Celtic 5 1 S Bratislava Sep 18 2024 Game Analysis

## Celtic 5-1 S Bratislava (Sep 18, 2024) Game Analysis ### 2024/25 Champions League qualifying stages Celtic began their Champions League qualifying campaign with a resounding 5-1 victory over Slovakian champions S Bratislava. The Scottish champions were in control from the start and took the lead through a Jota penalty in the 15th minute. S Bratislava equalised in the 30th minute through a penalty of their own, but Celtic regained the lead just before half-time through a stunning long-range strike from Aaron Mooy. Celtic extended their lead in the second half with goals from Kyogo Furuhashi in the 60th minute and David Turnbull in the 75th minute. Substitute Giorgos Giakoumakis added a fifth in the 85th minute to complete the scoring. The win gives Celtic a commanding lead going into the second leg next week. A draw or even a narrow defeat would be enough to see them through to the next qualifying round. ### Celtic's dominance Celtic were clearly the dominant team throughout the match. They had more possession, created more chances, and took their goals well. S Bratislava had a few good chances, but they were often wasteful in front of goal. Celtic's midfield was particularly impressive. Aaron Mooy, Reo Hatate, and Matt O'Riley controlled the game and created numerous chances for their team-mates. ### S Bratislava's struggles S Bratislava found it difficult to cope with Celtic's attacking threat. They were often overrun in midfield and their defence was frequently exposed. S Bratislava's goalkeeper, Adrián Chovan, made a number of good saves to keep the score down, but he was eventually beaten five times. ### Overall Celtic's victory was a deserved one. They were the better team on the night and they created more chances. S Bratislava will need to improve significantly in the second leg if they want to have any chance of progressing.