UEFA Champions League
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund

BORUSSIA DORTMUND…7
(Can 6, Adayemi 11, 29 & 41, Guirassy 39 & 66, Nmecha 79)

CELTIC…1
(Maeda 9)

The Celts suffered their first loss of the campaign at the Westfalenstadion tonight (Tuesday, October1) as last season’s Champions League runners-up, Borussia Dortmund, defeated Brendan Rodgers’ side 7-1.

With less than five minutes played, Adayemi broke forward at pace for the hosts, but some composed defending from Liam Scales was enough to slow the attack and prevent the forward from having a strike on goal.

A few moments later though, Dortmund were awarded a penalty after Jamie Gittens was brought down in the box by Kasper Schmeichel. Emre Can stepped up to the spot and buried the spot-kick to give his side the early advantage.

It wasn’t long before Celtic were level. Arne Engels, who has impressed since joining the club in the summer, swung the ball in to box from the right wing. Daizen Maeda, who has also had a brilliant start to the season, was there a few yards from goal to knock the ball beyond Kobel and make it 1-1.

The game, which had started at a ferocious pace, then swung back the way of the hosts almost immediately, as Adayemi burst through on goal and found the back of the net from inside the Celtic penalty area to give his side the lead once again.

In the 16th minute, Schmeichel made a brilliant save after an explosive counter-attack from Borussia Dortmund gave Gittens the chance to have a shot at goal, which the keeper was equal to.

The hosts continued to pile on the pressure, with Scales called upon again to make a vital intervention after Yan Couto’s cross in to the area looked destined to find Guirassy. Scales’ header diverted the flight of the cross and the Celts survived the attack.

In the 23rd minute, Schmeichel made a big save once again, this time from a Guirassy shot from close range, as the home side looked to take control of the match.

A few moments later, Daizen Maeda set off down the left wing, beating Couto for pace. His attempted cross was blocked, but from the rebound the Japanese forward was able to have a strike at goal which curled wide of the far post.

With just under half-an-hour played, Borussia Dortmund took a two-goal lead. Pascal Gross’ corner was headed clear to the edge of the box where Adayemi picked it up. He showed his quality as he rifled his shot in to the top corner, giving Schmeichel no chance of getting a hand to it.

Dortmund’s famous ‘yellow wall’, the massive terraced area at the south end of the stadium, was in full voice after the home side’s blistering start to the match, with the 26,000 fans congregated there showcasing why it is such a revered aspect of the German football scene.

The home side were awarded their second penalty of the night in the 39th minute after Engels was judged to have fouled Adayemi in the penalty area. It was Guirassy who stepped up to the spot this time, and though Schmeichel guessed correctly and dived to his right, the strike from the Dortmund forward evaded him as it slammed in to the net, giving Dortmund a 4-1 lead.

Adayemi grabbed his hat-trick and made it 5-1 a few minutes later, as he picked up on a loose ball on the edge of the area and found the bottom corner with a powerful shot.

Celts lose out in Dortmund as Borussia turn it on