2025-01-22: Celtic 1-0 Young Boys of Berne, European Cup

Match Pictures | Matches: 2024 – 2025

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Trivia

• KO: 20:00 UK time; TNT Sports TV
• Champions League, Group Match 7
• Qualified to play-offs with a game to spare! This was a must win game for Celtic. Man City will now finish behind Celtic in this group stage which is incredible!
• Celtic now 18th (out of 36) in the table with 12pts & +1GD, 9th-16th go through to playoffs, 17th is Man City on 8pts so they can’t catch Celtic now!
• 12 years since Celtic progressed from the group phase (albeit we’ll be in the playoffs not in the round of 16).
• Kyogo scored a hat-trick of goals which were all ruled out (x2 offside, 1 for foul leading to goal). Engels missed a penalty, all in the first half!
• First post-Dec group game ever for Celtic due to new format.
• Other scores from previous night mostly went against Celtic with notably Aston Villa losing and PSV & Stuttgart winning, so a Celtic victory was vital.
• Kyogo’s final match for Celtic. Sold to Rennes in swap for returning Jota in next few days.
• YB already out of any qualification contention (pre-match 0pts & -19GD), bottom of the table.
• YB potentially saw this match as a genuine chance to save some face to avoid humiliation of a possible 0% record in this new debut format. They played their first competitive match last Saturday after a winter break, no score draw v bottom side in their league. They have won 6 league titles in 7 years but having a nightmare season to date, 9th out of 12 to this point of the season, already sacked a manager. New manager at the helm. Ex-Sevco flop Itten was subbed on.
• To start of this match: YB have never won an away fixture in their four Champions League campaigns to date, mustering just two draws in 11 games.
• Borussia Dortmund  fired their head coach Nuri Sahin after 2-1 loss at Bologna, saying they had “lost faith” in him. They thumped Celtic 7-1!
• SC Internacional (Brazil) confirmed permanent signing of Alexandro Bernabei who had been on loan from Celtic.
• Kasper Schmeichel contract extended by a year.
• Reports: various clubs inc Newcastle supposedly keeping tabs on Kuhn.  Nawrocki to Oxford Utd?  Luis Palma chased by Sunderland, Stoke City, Swansea City and QPR as well as several European clubs. Celtic unlikely to reach Aston Villa’s asking price for Louie Barry.  Rennes to sign Kyogo Furuhashi (29) in €12m deal; Jota to possibly return to Celtic from Rennes as part of the deal?
• Transfer window:
• In: –
  Out: Stephen Welsh to KV Mechelen (Belgium) on loan till end of season. Holm on loan to LA FC in the MLS for 2024.
  Bernabei sold to SC Internacional (Brazil) for est £4.6m (rising to £5m with addons).
• Hearts sign Celtic youth midfielder Aiden Haddow but he’s not played for Celtic’s first team.
• Celtic women’s team : WSL club Brighton set to sign Caitlin Hayes from Celtic.

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Summary

“We’ve tried and failed pretty much most of the time so it’s a big step for the club, everybody wants to be a part of it. We’ve done ever so well so far but we don’t want to be the nearly team. We feel like we’ve got a team here, a profile of player and squad that should be getting success, so it’s now down to the players to prove that.”
Callum McGregor prematch

We get that little bit of luck for the goal that we never had in the first half. “I’ve been involved in many games here where you end up drawing that game and it’s a bit flat at the end, or even worse you lose the game when you shouldn’t have. “For us to win it, it shows the maturity and the development of this squad. “The club is always the most important and the supporters from the first whistle to the end could see that the players needed lifted and pushed and they came in all the way through the game, but especially at the end. “A little bit of history is created, we haven’t been in the knockout stages for a long time. For the supporters, it’s an amazing night.”
Brendan Rodgers

“Winning is what’s important. I thought it was an excellent performance. “First half, we were so good but that bit of luck was missing. “I thought we were such a threat in the first half and pressed the game so well. “This is Champions League level though, the opposition are going to come out and have some ball. “For the winning goal, we got luck on the final finish which I think we deserved after the first half, but the composure to take the ball from the keeper in the 85th minute, work it side-to-side and then what a pass by Reo [Hatate], it’s absolutely incredible. “I don’t know what incredible is in Japanese but it was unbelievable! “Then we need to see the game out down to 10 men so we adjust. Really pleased for the boys.”
Brendan Rodgers

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Joebloggscity of TheCelticWiki:

For the first time since 1993 in competition, it’s Bhoys versus Boys!  Last time the clubs met, a decrepit Celtic were in the midst of self destruction during the Sack the Board era, and a week after the match, Celtic manager Liam Brady belatedly quit. Vastly changed days to now!

Pre-match, undeniably tagged as the most important game left for the remainder of the season for various reasons for Celtic (and Rodgers in particular). A dead rubber game for YB who needed to save some face to avoid the humiliation of a possible 0% record in this new debut format.

A first half like no other. Three goals by Kyogo disallowed (x2 for offside, one for foul leading to the goal) and a penalty missed! What a crazy first half. One of the future great mysteries of the universe will be how that game was 0-0 at half time. Cardinal sin to miss a pen at this level. Engels’ first penalty miss in Celtic colours, and it was a bad one very uncharacteristic.  Celtic dominated and should have been out of sight.

Second half was more sluggish with Schmeichel saving Celtic on two key occasions with an incredible double save at one point and another at the death. Celtic pushed in the second half but seemed to have blown out of steam.

Things looked ominous but with five minutes left just when Celtic were running out of juice YB gifted them an own goal with a move set up by an incredible Hatate long pass down field to Idah who took on the goalkeeper but his shot was saved but then ricocheting off of a YB player (Benito!) into the goals very late on. Celtic finally took the lead (albeit fortuitously). The crowd erupted with relief, but Celtic deserved the goal & win.

Maeda ended up with a straight red card which made the last few minutes very nerve wracking with YB on the attack.  It was an uncharacteristic action by Maeda who took a swipe at a YB player after an altercation in a tackle. He should have been more careful, he’d had a great match and that should be remembered.

A rollercoaster tonight but what an achievement to qualify for the next phase. The scoreline makes the whole experience closer than it was, and really does demonstrate the difficulty in this competition even against supposed weaker opposition.

Celtic deserved the win because of the first half but watching Celtic should come with a health warning.

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Neil Lennon: It’s a fantastic achievement. Off the back of the heavy defeat in Dortmund, they’re unbeaten now in the Champions League. So for them to bounce back from that shows great character and great ability. They played some brilliant football along the way. The night here against Leipzig when they won 3-1 was a fantastic performance. They had to dig deep in tonight. Reo [Hatate], what a ball that was. A little bit of class to put Idah in. And they got a bit of luck that they probably deserved over the course of the tournament. It’s a brilliant and now they can really look forward.

Chris Sutton Former Celtic striker on MOTD: UEFA Champions League Because of who they were playing, before the game this felt like an open goal for Celtic – but it looked like it was turning into one of those nights for them. They had so many opportunities in the first half but then in the second half they looked tired and lacked a spark – Young Boys had the better of things and Celtic had Kasper Schmeichel to thank for keeping them out. Then just when it looked like the game was petering out, they got the bit of luck they needed. Had they not won, they would be going to Aston Villa for their final game with their place in the play-offs up in the air, but now they know they are in the top 24 – it is massive for them, and massive for Scottish football.

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Inside The SPFL @AgentScotland · 2m Celtic are on course to make around €60m from this season’s Champions League so far, when you factor in gate recipes, including the knockout round. ~€31.5m from the CL €8.4m in prize money €1m for finishing 9-24th €14m in gate recipes €275k for per position (place pot)
That pass from Reo Hatate is exactly what he’s all about, the only player in Scotland who can even contemplate playing that kind of pass on his weaker foot, let alone actually doing it, absolutely glorious, what a footballer.Kasper fkn Schmeichel Celtic are in the knockouts for the last 16 of the Champions League!

Ryan doc of Bluesky: TNT reckon qualification is worth £6m in revenue. Add the £1.8m for the group phase match win tonight. Let’s also add the £40m CL qualification money that we’d never have got without his goals from February to May. I think we can all stop asking if Idah has justified his price tag eh?

Ex-Celt Cillian Sheridan @CillianSheridan Hear me out here. People saying the price tag has been a burden on Adam Idah. Although it was an own goal, it was basically Idah’s goal and worth potentially £6M to the club. So if we take that off the £9M, that makes his transfer now just £3M. No more pressure

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Biscutit Time of KdS: Home and still tense and buzzin in equal measures. First half was immense at times should have been outta sight. Finishing has been a concern and it was again tonight. Lovely build up at times – very dominant.  Second half dropped a bit and some mistakes crept in – gave it away too much for me.  AJ and Khun were a bit of a let down.  McGregor was imperious – I’ll save some thoughts for his thread, Hatate much more like it as well, Was a deserved win and we were in danger of going full Celtic in Europe. Crowd incredible start to finish as well.  One of those ones where ye don’t enjoy it straight away cause it was stressful, eff magic result and we deserved it. Dortmund game means nothing now. Won 3 drawn 3 and lost one Superb

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Teams

Celtic

Manager: Brendan Rodgers

Formation: 4 – 3 – 3

01 K. Schmeichel
03 G. Taylor, subbed for Álex Valle at 69mins
06 A. Trusty
20 C. Carter-Vickers
02 A. Johnston
41 R. Hatate
42 C. McGregor (c), Captain
27 A. Engels, subbed for Paulo Bernardo at 69mins
38 D. Maeda 89′, Red Card at 89mins
08 K. Furuhashi, subbed for A. Idah at 75mins
10 N. Kühn 20′, Yellow Card at 20mins, subbed for L. Scales at 90mins

Subs:

29 S. Bain
28 Paulo Bernardo
09 A. Idah
14 L. McCowan
47 D. Murray
17 M. Nawrocki
07 L. Palma
56 A. Ralston
05 L. Scales
12 V. Sinisalo
11 Álex Valle
13 Yang Hyun-Jun

Goals:

L. Benito (86′ og) Own Goal
[some erroneously attribute it to Idah, but he was key to this goal]

Young Boys of Berne, BSC Young Boys

Manager: Giorgio Contini

Formation: 4 – 2 – 3 – 1

33 M. Keller
03 J. Hadjam
23 L. Benito (c), Captain 83′, Yellow Card at 83mins
13 M. Camara 47′, Yellow Card at 47mins
24 Z. Athekame, subbed for L. Blum at 84mins
08 Ł. Łakomy
20 C. Niasse, subbed for S. Lauper at 84mins
77 J. Monteiro, subbed for E. Colley at 72mins
07 F. Ugrinic 64′, Yellow Card at 64mins
39 D. Males, subbed for M. Chaiwa at 64mins
35 S. Ganvoula 45’+1, Yellow Card at 45mins plus 1, subbed for C. Itten at 64mins

Subs:

27 L. Blum
14 M. Chaiwa
11 E. Colley
15 M. Elia
10 K. Imeri
09 C. Itten
30 S. Lauper
40 D. Marzino
06 P. Pfeiffer
21 A. Virginius
04 T. Zoukrou
26 D. von Ballmoos

Referee Rohit Saggi
Video Assistant Referee Marco Di Bello
Assistant Referee 1 Morten Jensen
Assistant Referee 2 Anders Dale
Fourth Official Kristoffer Hagenes
Assistant VAR Official Benjamin Brand
Att: 56,544

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Articles

• Match Report (see below)

Pictures

• Match Pictures

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Match Links

• Prior
• Match
• Post
• MoTM

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Stats

Overall possession
Celtic 59.2% Young Boys 40.8%

Celtic 2.1557 Young Boys 0.9093

Shots
Celtic 16 Young Boys 12

Shots on target
Celtic 7 Young Boys 4

Total touches inside the box
Celtic 31 Young Boys 20

Goalkeeper saves
Celtic 4 Young Boys 7

Fouls
Celtic 12 Young Boys 15

Corners
Celtic 7 Young Boys 4

Advanced match stats
Shots
Celtic 16 Young Boys 12

Shots on target
Celtic 7 Young Boys 4

Shots off target
Celtic 6 Young Boys 4

Blocked shots
Celtic 3 Young Boys 4

Attempts out of box
Celtic 5 Young Boys 4

Hit woodwork
Celtic 1 Young Boys 0

One-on-one attempts
Celtic 1 Young Boys 0

Total offside
Celtic 5 Young Boys 0

xG from open play
Celtic 0.9601 Young Boys 0.799

xG from set play
Celtic 0.4071 Young Boys 0.1104

Celtic 0.939391 Young Boys 0.917167

xA from open play
Celtic 0.772609 Young Boys 0.813762

xA from set play
Celtic 0.166782 Young Boys 0.103405

Total tackles
Celtic 25 Young Boys 20

Won tackles
Celtic 12 Young Boys 14

Fouls
Celtic 12 Young Boys 15

Total yellow cards
Celtic 1 Young Boys 4

Total clearances
Celtic 18 Young Boys 31

Headed clearances
Celtic 12 Young Boys 7

Duels won
Celtic 63 Young Boys 52

Total passes
Celtic 503 Young Boys 342

Accurate passes
Celtic 423 Young Boys 262

Backward passes
Celtic 71 Young Boys 57

Forward passes
Celtic 161 Young Boys 135

Total long balls
Celtic 40 Young Boys 61

Successful final third passes
Celtic 85 Young Boys 58

Total crosses
Celtic 18 Young Boys 17

Touches
Celtic 731 Young Boys 563

Touches in the box
Celtic 31 Young Boys 20

Dispossessed
Celtic 11 Young Boys 14

Goalkeeper saves
Celtic 4 Young Boys 7

Diving saves
Celtic 2 Young Boys 4

Saved shots from inside the box
Celtic 3 Young Boys 4

Saved shots from outside the box
Celtic 1 Young Boys 3

Penalty saves
Celtic 0 Young Boys 1

Keeper throws
Celtic 2 Young Boys 1

Goal kicks
Celtic 5 Young Boys 8

Punches
Celtic 0 Young Boys 1

Pre Match Facts
Celtic faced Young Boys in the first round of the 1993-94 UEFA Cup, drawing 0-0 away before winning the second leg 1-0 at Celtic Park thanks to Alain Baumann’s own goal.

In all European competitions, Young Boys are winless in all three away games in Scotland (D1 L2), with this their first visit since a 1-1 draw with Rangers in December 2019 in the UEFA Europa League.

Celtic’s only defeat in their last seven UEFA Champions League matches (W3 D3) was their 7-1 loss at Borussia Dortmund in October. Across those seven games, the game at Dortmund represents 64% of the total goals they’ve shipped (7/11).
Young Boys are one of only three teams without a point in this season’s UEFA Champions League, along with RB Leipzig and Slovan Bratislava, losing all six games. It is the first time they’ve lost six games in a single major European campaign.

Celtic have scored nine goals in three UEFA Champions League matches at Celtic Park this season, last reaching double figures for home goals in a major European campaign in 2003-04 (10), while in the European Cup they last did so in

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Articles

Celtic take their Champions League chance with Swiss assistance – and why Aston Villa match is no dead rubber

Mark Atkinson
By Mark Atkinson

Sports Editor

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/latest-celtic-news/celtic-take-their-champions-league-chance-with-swiss-assistance-and-why-aston-villa-match-is-no-dead-rubber-4956230

Comments
Published 22nd Jan 2025, 22:33 GMT
Updated 22nd Jan 2025, 23:08 GMT
Late win over Young Boys seals play-off place

Loris Benito will never have to buy a drink in the east end of Glasgow if he ever returns. Not after he rode to the rescue of Celtic and their hopes of Champions League progression.

Brendan Rodgers’ men appeared set for a nervy last fixture away at Aston Villa next week to secure a spot in the play-off round after passing up all manner of chances to defeat Young Boys. But on 86 minutes, the Swiss’ captain stepped up for Celtic. Substitute Adam Idah’s shot was saved by Marvin Keller but the rebound cannoned off the hapless defender and into the net.

This 1-0 win moves Celtic on to 12 points in 18th place and in an unassailable position in the top 24. They head to Birmingham with the slim chance of making the top eight should they beat Villa but safe in the knowledge that they have a play-off place next month.
Celtic’s Adam Idah celebrates as his shot rebounds off Young Boys’ Loris Benito and into the net. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group)
Celtic’s Adam Idah celebrates as his shot rebounds off Young Boys’ Loris Benito and into the net. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group) | SNS Group

For a long time, this was not their night. Kyogo Furuhashi had a hat-trick of first-half disallowed goals and Arne Engels missed a penalty. Despite having only prize money and pride to play for, Young Boys were stubborn opponents. Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel made a tremendous double save in the second half when the match hung in the balance. But they are there. Celtic have progressed to the knock-out stage of the Champions League for the first time in 12 years.

Rodgers craved this when he returned to the club 18 months ago. Celtic have too often been a muted presence in Europe’s premier competition yet are now five games unbeaten at this level.

Much like Young Boys’ only other visit to Glasgow back in the 1993/94 UEFA Cup campaign, Celtic needed help. That tie was settled by an extra-time own goal by Alain Baumann that allowed the Glasgow club to progress 1-0 on aggregate.

Far bigger stakes this time around – for Celtic at least. The teams emerged to a suitably raucous reception, roused by a pre-match acoustic rendition of Grace, as Celtic yearned for a historic Champions League night. “Please bring the power of Paradise,” roared the PA to the fans. There was an extra decibel than normal as the teams emerged.
Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi scores one of his three disallowed goals against Young Boys. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group)
Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi scores one of his three disallowed goals against Young Boys. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group) | SNS Group

Young Boys started quite brightly, with Congolese forward Silvere Ganvoula – built like a well-stocked refrigerator – barging Cameron Carter-Vickers about early on in a way that we don’t see often in Scotland. But it did not take too long for Celtic to wrestle control. Young Boys had shipped 22 goals in six ties coming into this encounter and it was clear they were not watertight.

Furuhashi had the ball in the net on seven minutes after being slipped in by Engels, only for the offside flag to end celebrations, and while Young Boys had come here to play a part, not willing to be easy prey in Celtic’s quest, their defensive foibles were there for all to see.

The breakthrough looked to have arrived just before the half-hour mark. McGregor picked the pocket of a dithering Cheikh Niasse midway inside the Young Boys half and fed Furuhashi to finish coolly. However, referee Rohit Saggi was called to the VAR monitor and deemed McGregor had fouled Niasse. No goal.

The same fate befell Furuhashi on 31 minutes, with another disallowed goal, this time for creeping offside when converting Maeda’s cross. Had the Japanese smashed some mirrors in the build-up?

In fact, had Celtic smashed every mirror in Glasgow? On 41 minutes, they were awarded a penalty when Greg Taylor was brainlessly tugged back in the box by Darian Males. The usually reliable Engels stepped up to take it but Keller guessed correctly and saved comfortably to his left. Celtic somehow went into the interval level after dominating proceedings.

Auston Trusty blazed a free header narrowly over on 55 minutes as Celtic once again set about finding the opener. Kuhn stung Keller’s palms with a drive from just outside the box. The quest for a goal becoming more urgent as each minute ticked. A win would deliver the goods with results going in Celtic’s favour elsewhere.

Celtic then needed their goalkeeper on 63 minutes. Earlier on Wednesday, Schmeichel’s contract extension was announced. This is why, a breathtaking double save to deny Males on each occasion. The first, from a rasping drive, was especially impressive.
Celtic’s Daizen Maeda is shown a red card by referee Rohit Saggi. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group)
Celtic’s Daizen Maeda is shown a red card by referee Rohit Saggi. (Photo by Paul Devlin / SNS Group) | SNS Group

“Come on Celtic, one goal,” cried one fan next to the press box after the light tribute to the European Cup heroes of 1967. There was an element of desperation in his voice. The prize was staring Celtic straight in the face.

We entered the scrappiest phase of the match. Young Boys had tightened up, dropped their defensive line deeper and played with more diligence. Rodgers called for Idah in attempt to show them something different in attack. No better time than the £9million man to end his 13-game goal drought. Furuhashi made way.

Celtic had lost their fluidity, though. Young Boys sensed there was something here for them. On 79 minutes, substitute Cedric Itten – once of Rangers – failed to connect with a teasing cross. They now looked just as likely to find a winner as Celtic.

It was indeed one of their own that found the net but via misfortune on 86 minutes. An explosion of noise. Celtic were through. But there was still time for Maeda to be sent off for kicking out at Camara and then Schmeichel to save right at the death from Filip Ugrinic.

The final whistle brought joy and relief. “We are having a party in the Champions League,” rang out from the stands. Celtic are over the finishing line.

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Celtic march on in the Champions League after victory over YB Bern

https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/january/22/celtic-march-on-in-the-champions-league-after-victory-over-yb-bern/
First Team

By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor

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22 Jan 2025, 9:58 pm

UEFA Champions League
League phase, matchday seven
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC… 1
(Benito 85og)

YB BERN… 0

Celtic secured UEFA Champions League knockout football with a 1-0 victory over Swiss side, YB Bern, at Paradise.

It was a game that Brendan Rodgers’ side dominated, and they had three disallowed first-half goals as well as a missed penalty to show for their efforts.

And it took an own goal with just five minutes remaining for Celtic to take all three points, on a night when Kasper Schmeichel also produced some stunning second-half saves to ensure another clean sheet.

It was the visitors who provided the first attacking threat of the game, surging into the Celtic area inside the first couple of minutes.

The danger was quickly cleared, and it would be another half-an-hour before they threatened Kasper Schmeichel’s goal again.

In the intervening period, Celtic dominated the game and had the ball in the net three times courtesy of Kyogo, though two of those goals were ruled out for offside while the other was disallowed following a VAR review which penalised Callum McGregor for a foul in the build-up to the goal.

The first of those disallowed goals came in the sixth minute when Kyogo latched on to a through ball from Arne Engels, but the Japanese striker was just ahead of the last defender when the pass was made and the goal was ruled out.

However, Brendan Rodgers’ side remained on the front foot, with the pace and power of their play proving difficult for the Swiss side to handle.

Reo Hatate had an effort in the 25th minute from the edge of the box saved, while five minutes later Kyogo thought he’d given Celtic the lead.

Callum McGregor won possession about 40 yards from goal and slotted the ball to the Hoops striker, who fired the ball home.

But the Norwegian referee was advised by the VAR officials to review the goal, and he subsequently ruled that McGregor had fouled his opponent in the build-up to the goal.

Just three minutes later Celtic scored again and, once more, it was disallowed, with Kyogo ruled offside as he slotted the ball into the net from a Daizen Maeda cross.

The visitors hit Celtic on the counter-attack in the 36th minute, firing a dangerous ball across goal which was knocked out for a corner by Alistair Johnston.

And just three minutes later, the Hoops spurned a great opportunity to open the scoring.

Greg Taylor was pulled down inside the box, with the referee pointing to the spot, but Arne Engels’ penalty was saved by the YB Bern goalkeeper.
59%

Possession
41%
16

Shots
12
7

Shots On Target
4
7

Corners
4
12

Fouls
15

1

1

Cards

4

0

The second half began in the same manner as the first, with Arne Engels fashioning space inside the box and hitting a shot which was blocked by the keeper, and Daizen Maeda couldn’t direct the header from the rebound on target.

And both players combined again to set up a chance for Maeda, which was pushed behind for a corner.

On 55 minutes, Auston Trusty came close with a header from a corner, but his effort hit the top of the bar and went over.

Three minutes later Callum McGregor had a superb 20-yard effort pushed behind for a corner as Celtic continued pushing for the opening.

However, at the other end they had Kasper Schmeichel to thank as he produced a stunning double save to deny Darian Males from giving the visitors an undeserved opening goal.

With the game at a stalemate, it took some great play and good fortune for Celtic to score the opening goal in the 85th minute.

Reo Hatate threaded a superb ball through for substitute Adam Idah, and while his initial effort was saved by the keeper, it was bundled into the net by YB Bern skipper, Loris Benito.

There was still late drama as Daizen Maeda was initially booked for a tussle with a YB Bern player, only for the decision to be upgraded to a red card following a VAR review.

It made for a tense five added minutes, and with the last kick of the game, the Swiss side had a chance but Schmeichel again produced a stunning save to ensure a 1-0 victory for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Celtic: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor (Valle 69′), Engels (Paulo Bernardo 69′), McGregor, Hatate, Kühn (Scales 90′), Kyogo (Idah 75′), Maeda

Subs: Scales, Palma, Idah, Valle, Sinisalo, Hyunjun Yang, McCowan, Nawrocki, Paulo Bernardo, Bain, Murray, Ralston

Young Boys: Keller, Athekame (Blum 84′), Camara, Benito, Hadjam, Niasse (Lauper 84′), Lakomy, Males (Chaiwa 64′), Ugrinic, Monteiro (Colley 72′), Ganvoula (Itten 64′)

Subs: Zoukrou, Pfeiffer, Itten, Imeri, Colley, Chaiwa, Elia, Virginius, von Ballmoos, Blum, Lauper, Marzino

Brendan Rodgers: We produced a mature performance to get a great result

https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/january/22/brendan-rodgers–we-produced-a-mature-performance-to-get-a-great-result/
First Team

By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor

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22 Jan 2025, 10:52 pm

One of Brendan Rodgers’ objectives on returning to Paradise was to see improvement on the European stage for Celtic. And his team has continued to grow at that level, witnessed by this season’s UEFA Champions League campaign.

Three wins, three draws and just one defeat has seen the Hoops progress to the play-off stage of the prestigious competition with one league-stage match to spare, and the Celtic manager is delighted at the progress of his team.

Wednesday night’s 1-0 win over Swiss side, YB Bern, courtesy of a late own goal, was a victory that the Hoops thoroughly deserved and it ensures another round of European football for the club.

And speaking to Celtic TV after the game, Brendan Rodgers said: “It’s a brilliant result and I’m very pleased with the performance and maturity in it.

“I though in the first half we were outstanding – our penetration and our ability to get in behind – and we were unfortunate with the goals that were disallowed.

‘Then we probably got that little bit of luck that we never had in the first half with the goal.’

“I just said to the guys afterwards, that in the 85th minute of the game, they kept their composure, they stuck with the plan, they played the ball through the thirds and then it was an absolutely unbelievable pass from Reo to get us in.

“Adam makes the run and then we get the wee bit of fortune at the end of it, but I thought we thoroughly deserved that and thoroughly deserved the three points.

“I thought the composure of the team was really good. We were so good in the first half.

“We don’t score the penalty but I thought the reaction was good and we responded well. We stayed calm and got to work again on trying to play.

“And then we just kept persevering in the second half and then, eventually, we got our reward.”

The first-half saw three disallowed Celtic goals and a missed penalty for the home side, while Auston Trusty hit the bar in the second-half.

At the other end, Kasper Schmeichel produced a stunning double save when it was still goal-less, while he was prevented a last-gasp equaliser when the Hoops were down to 10 men.

The winning goal came with five minutes remaining when Reo Hatate threaded the ball through to Adam Idah, and though his initial effort was saved, it was bundled into the net by a YB Bern defender.

“This is the highest level of club football, where there’s top players in every team and threats in every team,” he said, “but for us we’ve built through it and played some great football, but showed different ways to win as well.

“When we’ve had to dig in, we’ve been able to do that. Defensively we’ve been good at the level bar one game, so overall, there has been a lot of progress and I’m really pleased with that.

“So we can now look forward to one more game, see who we get in the play-offs and give everything when that comes.”

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BBC

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cm299plm72wt#Report
Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Celtic clinched Champions League knockout football for the first time in 12 years after Loris Benito’s late own goal secured a dramatic victory over Young Boys on a nerve-shredding night in Glasgow.

It looked like the hosts – who had Daizen Maeda sent off late on – would squander the opportunity as Arne Engels missed a penalty and Kyogo Furughashi had three first-half goals ruled out.

At the other end, Kasper Schmeichel played an important part, denying two Darian Males efforts from close range to keep the tie level.

Most of the second half fell flat but the hosts eventually made the breakthrough when Adam Idah’s 86th-minute effort was initially saved by goalkeeper Marvin Keller, only for the ball to rebound off captain Benito and bounce into the empty net.

That sparked frenzied celebrations in the stands after an incredible first half of frustration. Kyogo had strayed offside for his first disallowed goal, while the second was ruled out after a foul by Callum McGregor in the build-up.

Maeda was the offender the third time, mistiming his run before crossing to Kyogo at the back post.

The hosts were presented with a perfect chance when Greg Taylor was pulled back in the box, but Engels stuttered in his penalty run-up and sent a tame effort to the left of Keller, who saved easily.

Home fans were made to sweat when Maeda’s yellow card, given for a lash out on Mohamed Ali Camara, was upgraded to red following a VAR review, but Celtic survived the final five minutes to seal qualification for the play-off round with a game to spare.
Rodgers’ relief palpable as Celtic scrape priceless win

The expression on Brendan Rodgers’ face when Schmeichel made a 95th-minute save spoke volumes. The manager looked relieved, his emotions no doubt swinging like a pendulum during a game that saw the best of his Celtic side, but also a profligacy that almost cost them.

The first half was brilliant. Young Boys tried to play in a compact shape with a high defensive line. Brave? Perhaps. Naive? It seemed so.

Celtic cut them open time and again to create chance after chance. Nicolas Kuhn missed a couple of good openings and was a little hesitant to pull the trigger.

The disallowed goals might be considered unlucky, but the penalty miss from Engels – his first after six successful spot-kicks – was an incredible fourth let-off, the accumulation of which allowed Young Boys to believe.

The second half was a sloppy affair. Passes started to go astray. Young Boys got higher and higher up the pitch and only superb Schmeichel saves prevented Celtic from going behind.

They dug out the moment of quality in the end as under-fire Idah latched on to Hatate’s phenomenal through ball and forced a save that ended with Benito turning the ball into his own net.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: “We get that little bit of luck for the goal that we never had in the first half.

“I’ve been involved in many games here where you end up drawing that game and it’s a bit flat at the end, or even worse you lose the game when you shouldn’t have.

“For us to win it, it shows the maturity and the development of this squad.

“A little bit of history is created, we haven’t been in the knockout stages for a long time. For the supporters, it’s an amazing night.”

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