Celtic are more than capable of beating Braga tomorrow night, but our forwards need to be on top of their game…
Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic misses a good scoring opportunity. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 27 September 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock/IMAGO
Tomorrow evening sees us take on Portuguese side Sporting Braga at Celtic Park in match day two of our unexpected Europa league group stage campaign.
Braga are or course a decent side and will cause us problems that’s not in question, but we are more than capable of getting the required result to strengthen our case for automatic qualification to the last 16. Anything other than a victory will on the other hand leave us with an uphill battle to qualify.
Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic reacts after missing a good scoring opportunity. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 27 September 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock/IMAGO
But let’s consider the positives. We’re at home under the lights at Paradise, Brendan Rodgers has a strong pool of players to pick from, and with the added experience of last years participation in the Champions League, we have every right to feel confident about our hopes of winning this match.
Our chances will be a whole lot better if our forward line are on top of their game though, something they’ve not been these last couple of games, where they have looked a little lacklustre truth be told, especially when it comes to taking chances.
Sebastian Tounekti of Celtic & Josh Mulligan of Hibernian Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 27 September 2025Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/Shutterstock
Defensively we have been solid and creatively we are getting better , but our end product is letting us down as was evident in Saturday’s goalless stalemate with Hibs.
I’d imagine Kelchio Iheanacho, is going to be our main man up top with Sebastian Tounekti and Daizen Maeda the men tasked with supplying him, and all three have got to be on top of their game if we are to take anything from the game.
That should apply to the outfield players may I add, especially the midfield trio who also need to be more confident and assured when it comes to attempts on goal.
Daizen Maeda of Celtic & Jordan Obita of Hibernian. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership,Celtic Park, 27 September 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/Shutterstock
The signs are encouraging after a more assured display against Hibs, but all that was missing of course was goals. Let’s hope we see some tomorrow night.
Continue reading on the next page to see what Brendan Rodgers had to say in his exclusive interview with Celtic TV yesterday….
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Celtic more than capable of beating itself on current form especially if the ineffectual Ralston Engels Maida are picked, or at least securing another bore draw. Time to get Liewwell in the dugout seeing as he’s already picking the team.
We have to start seeing progress at europa league level, to even consider getting back to becoming CL level for next season, simple as that.
We are nowhere near such levels, if we aren’t capable of scoring goals, the deciding factor in matches.
Losing the amount of goals from last season, was always going to be a massive problem to resolve, especially within the markets we operate within.
Hardly helped with Maeda not on his game either at present.
Attacking players need goals to boost their own confidence levels, so hopefully this gets resolved quickly, as starting to become a requirement for ourselves, especially within our bigger games.
We are yet to click in that department, and no better time than the next available game.
Even at that, we still need more than just trying to depend upon our 3 starting players in such areas also.
That still looks a work in progress, especially with the 5 sub rule in operation nowadays.
So changes will occur during the match tomorrow night, and little signs to date that such changes are going to actually make an impact for ourselves to date.
The longer the lack of goals continue, the more the pressure will increase upon the attacking options.
Will take any form of victory’s over the next 2 games, for now.
Especially with the amount of work that still looking like a requirement for ourselves, over the international break in our attacking areas.
Hopefully there chances will improve with a better functional midfield also. With the amount of goals lost from last season, the midfield areas are hopefully going to start contributing more also within the goal scoring and assisting department also.
They have hardly crowned themselves in glory either, within the start of the season imo.