In an electrifying clash at Celtic Park, Celtic began their 2024-25 UEFA Champions League, League Phase campaign in spectacular fashion, defeating Slovan Bratislava 5-1. The Scottish giants demonstrated their strength with a dominant performance, while Slovan Bratislava, making their Champions League debut, struggled to match the pace and intensity of the game.
Celtic vs Slovan Bratislava Head-to-Head Preview
Celtic and Slovan Bratislava had never previously met in European competition, setting up a historic night in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League, League Phase. Celtic, with their rich European history, were the favorites, while Slovan Bratislava hoped to make an impact in their debut season.
Celtic entered the match fresh from domestic success, confident in their ability to perform on the European stage. Meanwhile, Slovan Bratislava faced an uphill task against an experienced opponent.
Celtic vs Slovan Bratislava Lineups and Substitutes
Here are the Celtic vs Slovan Bratislava lineups today (Sep 18, 2024)
Celtic Starting XI (4-3-3)
- GK: Joe Hart
- RB: Alistair Johnston
- CB: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Auston Trusty 85′)
- CB: Liam Scales
- LB: Greg Taylor
- CM: Reo Hatate (Paulo Bernardo 77′)
- CM: Callum McGregor (Captain)
- CM: Arne Engels
- RW: Nicolas Kühn (James Forrest 71′)
- ST: Kyogo Furuhashi (Adam Idah 77′)
- LW: Daizen Maeda
Substitutes:
- Benjamin Siegrist (GK)
- Anthony Ralston (Alistair Johnston 77′)
- Gustaf Lagerbielke
- Paulo Bernardo
- Auston Trusty
- James Forrest
- Adam Idah
Slovan Bratislava Starting XI (4-4-2)
- GK: Dominik Takác
- RB: César Blackman
- CB: Kenan Bajric
- CB: Guram Kashia
- LB: Kevin Wimmer
- RM: Tigran Barseghyan (Nino Marcelli 77′)
- CM: Juraj Kucka (Artur Gajdos 85′)
- CM: Danylo Ihnatenko (Kyriakos Savvidis 76′)
- LM: Vladimír Weiss (Róbert Mak 77′)
- ST: David Strelec (Idjessi Metsoko 85′)
- ST: Marko Tolic
Substitutes:
- Milan Borjan (GK)
- Artur Gajdos
- Idjessi Metsoko
- Kyriakos Savvidis
- Nino Marcelli
Celtic vs Slovan Bratislava First Half: Tactical Battle and Early Goal
Celtic started with intent, pushing Slovan Bratislava back from the opening whistle. Their first breakthrough came in the 17th minute when Liam Scales leaped high to meet Arne Engels’ precise corner kick. Scales’ powerful header left Slovan goalkeeper Dominik Takác with no chance, giving Celtic an early 1-0 lead.
Slovan Bratislava tried to find their rhythm, but Celtic’s high pressing kept the Slovak team from establishing control. Joe Hart was called into action only once during the first half, comfortably saving a shot from Juraj Kucka.
Celtic vs Slovan Bratislava Second Half: Celtic’s Ruthless Attack
Celtic came out even stronger after the break. Just two minutes into the second half, Kyogo Furuhashi doubled their lead, calmly slotting in a cross from Nicolas Kühn to make it 2-0. The intensity from Celtic was relentless as they continued to exploit the wide areas.
In the 56th minute, a reckless challenge from Slovan’s Danylo Ihnatenko on Alistair Johnston resulted in a penalty. Arne Engels confidently stepped up and converted the spot-kick, extending the lead to 3-0. Slovan Bratislava pulled one back in the 60th minute through Kevin Wimmer, who volleyed home a stunning strike from Marko Tolic’s assist, but that proved to be their only consolation.
Celtic vs Slovan Bratislava Timeline
| Minute | Event |
| 17′ | Goal – Liam Scales (Celtic) heads in from a corner. |
| 47′ | Goal – Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic) finishes from close range. |
| 56′ | Goal – Arne Engels (Celtic) converts a penalty. |
| 60′ | Goal – Kevin Wimmer (Slovan Bratislava) volleys in from the edge of the box. |
| 70′ | Goal – Daizen Maeda (Celtic) scores from Reo Hatate’s assist. |
| 86′ | Goal – Adam Idah (Celtic) seals the win with a composed finish. |
Celtic vs Slovan Bratislava Stats
| Celtic vs Slovan Bratislava Stats | Celtic | Slovan Bratislava |
| Goals | 5 | 1 |
| Shots (on target) | 18 (10) | 7 (2) |
| Possession | 62% | 38% |
| Pass Accuracy | 88% | 76% |
| Fouls | 12 | 15 |
| Corners | 8 | 3 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 3 |
Celtic vs Slovan Bratislava Match Impact on Points Table
This resounding victory placed Celtic at the top of their group in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League, League Phase, with 3 points and a healthy goal difference. Slovan Bratislava, on the other hand, was left at the bottom of the group, having conceded 5 goals in their opening match.
Celtic vs Slovan Bratislava Man of the Match: Arne Engels
Arne Engels was pivotal to Celtic’s success, providing a crucial assist, converting the penalty, and controlling the midfield. His vision and passing set the tempo for the game, earning him the well-deserved “Man of the Match” title.
Celtic’s 5-1 thrashing of Slovan Bratislava in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League, League Phase was a statement of intent. The Scottish champions dominated from start to finish, with key players like Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, and Arne Engels shining throughout. Slovan Bratislava, though spirited, were unable to cope with the relentless pressure from their more experienced opponents. The result leaves Celtic in a strong position going into the next round, while Slovan Bratislava will need to regroup quickly if they hope to stay competitive in their Champions League debut campaign.
