Kühn scores brace as Celtic take step towards Champions League progression | OneFootball

Nicolas Kühn scored twice as Celtic produced an excellent display in the UEFA Champions League. The 24-year-old scored twice in the minutes at the end of the first half to give Celtic the lead before Reo Hatate made it 3-1 with 18 minutes remaining.

The Bundesliga side RB Leipzig arrived in Glasgow’s East End looking for their first points of the new-look group stages after defeats to Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Liverpool; however, they were to leave Glasgow empty handed after Brendan Rodgers’ side dominated the game.

Under the lights at Paradise and roared on by a capacity crowd, Celtic started brightly, zipping passes around and probing for gaps. An unforced error from Auston Trusty resulted in successive corners – the second that gave Leipzig the lead.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – NOVEMBER 05: Sir Alex Ferguson in the stands prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Celtic looked to have been slightly shaken by the concession of a goal, allowing two decent chances for the visitors to follow. Thankfully, Orban and Nusa missed the target. Celtic clicked back into gear and their passing tempo improved.

Arne Engels forced a scrambled goalmouth clearance, which buoyed on the Celtic support. Moments later, the Celts were level thanks to a beautiful effort from Kühn. The product of Leipzig’s Academy cut in from the right, as he so often does, before bending an effort in off the post.

The goal gave the support and the team a real belief and they pushed Leipzig up into their own half. With one minute signalled from the Fourth Official, Celtic launched into an aggressive press down their left hand side, penning the visitors into a corner. The result was that Reo Hatate found himself on the byline, able to pass it along to Greg Taylor with the Birthday Bhoy sliding it into the path to Kühn, who couldn’t miss.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – NOVEMBER 05: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers talks with Callum McGregor of Celtic during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Into the second half and Celtic controlled possession, shifting it around and making their opponents work. Moments before Reo Hatate made it 3-1 with a fortuitous tap in, Schmeichel made an excellent stop at his near post to deny Leipzig from pulling an equaliser back in their only real chance of the half.

It was a seismic result for the club, beating the Pot One side at Home and really putting the club in a favourable position to reach the next phase of the competition. Next up is Club Brugge at Celtic Park at the end of the month.

Celtic now turn their attentions to this Sunday’s trip to Ayrshire to face Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. Derek McInnes will be eager for his side to capitalise on a European hangover on their treacherous Astro surface.