Celtic fans rejoice after memorable Champions League night
Celtic 3 - 1 RB Leipzig
Nicolas Kuhn delivered an outstanding performance, inspiring Celtic to come from behind and secure a thrilling third consecutive Champions League home victory at the lively Celtic Park against Germany's RB Leipzig.
>After a dominant six-goal League Cup win over Aberdeen on Saturday and a tough draw away to Atalanta in the previous matchday, expectations were high for this game, despite Leipzig being the top seeds. Celtic very much delivered in what was probably their best performance in a European match for several years.
How the action unfolded - an unbiased reflection of a wonderful night for Celtic fans
We burst onto the pitch with real intent, pressing high and applying pressure from the start. In the opening minute, Reo Hatate’s sharp pass to Daizen Maeda set the tone, and Arne Engels' shot—blocked by the Leipzig defence—signalled Celtic’s ambitions.
RB Leipzig, struggling to match Celtic’s pace, nearly saw Kuhn break the deadlock in the fifth minute, with his teasing cross only just cleared by Willie Orban. The visitors’ relief was short-lived, however, as Kuhn’s persistent play kept causing them problems.
Although Celtic started strongly, Leipzig posed a threat on the counter, with Benjamin Sesko forcing a deflection for a corner in the 18th minute. A misplaced pass from Auston Trusty in the 22nd minute allowed Antonio Nusa to set up Lois Openda, but Kasper Schmeichel, celebrating his 38th birthday, made a vital save, tipping the ball away.
Leipzig found a breakthrough in the 23rd minute from a corner. Kevin Kampl’s delivery was inadvertently flicked on by Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Christoph Baumgartner was quick to head it home, briefly silencing Celtic Park.
Celtic responded with determination. In the 35th minute, Kuhn announced himself with a moment of magic. Receiving the ball from Engels, he wove past his marker and curled a stunning shot past Peter Gulacsi, striking the post before going in. The roar at Paradise was deafening as Kuhn scored his eighth goal of the season against his former club.
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Just minutes later, Maeda had a chance to turn the match around following a skillful outside-of-the-boot pass from Kuhn, but his shot went over, leaving fans with their heads in their hands. Just before the break, Reo Hatate’s clever pass found Alistair Johnston, but Johnston’s weaker left-footed shot was easily saved by Gulacsi.
Celtic’s relentless pressing finally paid off in first-half injury time, with Kuhn striking again. After Taylor’s last-ditch cross fell to him in the box, Kuhn coolly slotted it in, sending Celtic Park into ecstasy and putting the Hoops 2-1 up. It was a masterclass in pressing from Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Celtic kept up the pressure in the second half, with Callum McGregor setting the tone through his dynamic play. In the 50th minute, the captain drove forward, weaving past three defenders before laying it off to Kuhn, who came close to clinching his hat-trick but sent the shot just wide.
Leipzig, eager to find an equaliser, were repeatedly frustrated by Schmeichel’s heroics. The Danish veteran made a vital save in the 64th minute, diving to his right to deny Sesko. Only a few minutes later, Christoph Baumgartner was also left in disbelief as Schmeichel’s quick reflexes thwarted him in the 71st minute.
The determination finally bore fruit in the 72nd minute. Kuhn and Johnston linked up superbly on the right, with Johnston’s cross slipping through Gulacsi’s hands. Hatate, alert to the opportunity, pounced on the loose ball and fired it into the roof of the net, putting Celtic 3-1 ahead and sending Paradise into raptures
