“These games are tough and you want to have your best players in as quick as you can to tackle these sorts of situations. But it is what it is and I just have to accept where it’s at.” — Brendan Rodgers, Celtic manager after the match
Đánh giá trận đấu: Phân tích hiệp một
Celtic failed to secure an advantage in their Champions League playoff first leg, drawing 0-0 with Kazakhstani side Kairat at Parkhead.
The match marked Brendan Rodgers’ 800th game as a manager, but celebrations were muted as the Scottish champions struggled to break down their well-organized opponents.
The home side made six changes to their lineup, with Kasper Schmeichel, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales, Reo Hatate, Benjamin Nygren and Adam Idah all returning to the starting eleven.
Despite expectations of an early onslaught from the hosts, it was Kairat who settled better in the opening exchanges.
The visitors even had the ball in the net in the 11th minute through captain Aleksandr Martynovich, but the effort was correctly ruled out for offside.
Kairat’s 17-year-old forward Dastan Satpayev, who is reportedly Chelsea-bound, showed impressive skill and composure throughout the first half, contributing to his team’s fluid counter-attacking play.
A significant blow came for Celtic in the 32nd minute when defender Alistair Johnston suffered what appeared to be a hamstring injury and had to be stretchered off, with Anthony Ralston coming on as his replacement.
Nỗ lực tấn công trong hiệp hai
Rodgers made a tactical change at half-time, replacing Adam Idah with Yang Hyun-jun and moving Daizen Maeda to a central striking position.
The adjustment nearly paid immediate dividends when, within a minute of the restart, Yang set up James Forrest whose shot was touched onto the post by Kairat goalkeeper Aleksandr Zarutskiy.
As the second half progressed, Celtic increased the pressure and racked up numerous corners, but struggled to create clear-cut chances against a disciplined Kairat defense.
The visitors were dealt a blow in the 75th minute when goalkeeper Zarutskiy sustained an injury defending a corner and had to be replaced by understudy Temirlan Anarbekov.
Despite the addition of 10 minutes of stoppage time, Celtic couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Their best opportunity fell to Maeda who ran through on goal but could only manage a tame shot that was easily saved by the substitute goalkeeper.
Phản ứng của người hâm mộ và áp lực cho ban lãnh đạo
The final whistle was met with boos from the Celtic supporters, many of whom had earlier directed chants of “sack the board” toward the club’s hierarchy.
This fan frustration appears to stem not only from the disappointing result but also from perceived inactivity in the transfer market, with no deadline day signings made despite the team’s European ambitions.
When asked about the fans’ reaction, Rodgers offered a diplomatic response:
“I do know that, over many years, ‘sack the board’ normally means ‘sack the manager’. It’s normally the manager that goes when that starts to be sung. I can only really look at the players we have here, and the performance.”
The Celtic manager acknowledged the need for reinforcements, adding:
“We’ve known for a long time what we’ve needed as a squad. The boys are a great bunch of lads, they’re really honest. They’ve started the season well. Defensively, they’ve been strong. But tonight, offensively, we just couldn’t show those moments of quality to break through.”
Thách thức phía trước: Chuyến đi Kazakhstan
Celtic now face a challenging second leg in Kazakhstan on Tuesday night, following their domestic league fixture against Livingston on Saturday.
The return journey represents a grueling 7,000-mile round trip, adding to the difficulty of the task ahead.
Rodgers acknowledged the challenge, stating:
“We’ll now get ready for Saturday and then the long haul on Sunday. Then we’ll try and get through on Tuesday.”
Các trận đấu Champions League khác
While Celtic struggled at home, there were mixed results for other teams in Champions League playoff action:
| Team | Result | Notable Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Bodø/Glimt | 5-0 win vs Sturm Graz | Kasper Høgh scored opener in dominant display |
| Fenerbahce | 0-0 draw vs Benfica | José Mourinho’s side couldn’t capitalize on red card |
| Basel | 1-1 draw vs Copenhagen | Xherdan Shaqiri scored penalty before visitors equalized |
Bodø/Glimt put one foot firmly in the group stage with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Sturm Graz.
The Norwegian side raced into a 3-0 lead before half-time thanks to goals from Kasper Høgh, Odin Bjørtuft and Ulrik Saltnes.
Høgh’s opener was particularly impressive, finishing a flowing team move with a delicate chip over the goalkeeper.
In Istanbul, José Mourinho’s Fenerbahce were held to a goalless draw by Benfica, despite the Portuguese side having Florentino Luís sent off in the second half.
Meanwhile, Basel and Copenhagen played out a 1-1 draw, with Xherdan Shaqiri putting the Swiss side ahead from the penalty spot before Gabriel Pereira equalized for the Danish visitors.
Đánh giá tổng thể và triển vọng
For Celtic, this result represents a missed opportunity to take control of the tie on home soil.
The return leg in Kazakhstan now becomes a much more precarious proposition than many would have anticipated.
Rodgers’ comments about needing to improve the squad highlight a potential disconnect between the manager’s ambitions and the club’s transfer activity.
As the Celtic boss noted:
“We need to improve the squad. I think supporters see that. This is a performance club. This is a club that has to perform. And that starts on the field. You do that with getting the very best players you possibly can to allow you to perform.”
The coming days will be crucial for Celtic as they prepare for the long journey to Kazakhstan, knowing that their Champions League aspirations hang in the balance after this frustrating stalemate.
