It’s time to register points now that the Champions League has arrived.
For over ten years, Celtic’s Champions League group-stage journey has always started against a formidable opponent: Real Madrid in 2022, Paris St-Germain in 2017, Barcelona in 2016, Milan in 2013, and Benfica in 2012, who were not as formidable as they were, but still talented enough to qualify for the Europa League a few months later.
They drew one and lost four games. Celtic has never won their opening group stage match in twelve tries. Nonetheless, the format has altered, so maybe their future will too.
They are fielding a mix of academy graduates, free agents, and six-figure signings in Slovan Bratislava. Celtic spent about £70 million assembling their team, which is approximately £67 million more than their opponents at Celtic Park on Wednesday night.
The purchase price of eleven distinct Celtic players exceeded the total cost of all of Slovan’s players combined. This disproves all of the conventional wisdom regarding Celtic’s inability to compete with the financial power of Europe’s titans. Since hosting Aalborg in 2008, they haven’t played a more winnable match at this point in the competition.
Of course, that is a cautionary tale. Hot favorites were Celtic. They were due a penalty but failed to take it. They played the last few minutes against ten men, but they were unable to take it.
