- 1 day ago
Coverage of the league phase match from Celtic Park, as the hosts play their first home game of the competition. The Scottish club haven't appeared in this tournament since the 2021/22 season when they finished third in their group behind Bayer Leverkusen and Real Betis.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00Thank you very much Emma, good evening everyone. Normally when the floodlights burn and European
00:06football beckons this place is one of the great cathedrals of the game but tonight a strange air
00:12hangs over Celtic Park. The planned 29 minutes silent protest has been postponed after club
00:18officials agreed to meet fan reps and address their ongoing discontent but there remains a
00:23palpable disquiet among supporters and skepticism towards those in the boardroom and tonight
00:30that is reflected in an expected attendance of around two-thirds of Celtic Park's 60 000 capacity
00:37against this backdrop Celtic have a job to do in Glasgow's East End a Braga side grappling with
00:43foundering form and the ire of their own fan base have arrived eager to make their march and back up
00:49their opening match day triumph over Feyenoord who can seize the initiative on this second match day
00:56at the UEFA Europa League
01:13it's not the Champions League music the Celtic fans longed and perhaps expected to hear piping around
01:31this arena but it still invokes such promise such appetites for the famous knights which may lie just
01:37around the corner
01:46Brendan Rodgers makes four changes to the side which drew with Hibernian on Saturday both full backs are
01:50switched with Kieran Tierney on the left and 19-year-old Colby Donovan trusted to follow up a brilliant outing in
01:56Belgrade on the right Paulo Bernardo earns his first start in over a month with Benjamin Negrin also
02:01coming into the midfield three and once again Diasa Maeda will be deployed on the right of the front
02:06three as he seeks to rediscover his best form a home European debut for new signing
02:11Kelechi Iheanaccio who leads the line tonight
02:17Tobias Steeler heads up for German team of officials tonight he was the referee back in 2019
02:22for the Libyan champs go famously sunk Lazio for Celtic in the stadio Olimpico and secured the boys a
02:28statement victory in the Italian capital
02:31these clubs will hope the Europa League can inject fresh impetus into their domestic campaign Carlos
02:41Vincenzo warning his players changes were afoot and he hasn't held back six alterations to his 11
02:47marquee summer signing Paul Victor will help spearhead the attack a whole new midfield trio of Jean-Baptiste
02:53Corby Vitor Carvalho and Florian Grilic former Celtic defender Gustav Lagabielka plays at the back
03:00with Yanis Darocha chosen on the right Portuguese icon João Moutinho and top scorer for the season
03:06Fran Navarro both among the Braga substitutes tonight
03:15well you'll never walk alone is so often the cry around Celtic Park
03:19particularly when European football is on the cards but right now the picture being painted
03:25is a club and its fan base not walking in perfect harmony
03:48little delay in proceedings but off we go the Europa League returning to Celtic Park may lack
03:58the ultimate allure the vast financial rewards of its big sister competition
04:03but for Celtic and Braga it does represent a golden opportunity to make deep inroads into this
04:09continental arena and after cautiously positive starts for both teams on match day one
04:14it is over to the Scottish champions and the Portuguese contenders to continue their quest
04:21for the top eight in the league phase and the ultimate road to Istanbul the final which is paved in
04:28the distance ahead Joe Hart Brendan Rodgers isn't perhaps perceived by some of the problems of his
04:34opposite man Carlos Vicens in the Braga dugout but he needs a big performance tonight doesn't he yeah of
04:40course he does evening everyone it's a big night no getting away from it that kind of air around
04:44Celtic parks the first time I've been here this season a little bit subdued but that could be
04:49changed with a big European performance tonight Brendan Rodgers has addressed all the problems that he's
04:54had in front of him good good chance for Paolo Bernardo tonight please to see Colby Donovan getting
05:00another go in Europe he deserved it after last week um yeah potentially a big night looking forward to it
05:06Jean-Marquise Golby one Frenchman one of the new additions to this Braga midfield tonight
05:13a bright Arian B reportedly a big target for West Ham over the summer
05:22Braga do like to play it from the back it's characterized what they're trying to do under Carlos
05:27Vicens who was a long-time disciple of Pep Guardiola was an assistant to Pep Barcelona and Manchester City for
05:35many many years his first job in the number one position today
05:40here come Celtic their first furry forwards McGregor
05:46Turing playing to the captain once more
05:51two proud Celtic men down the left
05:57Negrin he introduced to the line-up tonight
06:00and Colby Donovan what an outing he had in Belgrade
06:03Lider to Negrin in comes
06:05and the first corner of the night belongs to Celtic
06:09yeah he linked up well in Belgrade Negrin he looked a real threat especially in that second
06:13half when Celtic had a far better performance good start excited to see this Braga team trying to play out
06:21Dyson Maeda getting the nod tonight I'm sure what he's all about with that
06:25press that blindside press threatening them the whole game
06:30Paulo Bernardo will flight this opening corner in for Celtic
06:34deep delivery can't say Vickers can't get there
06:36Celtic recycle through Tierney looking for the run of Bernardo
06:44they're all cut out and Leonardo Lelo most assists for Braga this season completing the clearance
06:51Celtic perhaps just putting themselves under some pressure
06:59Brendan Rodgers seeking his 200th win a Celtic manager across both spells in the dugout
07:04his 13th match in charge in this competition
07:21nice Maeda once again deployed on the right of that front three Celtic look to
07:26find a way for him to recapture his best form
07:28it's an interesting dynamic that Joe we understand nice Maeda wanted perhaps expected
07:37to be leaving Glasgow over the summer what's he like what kind of a player and a person is he
07:43dealing with this setback
07:46but we'll bring that up in a minute because Kieran Tierney is on his bike
07:49looking for options Bernardo was on the edge of the box
07:51and a crucial touch from Grilic takes it away
07:56yeah just on Dyson Maeda I think I was with him two and a half years and I can't tell you
08:02he's um yeah his English was good actually he understood he understood the banter
08:09but he's one of those he was just a real good soldier you know he turned up every single day to
08:12work hard he had his way of doing things didn't necessarily integrate like like I've done my whole
08:18career um but I can't knock him very respectful man good person good family man like I say turned
08:25up trained his heart out every single day and tried to improve um and you know it's difficult
08:30moments there's no getting away from it he probably would have felt like he was getting away he felt
08:35like he'd done his time at Celtic and got himself an amazing opportunity but at the end of the day the
08:40football club employs him they'd have come to some sort of agreement I'm sure it's not one of those
08:44places where you're locking people away and telling them you can't have phone conversations but
08:49ultimately you've got to have your bet you've got to have top players still at the club and if Celtic
08:52didn't feel like they were they could replace him at that moment in time as it got a little bit messy
08:56towards the end of the window um then they couldn't let him go and look anyone no matter how much of a
09:01machine you are no matter how focused you are it affects you and Dyson will be no different but
09:05Brendan's a great personal manager and they'll have had plenty of conversations that have worked out the
09:10best way to move forward because at the end of the day you can't do anything until January if that is
09:14still the case right on cue Maeda threading it through for Ian Accio Celtic in behind for the
09:19first time and the offside flag is raised but yeah I was just speaking pre-match actually Jamie about
09:26about Dyson and admittedly when he's not playing well or if he's not running like he usually
09:32well you'd see him to not run like he usually does you can't tell in his face because he looks like
09:38he's not trying all the time he's actually got one of these kind of poker faces that even when
09:42he's running at the speed light putting people under pressure scoring goals pressing the life out of
09:47people he looks exactly the same so when he's not having such a good game I think you can read into
09:51his body his mannerisms a little bit more than maybe he's actually giving away Celtic again just
09:57catching Braga unawares around their own box pressing from Negrin I think it's a dream formation to
10:05play against Celtic a team wanting to play out if they can get on top of them and nick the ball and
10:09turn the game over and get the crowd up real good opportunity and it will courage them to play as
10:14well Kobe Donovan just has his pocket picked by Lelo Donovan recovers well though and the teenager embarking on a charge
10:23Maeda sizing up right Arjen B first tussle between those two that'll be worth watching
10:31Hornacek to Yanis de Rocha one of those six changes that Carlos Vicenzo has made tonight
10:36they promised there'd be sweeping changes after Braga's poorest start to a season for five years
10:43five-game winless run in the Portuguese top flight and already the white handkerchiefs are out which
10:50normally heralds the end for a material reign in Iberian countries
10:56lost to Nacional the team from Madeira for the first time in a dozen years on the weekend
11:00lost to the sense of the man feeling the pressure right now
11:30Tirney to link up with Iheanacho Bernardo first touch takes him away and he links
11:43with Tunette Kate Maeda had made the run down the right
11:46still Celtic build once more Kasper Schmeichel 38 years of age now
12:00there's Tierney Iheanacho in cup shorts Lukasz Hornacek former Czech age-grade goalkeeper
12:10does the clearing for Braga
12:15where do you see the opportunities for Celtic tonight with the way that Braga set up Joe
12:20I think that early press that they're putting on there there's big spaces to get it into
12:25Iheanacho's feet so if he can hold the ball up tonight and bring
12:27bring Dajza Maeda into play I think there's a real opportunity for Celtic because this Braga
12:33team are going to press that's what they're being asked to do by the manager whether they're
12:36in good form or not they're being asked to play out and I know when your team's flowing and everyone's
12:41on the same page that's a great way to play football when you're not a little bit clunky there's
12:45opportunities to get through them so Celtic you've just got to keep their head and pick their
12:48opportunities mix it up between short and long
12:52Maeda holds it up for Tierney Sebastian 290 what a signing he's been for Celtic inside outside
12:59290 across the face no takers
13:02he's a proper Celtic winger isn't he get people on the edge of their seats confident brave
13:15turning his man inside and out here good ball across wanting the Iheanacho on the front foot but
13:21look when you put it into that area sometimes the striker you hold your ground when it cut back a
13:25little bit sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't but he'll want to be in that position a lot more
13:29tonight one-on-one with his defender
13:39cautiously Joe is this Celtic's best front three Maeda off the right Iheanacho in the middle and
13:45Tunecchi on that kind of form up the left I think as we stand people proving and earning the shirt I
13:51think Dajan would prefer play the other side but he's very much a team player Tunecchi's I think
13:57creativity will be stifled if he was on the right-hand side so if you're understanding that and playing
14:02it's the best with the players that you've got in the formation obviously Jota comes back into it
14:06doesn't he once he's fit but right now as they stand this will be the best front three they've got
14:14struggling to build momentum but they have pulled for it back here and Leonardo Lelo bombing forward for
14:20the first time not for long in steps Dajan Maeda and that as much as his attacking skills is what
14:26he can bring you I promise you honestly I know it wasn't a great performance uh last week out in
14:31Belgrade from Dajan Maeda but he literally just didn't have a good game like I say his his mannerisms
14:37make it look like he's not trained but that that blindside track look where he is now he's already made
14:40his ground he's up on the right hand side he's such a good team player and like I say he's a human as
14:46well so he would have been frustrated but that won't boil over for him he'll still have his head down
14:50he'll still be working hard for the jersey it wins from his opening 14 matches for Carlos Vicenzo
14:57it doesn't sound like too bad a record but quite a few of them coming in the Europa League qualifiers
15:01Schmeichel's short with that one, Gorbet, Paul Wittor just couldn't thread it through for Ricardo Horta
15:10and now Maeda up the other ends, R&B's marshalled them well
15:20first look at Gustav Lagrabielka 10 games for Celtic over a two-year spell left in the summer
15:25John Braga on a free and the foul given against Ricardo Horta on Liam Scales
15:32you know what Gustav made his debut with me at Ibrox alongside Liam Scales who'd come out of the dark
15:37and it was an amazing experience for the young man and he really stepped up we got a really good
15:421-0 victory really like him good professional very aggressive strong but he's part of an era where
15:47Carter Vickers and Scales had really established themselves so he struggled for game time
15:51but you know what I loved what I loved about him he was such a good professional so eager to learn
15:56delighted for him to be here playing at this high level tonight
15:59Junekti one-on-one with Darosha waiting for the cavalry to arrive Junekti and for Carter Vickers
16:10Scales
16:14Tierney
16:16and back once more to Liam Scales
16:20even impressed with his ascent to an integral part of this Celtic defence too as you said it
16:25from slightly out of left field he'd been out of Aberdeen he's come back and although
16:29Austin trusts he's not fit just now he's keeping him out of the team
16:32now here comes Celtic Bernardo with Junekti on the flank sizing up Darosha
16:38Junekti space for the shots and Lukasz Hornacek beats it clear
16:46tenacious work from Junekti and then he's upended
16:48the first booking of the nights goes to Janis Darosha and now Celtic Park begins to find its voice
16:58yeah I'm telling you Jamie that ball that Schmeichel just got caught probably two or three minutes ago
17:02but it's on with the press you can play through the lines lovely touch from Iheanacho
17:07see Tonetsky I talked about it earlier this is where he wants to be one-on-one cutting inside
17:11the Rock has got a really tough night tonight Celtic slicing through Braga
17:18but that ball from the back into Iheanacho is vital tonight and we just saw a lovely touch
17:24that opened up the flow of the game we'll see that more and more
17:34Benjamin Negrin one of the marquee summer recruits
17:38Swedish international stands over this dead ball
17:41plenty big bodies to aim at in the middle Scales and Carter Vickers both there wouldn't sit for Donovan
17:49Braga scrambling away
17:55Jamie you just asked me about Liam Scales delighted for him honestly I really am it's been excellent
18:01it's like there from Caspar Schmeichel but in turn he was done he was out the door one of those you know
18:07he came over young Irishman deserved his chance at Celtic didn't quite fit in in the first season
18:13we've got minutes and then I think he felt it was clear that he wasn't quite wanted when that a good spell at Aberdeen
18:20I don't think there was any secret he was trying to get back there he didn't feel like he had a place
18:23like I say injuries happened injuries occurred and that day that I talked about there at Ibrox
18:28Largo Bielka and Scales backs to the walls incredible performance and in fairness to Liam Scales he
18:34hasn't looked back really established himself full international now one of Celtics mainstays alongside
18:40Carter Vickers
18:45once again Celtics press forcing the mistake from Braga like I said when you're being asked to play
18:53and press it's great when you're playing well but when you're not it can seem really clunky and you
18:58can feel the pressure building building on that Braga team as Celtic start to just started to work them out tactically
19:06this again from Schmeichel and Amin Elwazani latches onto it for Braga powerful play from the striker
19:24scales he's got to be careful Schmeichel takes command
19:27yeah just two decisions recently just not quite got gone right for Kasper Schmeichel
19:41experienced goalie he'll learn from them
19:46Ricardo Horta Braga's captain record goal scorer with 140 to his name long-standing part of the furniture in
19:55Portugal
19:58Peter Carvalho
20:00Harry and B under pressure
20:02Potter can't get it past Donovan
20:06turning over possession again
20:14Junekti loses it and then Gustav Lagabielka has his ankles clipped
20:25just catches him
20:32don't think he meant to but he just got on his running line dangerous position good from Lagabielka
20:37Braga domestically five points worse off than they were at this stage last season finished fourth paving the way for a shot at Europa League qualification
20:53this the first opportunity for the Arsenalistas as they're known for that red and white home
21:02kit to load up the Celtic box Horta deep ball
21:06Gababielka went down claiming his shirt was tugged
21:09referee not interested he's begging and pleading tonight he was waving a imaginary yellow card with the with the last foul
21:20just gets tight with Paolo Bernardo there
21:23good diligent defending following him in
21:26no you're not getting a penalty for that no chance
21:33the left boot of Leonardo Lello
21:35Braga's weapon of choice here
21:38swirling ball on the head of scales and Carvalho
21:41had it taken off his toes by Donovan still alive for them
21:44Vito Carvalho and he scuffed it wide
21:48a few dangerous moments the scales not quite timing his header there beaten to it
22:01as it drops it's a decent opportunity
22:05Colby Donovan just putting enough pressure on him
22:07pulling it away from Laguerre Bielka and Paolo Bernardo his first start since the win over
22:18Livingston here 23rd of August over a month between drinks in the starting 11
22:23Tierney.
22:34Defensively, Celtic have been pretty resolute.
22:38Just a couple of league goals conceded all season,
22:40but it's at the other end of the pitch that they've struggled to find
22:43that flair, that ruthlessness that's characterised them under Brandon Rodgers.
22:47Yeah, they've looked very solid, you know, as you say, barely let a goal in this season.
22:51Advancing in the domestic cups.
22:53Last week, put under a bit of pressure, you know, a decent goal from Anatovic,
22:57but other than that, Captain Kasper Schmeichel made two pretty decent saves,
23:00but they look solid, they're very organised, they look very settled,
23:04but we all know the hardest thing in football is scoring goals,
23:06and Celtic just haven't quite got that belief and that flow yet.
23:09Those patterns of play that can have them so threatening,
23:12but, you know, that could change.
23:14Ternetke, Dyson Maeda getting his flow, Iheanacho getting fit, Jota back.
23:20Here's Lelo, taking it to the byline.
23:23Dangerous cross which Tierney's side puts away.
23:29Arjen B, looking through the youth ranks at Bayern Munich.
23:32Known as a beast by Joshua Kimmich, that's the quote he gave when asked about his qualities.
23:38Lelo ricocheting off Donovan.
23:42Gorby now opening it up for Riccardo Horta from distance.
23:47Oh, what a hit!
23:52And all the cautious optimism bubbling around Celtic Park has been punctured by a rocket from Riccardo Horta.
24:01Brilliant strike, strike from distance.
24:13As soon as it left his boot, I knew there was problems, the ball swerving all over the place.
24:18It ricochets in here, just opens up for him, just sets it high, just swerves late on Schmeichel.
24:33Of course the question will be why has he gone with his top hand,
24:36but I think Schmeichel's thought that's going to keep on rising, I need to tip it over.
24:40And just as it dips, you realise you're going to have to go away,
24:43make way more contact than you previously planned.
24:46Anguish on his face, difficult moment for Kasper Schmeichel.
24:51Great moment for Braga.
24:53Celtic looking for an immediate response with two neck teeth.
24:58Tussling against Lagabielka and De Rocha as well.
25:02And Braga do enough.
25:07Gorby with that sweeping pass, picking out the run of Lelo.
25:12Paul Victor, 12 million summer recruit from Barcelona, but Maeda with the interception.
25:20He's looking early for Iheanacho, he's brushed aside Cavallo, Kelechi Iheanacho,
25:25just can't find space for the shot, and then it's cannon off through old Tobias Steeler.
25:35Would have been ideal if he could just take that ball on the back foot there,
25:39but he wasn't quite sure if he was going to get a touch or not.
25:42Just over Cavallo's head, managed to scramble possession but didn't have the ascendancy.
25:49Nice touch from Lelo.
26:07Paul Victor, two summer signings combined, but Lelo skews it out of play.
26:13Well, Braga are a team under pressure, a team feeling the ire of their supporters.
26:18They haven't actually lost away from home.
26:20Five matches going back to the end of last season in May.
26:22Perhaps the pressure of playing away from their own fans.
26:27They've eased things a little bit on their travels.
26:30They've eased things a little bit on their travels.
26:32a team for joining us almost theo.
26:35They came back to nullies.
26:38and the people we met at a team.
26:47Schmeichel picking out Iheanacho, Cavallo...
26:48Schmeichel taking out Iheanacho, Carvalho with the added height, Bernardo zipping it towards Tunetke but cut out from Lagabielka.
27:03Yeah, he's gonna have the chance to use all the clubs in the bag tonight, Schmeichel, big, big space opening up through the middle, over the top of the press.
27:11Iheanacho showing, Maeda showing, they're gonna be his outlets, recycle the ball then and look to puncture and hurt them.
27:17Bernardo on the half turn, lufting it over the top neatly, and Tunetke will beat De Rocha to it, Maeda's in the middle, Lagabielka shuts the door.
27:37Brilliant from Bernardo, tried one just before, that kind of half volley snapped pass.
27:43Tunetke gets on to it again, Tunetke calls for it and gets it.
27:50Scoot behind Nicole and his goal kick.
27:56Does this go down as a goalkeeping error, Joe, or are we being too harsh?
28:00Look, there's no doubt that I'm gonna be accused of being in the goalkeepers union, but that ball is doing all sorts.
28:05Schmeichel just doesn't quite get set.
28:07And once the trajectory of the ball doesn't go where he thinks it is, once he commits with that top hand,
28:12as it just dips on him, makes it really, really difficult.
28:15Of course, Kasper Schmeichel doesn't want to get beat from there.
28:17He's a top, top class goalkeeper.
28:19And when he reviews that, there'll be things he could have done better.
28:23But it was an incredible strike.
28:25Sometimes you've just got to say, well done, he saw his opportunity.
28:28Brilliant hit.
28:29Sent it up into the heavens, these balls can move.
28:32Everything that he wanted to happen, and everything that Schmeichel didn't want to happen.
28:38And bounces off his mind for the others.
28:42Andietet Mara with his course, but he wanted to jump by too.
28:43And quero glue organisation in the triangles.
28:50And're going back again around the corners.
28:55And the crowd once more.
29:05Clever player from Lagabielka to beat Tunecti as Braga look to open up the pitch here.
29:10Grilic on to Paul Viktor, Arjen B will look for the run of Lelo once again.
29:15Viktor making tracks ahead of him, Morta, dangerous position in the middle.
29:20Amazing what Agol can do, confidence oozing out of Braga here.
29:26Grilic for 50 caps for Austria, look to dictate things in the middle,
29:30Gorby picking up a good spot.
29:32And Braga suddenly look to have belief coursing through their veins.
29:50As Brendan Rodgers and Carlos Vicens survey the scene, we can survey some of the European football coming your way across our channels in the hours ahead.
30:08Nottingham Forest first up, taking on Michelin, European football returning to the city ground.
30:14TNT Sports 1, 7.30.
30:16That's Palby Torr curls one.
30:18That's because Michael with a save.
30:19But yeah, Forest versus Michelin coming up on TNT Sports 1.
30:22Feyenoord, Aston Villa on TNT Sports 3.
30:24Rangers, one of the other Scottish teams in action tonight in Austria, they take on Sturm Graz, that follows us on two.
30:32And Aberdeen completing the Scottish triumvirate in European football, hosting Shakhtar Dnieksk, 7.45 on TNT Sports 4.
30:4045 on TNT Sports 4.
30:4245 on TNT Sports 4.
30:47Drag it again, picking Celtic apart.
30:50Horta.
30:51Lelo.
30:53Halvi Torr, Katar Vikas comes across to challenge him.
31:08Lelo again.
31:09Failing pockets of Celtic Park turf on guard it.
31:13Dhrilic, Derocher trying for the switch on the far side.
31:17Porta again, drifting in that free midfield role, Gorby.
31:31Celtic can't get much of a touch right now.
31:38Gorby first to the second ball, and then Grilic spreading it for Arjen B.
31:44Lelo hugging the touch line, Viktor making the run inside him.
31:49Carter Vickers concedes the corner.
31:51It's encouraging play this from Braga, Joe.
31:53Yeah, it really is.
31:55They look like they've got two or three options every time they're on the ball,
31:58which is key if you're a possession team.
32:00Crisp passing, sometimes one touch, getting through the lines.
32:04A little bit of belief coursing through their veins.
32:07Celtic are going to have to show their teeth, re-establish the grip on this game.
32:14The first half has been a problem for Celtic this season,
32:17seven of their eight league goals coming after half-time.
32:19And they're under the cushy bit here again as the half-hour mark approaches.
32:21The first half has been a problem for Celtic this season.
32:23And they're under the cushy bit here again as the half-hour mark approaches.
32:28McGregor clears at the front post.
32:30The first half has been a problem for Celtic this season,
32:35seven of their eight league goals coming after half-time.
32:37And they're under the cushy bit here again as the half-hour mark approaches.
32:39McGregor clears at the front post.
32:41Lelo does the tracking.
32:42Porter, plenty have stayed up there.
32:43Carvalho can't get it away from Carter Vickers.
32:45The ball drifting out of play on the near side.
33:10Where do you see Celtic finding the inspiration to get back into this game, Joe?
33:16The midfield haven't quite got a grip on it yet.
33:19Like I say, they've been trying to bypass it into it.
33:22Ian Acho, Tenecte, Maeda, just need Callum McGregor, Nygren, Bernardo.
33:31Just getting a grip on that ball, just getting it flowing.
33:34I think Braga have established himself more in the last five, ten minutes in that situation.
33:39Just getting set up, getting the press right, putting the pressure on.
33:44A little roar around Celtic Park as Horner checks along with the ball to Lelo.
33:54A chance for Celtic to start taking command of things again.
33:58All the early possession, a couple of early chances.
34:01But it is they who are behind.
34:03Donovan. Bernardo.
34:10Turnie looks early for Tunectie.
34:13Magabialga will cover across and canads it off the Tunisian for the goal kick.
34:19Goal kick.
34:33Interesting times for those running the show at Celtic.
34:37Meeting convened with supporters' representatives on Monday,
34:40which is the reason today's planned silent protest was postponed.
34:46You can see there are a fair number of empty seats inside Celtic Park,
34:49which for a European match, whatever the competition, is not the norm here.
34:55Lelo.
34:56And it's such a shame, it makes such a big difference.
34:59What an amazing place to play football, what an amazing football club,
35:03but they need to be united.
35:05That meeting's huge on Monday.
35:07You have to own their decisions, come to an agreement and move forward.
35:12That's the most important thing about Monday.
35:14Find a way to move forward all together, pushing the same direction.
35:21Do you think the board have made the right decisions this summer, Joe?
35:23Some of the recruitment decisions, not the right ones.
35:26Look, I think they've got their way of doing things and they've stood by it,
35:30but I think they're going to have to hold their hands up about this summer.
35:33I think they could have acted quicker.
35:35There's simple things that could have been done better.
35:37Of course, they're going to stand by and say, look, we're not going to be investing 40, 50 million pound players and playing them X a week.
35:43But that's not what this club was asking.
35:46And I feel like they just held off a little bit too long, gambled with their Champions League status a little bit too.
35:53And look, it's only, it was a mistake.
35:58No getting away from it, it was a mistake.
35:59And if they own that and they give their reasons behind it and say, look, maybe we've got this wrong.
36:03This is, this was our thinking.
36:04I think you've just got to understand each other.
36:06People make mistakes.
36:07No getting away from it.
36:08No one's perfect.
36:09You've got to work together.
36:11Celtic are at their best when the fans are united, when the fans are happy and the board are moving them all in the same direction.
36:17Meanwhile, I mean, Elwazani was offside.
36:20Skills did well to thwart any danger in any case.
36:32Yeah, just didn't quite time his run, but threat there with that high line, Celtic gets it right.
36:36It's problems.
36:41It's just a moment in time, like I say, Jamie, but the majority of the time this place is rocking.
36:55Absolutely amazing to play for, but, you know, nothing's ever perfect.
36:58Like I say, address it, speak openly and honestly and move forward.
37:04It's just a moment in time.
37:06Gorby nicking it over the head of Bernardo.
37:07De Roche has made the overlapping run, back inside towards Orta.
37:11Bernardo sends it out for the corner.
37:13Braga kept a solitary clean sheet in their past seven matches.
37:28That coming in the match day one fixture against Feyenoord.
37:311-0 victory at home near Estadio Manishipal.
37:35So far, not being subject to any great duress by this Celtic attack.
37:40Third corner of the night for the Portuguese.
37:43Lelo delivers.
37:45Gregor once again there to meet it.
37:47Carvalho on the second ball, goes down clutching his head.
37:49In fact, it's a head-on-head collision and the referee's going to have to stop things.
37:57Looks like Bernardo and Vitor Carvalho.
38:07Yeah, you can just sense it in the way that Celtic are playing.
38:10Flat atmosphere, like I say, is very unlike Celtic Park.
38:14But you know what, as a player, sometimes you can't rely on that.
38:17It's not about how many fans are in the stadium.
38:19You've got to step up.
38:20You've got to wear the jersey with pride.
38:22Give me the ball.
38:24Tactically put pressure on your team.
38:26There's no getting away from it.
38:28Celtic set up right and moving in the right direction.
38:30They should win tonight.
38:31They should win comfortably.
38:32It's a tough night.
38:33Braga are a decent team.
38:35But your likes of Kasper Schmeichel.
38:37So we just look at the goal here.
38:39See, stuff like this, it just doesn't happen when you're flowing and you're flying.
38:43I know everyone's going to say that I'm looking after a fellow goalkeeper and a good friend of mine.
38:48But that ball, the movement, the pace of it, the dip, the swerve, it's an incredible strike.
38:52Like I say, he'll assess it, he'll be disappointed.
38:55Sometimes you've just got to say that's an absolute banger.
38:58What's it like playing in front of a crowd like this where clearly there are issues to be resolved.
39:05There's ill feeling towards the club hierarchy.
39:08And what's normally a great gallery of football is so flat, so silent.
39:14And there's so much anxiety around the place.
39:16Yeah, well, you're paid as a professional to emotionally zone out.
39:19And these guys are good enough to do that.
39:21And the best ones do it.
39:22Like I say, the COVID season, they still play with the same intensity.
39:26But you just feel that kind of unrest sometimes when it's not going so well.
39:30The moans and groans, you can see them affecting certain players.
39:33But not everyone's built like that.
39:34Not everyone can play through that pain.
39:36So like I say, it's about the important players.
39:38The Carter Vickers, the Callum McGregor, Brendan Rodgers, how he conducts himself on the side.
39:43Kieran Tierney coming back, all these sorts of players can drive the team on,
39:47drive the atmosphere on and say, do you know what?
39:49We have got things to sort out on Monday.
39:51But tonight it's all about the three points, putting a big performance in
39:54and setting up our season.
39:56Here's Bernardo.
39:58McGregor.
40:00The pressure but Celtic retain possession.
40:03A little slip from Donovan.
40:05And Lelo will profit.
40:07Paul Victor again, the ever-willing presence down the left,
40:10through the legs of Carter Vickers, but the American too broad, too strong, too wily.
40:23One of the big investments that Braga made over the summer, Paul Victor,
40:2612 million euro recruit from Barcelona, been for two years.
40:30A couple of their other headliners missing tonight, Mario Dorjelez,
40:35the Ivorin international, five million summer signing, injured.
40:38Olivera, the defender, also missing tonight.
40:42Celtic look to get things moving quickly again,
40:45look to imbue this crowd with a bit more confidence, a bit more excitement.
40:50Junecti a perfect man to do that.
40:53McGregor looking for the run of Tierney.
40:57Gladio Bielka goes back.
41:00Gladio Bielka goes back.
41:02Interesting times for manager and supporters alike.
41:06Brendan Rodgers, of course, in the final year of his three-year contract,
41:13second stint at the club, having been so impressive in last year's Champions League,
41:19so close to an almighty upset against Bayern Munich.
41:23To be playing in this competition, to have endured the summer that he and the supporters have,
41:28will feel like quite the come down.
41:29Celtic match their manager's ambition.
41:33so close to an almighty upset against Bayern Munich. To be playing in this competition, to have
41:40endured the summer that he and the supporters have, will feel like quite a come down. Can
41:47Celtic match their manager's ambition.
42:03Donovan heads forwards, Yannaccio, what a little nudge on Vitor Carvalho, clearly mentioned
42:23the name of Kelechi Yannaccio tonight, but I get again with their own target man Irwazani,
42:29will drag themselves up the pitch.
42:51Here's Gorby, just tying himself in knots in the centre circle.
42:57Ornacek once again, looking early for Lelo, Donovan makes sure he's not going to win it
43:03cleanly, and he has connected firmly with the Portuguese wing-back.
43:13Yeah, full steam ahead, just coming in late.
43:17It's one of those opportunities in the game, sometimes you feel his eyes were lit up, can I get this stadium on its feet with a big header, a big tackle? Just didn't quite time it.
43:25I was going to ask you that Joe, does that go through a player's mind, especially a young player when things aren't going well,
43:31got the chance to physically exert yourself like that?
43:35Well, I was in the wrong position to make those decisions, but you could feel it in the game, you could feel it and you certain players would take that responsibility.
43:43It'd be the likes of a Callum McGregor tonight, your eyes light up, big opportunity to get this team a good, honest crowd who want to see good football, of course they do, but they want to see physicality.
43:53They want to see people putting their opponents under pressure. Colby Donovan, young, but he knows the game, of course he knows the game.
44:01He's an actual smart play, and then the through ball for Negrin, a little too heavy.
44:07Grilich on the half turn, looking for the unflustered so far.
44:16Grilich on the half-turn.
44:25Looking pretty unflustered so far.
44:27Can't seem to get Callum McGregor into the game,
44:31just noticed him there filling in the centre-half.
44:33He's in the middle of that pitch, playing that six,
44:36linking the whole Celtic team.
44:38It's not ran through him yet, it's not really ran through him this year.
44:41Decent diagonal, Donovan cutting it out, and Gorkic is the decision.
44:52Now Celtic look to build something,
44:54give their fans something in the final four minutes of the first 45.
44:59Tierney.
45:11Lionel sizing up that A&D, who's marshalled them pretty well so far.
45:15Conceived the foul this time.
45:20Here's Tierney. Space to move into.
45:25Tunectey ahead of him.
45:29Tierney continues his run.
45:43Tunectey going through three, four purple jerseys.
45:45No foul given, as he hits the deck.
45:47given as he hits the deck, Gorby away but only as far as McGregor, Donovan calling for it from the
45:55captain, Donovan from distance, it's not troubling Hornacek
45:58Yeah speculative effort, he's pushing the young man though like I say that challenge before
46:12shot from 40 yards he's just trying to inject something into this team
46:17Drag it again, very wetter to this style of playing out from the back, fast and loose but they're good enough, they're technically sound enough to get it as far forward as Elwazani
46:33Celtic have hoovered it back up though, Donovan, scales, back to the teenager, a lot of play going through the young number 51
46:46Can't hit Negrin
46:58And a brilliant match the one display in Belgrade against Red Star, it's a European debut for the club, he grew up supporting
47:04Again preferred tonight to fitting in Anthony Ralston who's on the bench
47:10Similar story on the left side, Kieran Tierney winning back his place ahead of Marcelo Saraci
47:14He's actually showing interest here but far too much on that long ball
47:20Far too much on that long ball
47:28At the moment it's looking ominously like another goalless first half display from Celtic
47:32Yeah they've not been able to back up their attacks, Celtic at their best when it's wave after wave after wave, very sporadic
47:46Braga standing up to them well
47:48The Rocha, Horta, Elwazani inside him, Horta towards Lelo at the back post
47:54At the back post, Braga threatening to score again here, Grilic!
47:58That was travelling and Schmeichel tips it over
48:02Yeah, Braga slicing through
48:08Lovely cut back to Grilic on the edge, always rising, Schmeichel in the good position
48:16There's a solid touch, don't think it would have necessarily gone in
48:20You can't take that chance in goal
48:22Important touch just before half-time
48:29Clock ticks towards first half stoppage time, Braga
48:33For an opportunity to double up
48:36Horta's delivery, well away from Bernardo
48:54Will be a minimum of two minutes additional time to play at the end of this first half
48:59and it's Braga who looks the more likely to end it with a goal
49:05To end it with a goal
49:10Oh, Victor has his leg swiped away by mindfulness
49:11And it's Braga who looks the more likely to end it with a goal
49:12Oh, Victor has his leg swiped away by curriculum
49:14The power of Valhallaaps
49:15And Braga continue this little spell of attacking possession.
49:45Ricardo Horta stands over another set piece in another threatening position.
49:51In it comes from Horta, only half cleared, Grylic gets another bite at it, and it ricochets wide.
49:58Another Braga corner.
50:00Vital defending, vital defending, really good ball in, scrappy,
50:06you've got to put your bodies on the line in these moments.
50:15As Liam scales, he throws himself, and I think it's Callum McGregor.
50:20Two important blocks from the captain.
50:24Braga keeping their foot on Celtic's throat here.
50:27Horta has cleared everybody, and out on the near side.
50:32Hearing word, by the way, that Brendan Rodgers has instructed Marcelo Surrachi
50:36and Michel-Ange Balakusha to ready themselves for a half-time introduction.
50:41Send up the tunnel early ahead of the rest of the substitutes.
50:46Might the Celtic boss be thinking of some changes?
50:50It's a big half-time, no getting away from it.
50:53Got to send a message.
50:56Celtic again struggling to get out.
50:59And that is the half-time whistle.
51:02Not stony silence, instead a chorus of boos rings out around Celtic Park.
51:08Because Kasper Schmeichel bamboozled from 25 yards by the Braga captain Riccardo Horta.
51:15The only goal, the goal that separates the teams.
51:18Another big fat zero on the scoreboard for Celtic in the first half this season.
51:23They've got work to do in the second 45.
51:27Key messages to be imparted by Brendan Rodgers,
51:29because his team are trailing at half-time.
51:31Celtic 0, Braga 1 at the break.
51:34You
51:37You
51:40You
51:41You
51:42You
51:43You
51:45You
51:59You
Recommended
48:23
|
Up next
55:40
49:55
49:21
55:49
49:24
51:04
55:12
51:25
54:11
2:29
46:50