Alex Valle made his first Champions League start on Wednesday night, playing a key role in Celtic’s resolute defensive display that earned a hard-fought 0-0 draw away to Atalanta.
With regular left-back Greg Taylor injured, Valle was called upon to step into the starting XI, and he didn’t disappoint, showing maturity and composure on one of the biggest stages in European football.
Having come off the bench in Celtic’s heavy defeat against Borussia Dortmund, Valle’s first taste of the Champions League as a starter was a vastly different experience. Taking to Instagram after the match, Valle expressed his pride at achieving a personal milestone:
“My first Champions League start… a dream come true! 💚 And what a way to get a difficult point away. 💪🏼 Thanks to the fans as always, you’re incredible!”
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Valle was one of Celtic’s standout performers in the first half, showing a good mix of defensive discipline and attacking intent.
Though he gave the ball away on a couple of occasions, his willingness to step into midfield as an inverted full-back and his confidence in pushing forward demonstrated his growing influence in a Celtic jersey.
Valle was not afraid to put in a tough challenge when needed, and his ability to be an outlet when Celtic broke up the field added a valuable dimension to the team.
In difficult circumstances against a dangerous Atalanta side, Valle’s performance was impressive, and he’ll undoubtedly take confidence from such a solid showing at this level.
His energy, positioning, and aggression were vital to Celtic’s clean sheet, and it’s clear that the young full-back has the potential to become a key player for the club moving forward.
