Celtic star was simply “tremendous” again

It says so much that there was a sense of deflation round Parkhead at full-time on Wednesday night time, with Celtic pressured to accept some extent following what was a good affair with Belgian facet, Membership Brugge.

Whereas that 1-1 draw might seem like two factors dropped for the Hoops – notably after dispatching RB Leipzig final outing on house soil – it an indication of the membership’s rising energy within the Champions League that such a consequence was seen with frustration, relatively than positivity.

After all, a spot within the play-off spherical is way from safe, though it’s value remembering that the Outdated Agency facet are simply two factors off the highest eight, having additionally discovered themselves above the likes of Actual Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, no much less.

Confronted with a Brugge facet who noticed off Premier League high-flyers Aston Villa previous to the worldwide break, the hosts could be inspired by their show, with a handful of people having caught the attention throughout the park.

Celtic’s greatest performers vs Brugge

There isn’t any getting away from it, this was not Brendan Rodgers’ males at their free-flowing greatest, with it having taken the half-time interval for the house facet to really get going in opposition to the Professional League outfit.

Unsurprisingly, among the many catalysts after the break was that man Daizen Maeda, with the relentless ahead curling house the trouble that his efficiency deserved, having defended from the entrance in outstanding vogue.

Elsewhere, a phrase should even be stated for the ever-reliable skipper, with Callum McGregor pulling the strings within the centre of the park, having fun with a staggering 95% cross accuracy from his deep-lying midfield berth, as per Sofascore.

The long-serving playmaker supplied that much-needed expertise within the coronary heart of the Celtic facet, with veteran asset Kasper Schmeichel additionally once more making his mark within the sticks, having made three key saves, whereas additionally having fun with a 98% cross accuracy of his personal.

That stated, it was one other new arrival who undoubtedly stole the present, even forward of that man Maeda…

Celtic’s hero vs Brugge

Often unflappable, Cameron Carter-Vickers had an evening to overlook following his freak personal objective halfway by means of the first-half, with the US worldwide producing an errant back-pass to reward the guests the benefit.

Fortunately for the previous Tottenham Hotspur man, that early error didn’t impression the remainder of his efficiency, with the Celtic backline largely holding agency from then on, not least attributable to his worldwide colleague, Auston Trusty.

The £6m summer season signing has now firmly ousted Liam Scales from that left centre-back berth and it is clear to see why, with the 26-year-old having been merely “large” once more on the night time, within the phrases of journalist Ryan McGinley.

Notably among the many key performers within the overcome Leipzig, the ex-Sheffield United man was once more a person mountain on the again, profitable 100% of his aerial duels, in addition to profitable three of his 5 floor duels.

For a participant who had by no means performed within the Champions League previous to this season, the American has largely taken to Europe’s premier competitors like a duck to water, having showcased his composure in possession after racking up a mammoth haul of 133 touches, in addition to recording a 97% cross accuracy fee.

After a interval of a lot turbulence within the centre-back ranks lately – amid the failed signings of the likes of Maik Nawrocki, Gustav Lagerbielke and Yuki Kobayashi, simply to call just a few – Trusty is, as his title suggests, now a trusted performer for Rodgers and co.

Efficiency in Numbers

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The horror-show in Dortmund apart, the one-time Arsenal man is now a part of a defence that appears unlikely to crumble on the massive stage, with the Glasgow giants lastly having a stable defensive basis to construct on.

Three essential Champions League fixtures lie forward to determine Celtic’s destiny – does the knockout stage beckon?

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Worse than Carter-Vickers: Rodgers should drop Celtic man who gained 0 duels

The Celtic attacker didn’t take pleasure in a profitable night at Parkhead in opposition to Membership Brugge.