Celtic confirmed a refreshingly totally different aspect to their character away to Atalanta final trip. Earlier than that sport, followers may need been minded to supply up prayers within the hope that the harm inflicted on them could be modest.
What they obtained was a disciplined efficiency, a terrific defensive effort which had its foundations in wonderful goalkeeping from Kasper Schmeichel. They rode their luck at instances and had been grateful for some errant ending from the Italians, however what they delivered was pragmatic and mature.
Rodgers mentioned he would by no means transfer away from his teaching beliefs, however he shifted barely in Italy and the group was significantly better for it. The naivety and vulnerability of the 7-1 in Dortmund had gone. As a substitute, there was realism, focus and a starvation to remain within the struggle.
Extra of the identical, then. One other draw could be a superb consequence. That may take Celtic to 5 factors with very winnable house video games in opposition to Bruges – twenty sixth within the desk – and Younger Boys – thirty fifth of 36 – to come back.
A degree in opposition to Leipzig and 6 in opposition to the opposite two, and Celtic are home-free and within the play-offs.
From Leipzig’s perspective, nonetheless, that is absolutely a must-win. They’ve zero factors after a brutal run of video games and after Celtic they’ve Inter, who’re sitting seventh, Aston Villa, who’re high, and Sporting, who’re eighth. After that they’ve a gimme in opposition to Sturm Graz, however three factors may be ineffective at that stage.
They will not lack class and so they will not lack desperation, both. As a membership, they’re a unprecedented outfit. Within the final six years they’ve purchased in additional than a half a billion in revenues from participant buying and selling alone. Celtic have a superb observe document on that entrance, however Leipzig are in a league of their very own.
Naby Keita to Liverpool, Timo Werner to Chelsea, Dayot Upamecano to Bayern Munich, Christopher Nkunku to Chelsea, Dominik Szoboszlai to Liverpool, Josko Gvardiol to Man Metropolis, Dani Olmo to Barcelona. They’ve executed 15 totally different offers starting from £10m to almost £80m. The Leipzig tills have been ringing relentlessly.
They may presently be sitting pointless and 11 locations under Celtic within the Champions League desk, however the nuance comes with the information that it was Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Liverpool they misplaced to, all by a single aim.
They’re second within the Bundesliga and, till the weekend once they misplaced 2-1 to Borussia Dortmund, they had been on an all-time membership document run of 19 video games unbeaten within the league. No one at Celtic will want any telling about Leipzig’s clear and current hazard.
What Celtic do within the face of that hazard is the compelling bit.
