Celtic have given their hopes of Champions League progress a major boost with a stunning 3-1 win over RB Leipzig at Parkhead.
Nikolas Kuhn netted twice and Reo Hatate was on the scoresheet as the hosts stunned their Bundesliga opposition, coming back from a goal down to claim a win.
The win put Celtic on seven points from their opening four games, with Brendan Rodgers’ side still having four matches to play.
The Celtic manager will have been as impressed with the performance as the result, with his side putting in a committed, high-energy display as well as taking their chances when they came.
Celtic had the better of the opening exchanges but Leipzig grew into the game and forced a couple of corners before taking the lead from a set piece after 23 minutes.
Cameron Carter-Vickers attempted to head the ball clear but only succeeded in flicking it on and Christoph Baumgartner nodded it back across goal and past Kasper Schmeichel into the net.
The visitors nearly doubled their lead nearly two minutes later when Willi Orban headed wide from a corner but and Antonio Nusa then had a good opportunity but hit his shot wide.
Celtic needed something to turn the tide and a moment of magic from Kuhn drew them level.
The winger picked up the ball after a clever touch from Arne Engels, cut inside from the right and clipped in a clever ball that evaded Peter Gulacsi’s reach and went in off the inside of the far post.
Celtic Park erupted and the support almost had another to celebrate moments later when Kuhn played in Daizen Maeda with a through ball but the Japanese thumped a shot over the bar when he should have done better.
The hosts didn’t have to wait too long for another goal. Pressure on the Leipzig defence saw possession won back in the corner and when Greg Taylor played the ball across goal Maeda missed his shot but Kuhn was perfectly placed to fire in his and Celtic’s second of the night.
SNS GroupThe breakneck pace continued into the second half. Callum McGregor set Kuhn up for a chance at his hat-trick but the winger snatched at his shot and put it over the bar. Reo Hatate went close with a shot from outside the box but Leipzig continued to threaten when they took possession. Kevin Kampl had the ball in the net but saw his effort ruled out for a foul.
Benjamin Sesko tried his luck with a powerful curling effort but Schmeichel was at full stretch to deny the Slovenian forward.
Celtic all but made sure of the points with just under 20 minutes to go. McGregor played the ball back to Johnston when under pressure and the hosts launched a counter-attack that ended up with the Canadian playing in a low cross from the right. Gulacsi couldn’t hold on to it and Hatate pounced to stab the rebound high into the net.
SNS GroupLeipzig searched for a way back in but Celtic were patient and waited for chances to put the visitors on the back foot again.
Hatate, Kyogo and Maeda combined in a lightning-quick counter that ended with a last-gasp clearance and Celtic continued to look a danger. Hatate had another effort from distance as they looked to net a fourth.
Leipzig ran out of ideas and energy in the final moments, with Celtic keeping their focus until full-time when they celebrated a significant victory and a vital three points.
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