This new Champions League format was being talked up as favourable to the Scottish champions and the early signs are very positive.
There were five different goalscorers on the night, Liam Scales’ headed goal started off the proceedings, before the team ran riot in the second half.
Kyogo Furuhashi, another Arne Engels penalty, Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah off the bench joined the Celtic goalscoring party.
This was a mix of Brendan Rodgers’ signings impressing and scoring, as well as the man he replaced last summer, Ange Postecoglou.
The Treble-winner used his know-how in the Asian market and snapped up some absolute gems for the team, including the arrival of derby-day king, Kyogo.
The Japan international has 75 goals for the Bhoys and he is already a modern-day great, with more chapters yet to be written.
Micah Richards gave Kyogo his flowers after Celtic’s demolition job of Bratislava by saying ‘what a player’ he has been for the club.
The former defender highlighted the confidence with which Celtic were playing and how the new format ‘gives Celtic a chance’, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (18/09/24 at 10:25 pm).
Kyogo Furuhashi helps Celtic to Champions League win
“After one goal, soon came another,” said Richards. “Kyogo Furuhashi, what a player he has been for Celtic. At the right place at the right time. Cooly finishes it off.
“At this stage, they were looking very confident – and then number five was Idah. Lovely through ball and it’s cooly slipped home. Look at that, flying past the goalkeeper, no chance. 5-1.
“With the format, it gives Celtic a chance, doesn’t it?”
Adam Idah and Kyogo Furuhashi competition
Kyogo has years of goalscoring under his belt, and that in huge games, to suggest that he is still the main man up top.
But Idah’s successful loan spell last season has opened the door for the player to now produce that over a whole season and create some serious competition for those starting spots.
Perhaps there could be an opportunity, here and there, for the duo to play together.
But, either way, this healthy competition is going to benefit Celtic and it’s a great headache for Rodgers to have, especially with expectations rising in Europe.
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