“Celtic played like a football school. It’s a pity.” – Slovan Bratislava players reacts to Celtic’s Victory in the Champions League, speaks about Celtic to the Slovakian Media.

Celtic produced a commanding performance in their UEFA Champions League group-stage match against Slovan Bratislava, winning 5-1 at Celtic Park. The victory not only secured three important points but also demonstrated the Scottish club’s growing strength in European football. The win was a powerful statement from Brendan Rodgers’ side, as they outclassed their Slovakian opponents in almost every aspect of the game.

This result is especially significant for Celtic, marking their largest Champions League group-stage victory and putting them in an excellent position for the rest of the competition. While the Hoops were favored to win, few expected such a comprehensive display, and Slovan Bratislava’s players admitted they were given a “football lesson” during the match.

A Dominant Display from Celtic

Celtic were dominant from the start of the match, with goals coming from Liam Scales, Kyogo Furuhashi, Arne Engels, Daizen Maeda, and Adam Idah. The team’s fluid attacking play was too much for Slovan Bratislava to handle, and by the end of the match, the visitors were left reeling from the sheer intensity of Celtic’s football.

The Slovakian side had their moments early in the game, with striker David Strelec lamenting the missed chances that could have changed the course of the match. “It’s a pity we didn’t score to make it 1-0 or 1-1,” Strelec said after the match. “In the second half, we were dismantled and we can be happy that we only got five. The atmosphere was great and so were the people, but we came here to get a point, and unfortunately, we didn’t manage to do that.”

Despite Strelec’s hopes, the second half of the match belonged to Celtic, who continued to pile on the pressure and increase their lead. By the final whistle, it was clear that Celtic had sent a strong message to the rest of Europe about their intentions in this year’s Champions League.

Slovan Bratislava’s Midfield Veteran Reflects

One of the standout performers for Slovan Bratislava was veteran midfielder Juraj Kucka. With past experience playing for AC Milan and Genoa, Kucka knows what it takes to compete at the highest levels of European football. After the match, he admitted that Celtic had given his team a “football school.”

“We got a good football school,” Kucka said. “We saw how fast it is to be equal to such teams. We showed something, but we need to improve a lot, especially in the transition to attack. Their whole team was well-organized, they moved well and got behind our backs. They knew how to put it together at the right moment.”

Kucka’s comments underline the challenge that Slovan Bratislava faced against Celtic. Despite his team’s best efforts, they were unable to match the speed, organization, and tactical awareness of the Scottish side. Celtic’s ability to control the game from start to finish was one of the key reasons for their dominant victory.

Brendan Rodgers’ Tactical Brilliance

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers deserves much of the credit for his team’s outstanding performance. Since his return to the club in 2023, Rodgers has implemented a style of play that emphasizes quick transitions, high pressing, and precise passing. Against Slovan Bratislava, all of these elements were on full display.

Rodgers’ tactical approach allowed Celtic to dominate possession, controlling 60% of the ball throughout the match. The team also managed 16 shots on goal, with 11 of them on target. Of these, nine were considered big chances, which highlights the attacking threat that Celtic posed. The Bhoys had 36 touches in the opposition’s penalty area, further emphasizing their superiority.

In addition to their attacking prowess, Celtic were also physically dominant, winning 50 duels to Slovan Bratislava’s 40. This physicality, combined with their tactical discipline, ensured that Slovan Bratislava never had a chance to impose themselves on the match.

The Numbers Show Celtic’s Domination

The statistics from the match tell the story of Celtic’s overwhelming dominance. With an expected goals (xG) total of 3.79 compared to Slovan Bratislava’s 0.51, the game was one-sided from start to finish. Celtic’s ability to create clear-cut chances, combined with their ruthless finishing, made it a long night for their Slovakian opponents.

Slovan Bratislava’s defense simply couldn’t cope with the pace and movement of Celtic’s attackers. Kyogo Furuhashi, in particular, was a constant threat with his off-the-ball runs, while Arne Engels’ penalty further compounded the visitors’ misery. By the time Adam Idah added Celtic’s fifth goal, the result was beyond doubt.

Slovan Bratislava’s Struggles

For Slovan Bratislava, the match was a sobering reminder of the gap that exists between them and Europe’s top clubs. Despite being one of Slovakia’s most successful teams domestically, they struggled to keep up with Celtic’s tempo and intensity.

Strelec’s comments about being “dismantled” in the second half reflect the difficulty that Slovan Bratislava had in maintaining their defensive shape and discipline. The Slovakian side had hoped to come away from Celtic Park with at least a point, but the quality of their opponents made that impossible.

The veteran presence of players like Juraj Kucka was not enough to turn the tide for Slovan Bratislava. While Kucka’s experience in Serie A gave him an understanding of what was required at this level, his teammates were unable to match the technical and tactical demands of the match. In the end, Slovan Bratislava were outclassed in every department.

Looking Ahead for Celtic

For Celtic, this victory is an important step towards qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League. With a favorable draw in the group stage, the Scottish champions will be hoping to build on this result and secure further victories in the coming weeks.

Brendan Rodgers will be pleased with the way his team performed against Slovan Bratislava, but he will also be aware that tougher challenges lie ahead. Celtic will need to maintain their current form if they are to progress to the latter stages of the competition.

The win against Slovan Bratislava has given Celtic fans hope that their team can finally make an impact on the European stage. After years of struggling to compete with Europe’s elite, Celtic look like a team that is ready to challenge for a place in the knockout rounds.

Conclusion

Celtic’s 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava was a statement of intent from Brendan Rodgers’ side. The Scottish champions dominated their Slovakian opponents from start to finish, and the statistics show just how one-sided the match was. With goals from a range of players and a solid tactical performance, Celtic proved that they are a force to be reckoned with in this year’s Champions League.

While Slovan Bratislava were given a “football school,” as Juraj Kucka described it, Celtic will take confidence from this victory as they look ahead to the rest of their Champions League campaign. The win puts Celtic in a strong position, and if they can continue playing with the same intensity and discipline, they could go far in the competition.