There were stretches during this contest where it seemed Club Brugge could score as many as they pleased. When Cameron Carter-Vickers inadvertently guided the ball into his own net, gifting the Belgians the lead, Celtic appeared to unravel under the pressure.
Yet, when the final whistle blew, Brendan Rodgers and his team could take solace in salvaging a point. Brugge’s wastefulness in front of goal was Celtic’s gain, and a sublime strike from Daizen Maeda ensured the Scottish champions remained on track for a spot in the Champions League playoff round.
This clash showcased football’s duality: Brugge’s panache was counterbalanced by Celtic’s sheer determination to avoid defeat. Rodgers might have been stretching credibility when he declared his side the better team in the second half, but his satisfaction was understandable. Eight points from five games is no small achievement in this company.
“We played against an excellent side,” Rodgers acknowledged. “The players showed great resilience in the second half. We never gave up. With nine points still to play for, we’re very much on track.”
Celtic’s recent performances in Europe had rekindled belief. A dominant display against Slovan Bratislava, a hard-earned draw against Atalanta, and a spirited victory over RB Leipzig had redefined the club’s Champions League aspirations. Gone were the memories of past failures; even the 7-1 drubbing in Dortmund seemed a distant blip. As Brugge arrived in Glasgow, anticipation was high, but the visitors came well-prepared.
From the outset, Brugge exposed Celtic’s vulnerabilities. Ferran Jutglà narrowly missed early on, while Celtic’s forward ventures felt half-hearted. Jutglà then squandered another chance, choosing to dive instead of testing Kasper Schmeichel after outpacing Carter-Vickers.
The visitors dictated the first quarter of the match, aided by a disjointed Celtic midfield. Andreas Skov Olsen missed another opportunity, shooting wide as Schmeichel watched helplessly. Celtic’s struggles deepened when a chaotic moment in defense gifted Brugge the opener. Under pressure from Brugge’s relentless pressing, Nicolas Kühn played the ball back to Carter-Vickers, whose misguided pass caught Schmeichel out of position. The resulting own goal was as comical as it was disastrous for Celtic.
Brugge, buoyed by their lead, began the second half with intent. Maxim De Cuyper’s surging run nearly doubled their advantage, only for Schmeichel to deny him with a fingertip save. Celtic Park, renowned for its electric atmosphere, was subdued. Rodgers had called for his players to harness the energy of the crowd, but with an hour gone, unease rippled through the stands. Brugge’s traveling fans, though boisterous, grew anxious as their team’s dominance failed to translate into goals. Skov Olsen’s wayward effort from De Cuyper’s pinpoint cross summed up their frustrations.
Celtic capitalized on Brugge’s profligacy. Maeda, quiet until then, seized his moment with a stunning effort that curled inside Simon Mignolet’s left-hand post. Celtic Park erupted, equal parts shock and elation.
Brugge thought they had restored their lead moments later when Jutglà bundled the ball in, but VAR intervened, ruling the striker offside. The decision left Brugge fuming and their patience wearing thin.
As the game wore on, substitutions disrupted its rhythm. Rodgers introduced Adam Idah to inject energy into Celtic’s attack, while Paulo Bernardo’s arrival brought much-needed stability to midfield. Reo Hatate attempted a speculative volley that ended up closer to the corner flag than the target. In the end, Celtic settled for a hard-fought draw, a result they might later view as a point earned rather than two lost.