2 victory in the first leg of their Champions League play-off last night. Despite Erling Haaland’s brace, late goals from Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham flipped the tie on its head, leaving City with a mountain to climb in Madrid next week.
A Lucky Escape for Celtic?
While Celtic’s focus is firmly on tonight’s clash with Bayern Munich, there’s no denying we’ve been fortunate to avoid a European powerhouse like Real Madrid. The Spanish giants showed once again why they are the kings of this competition, and had we drawn them, it could possibly have been a far greater challenge than playing Bayern Munich.
When the play-off draw was made, Celtic had the possibility of facing either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, and although neither option was straightforward, drawing Bayern Munich was probably the lesser of the two challenges. Madrid’s European dominance speaks for itself, while Bayern, though still a top side, have not been at their usual best this season away from home in the Champions League.
Recent Meetings with Europe’s Giants
Celtic fans don’t have to look too far back to recall just how difficult both of these sides can be. The last time Celtic faced Bayern in the Champions League was in 2017, where the Hoops lost 3-0 in Munich before a much-improved 2-1 defeat at Celtic Park. The last meeting with Real Madrid came in 2022, where Celtic lost 3-0 in Glasgow before suffering a 5-1 hammering at the Bernabeu—an experience that showed just how ruthless Madrid can be on the big stage. Across those four games, Celtic conceded 13 goals, proving how punishing these elite clubs can be.
A Kinder Draw = A Bigger Opportunity for Celtic
Compared to Manchester City, who now have to go to the Bernabeu trailing, Celtic’s task is challenging but not impossible. Bayern, while formidable, have been inconsistent this season, and Celtic Park on a Champions League night has unsettled giants before. If the Hoops can put in a top performance tonight and in the return leg, progressing further in Europe is very much on the cards.
Brendan Rodgers acknowledged the challenge ahead but remains optimistic about the team’s progress this season: “Over the course of the eight games, we’ve proven in this first season that there are elements to our game which are making progress. But, of course, we’re in it for a purpose and the purpose was to get to this stage.”
Rodgers also recognised Bayern’s status but stressed that Celtic must embrace the occasion: “Bayern Munich are one of the giants of the European game. They really are football royalty in terms of what they’ve achieved over many years at this level. So for us to be in a position where we can challenge them is a great marker for us.”
Crucially, Rodgers emphasised the importance of making the second leg count: “What is important for us is that we’re very much alive in the tie going over to Germany. That would be the key message for us, but we want to go and perform.”
A Pre-Match Boost – Celtic’s Secret Weapon
Celtic received a major pre-match boost ahead of tonight’s clash when it was confirmed that Daizen Maeda would be available for the game against Bayern Munich. The Japanese forward has been in brilliant form this season, netting 21 goals, with his most recent being a hat-trick in the weekend Scottish Cup win over Raith Rovers.
Maeda had been serving a two-match suspension after a red card in the home game against BCS Young Boys, but thanks to a successful appeal by the club, his suspension was reduced to one game. With that served against Aston Villa, Maeda is free to play tonight, adding both attacking and defensive capabilities for Celtic as they aim to take a strong result into the second leg
Big Performances, Big Attraction
A strong showing against Bayern Munich would not only keep us in the competition but also help attract top players in future transfer windows. Players want to be part of teams that compete on the biggest stage, and proving we can mix it with Europe’s elite could be a major boost for recruitment.
Now, it’s time for the Bhoys to step up. This would be the biggest win for Brendan Rodgers across his two spells at Celtic. The lights are on, the stage is set—let’s make it count…
COYBIG!
Dubai Bhoy
READ THIS…“With the energy and the support, anything is possible in the game,” Brendan Rodgers
