Celtic is gearing up for their Champions League opener this Wednesday night, hosting Slovak champions Slovan Bratislava at Celtic Park.
Celtic fans have been keeping an eye on their Wednesday night opponents and notisved a heavy defeat for the side. A 5-0 league defeat to MSK Zilina raised a few eyebrows in Glasgow.
This result might seem concerning at first glance, but it’s essential to understand the context behind it.
Jan Jasenka, a Slovakian journalist, provided insights to CeltsAreHere that suggest the defeat was an outlier rather than a reflection of Bratislava’s form.
According to Jasenka, Slovan Bratislava has been in excellent form this season, playing some of their best football in years. The 5-0 loss came right after their first-ever Champions League qualification, a milestone that understandably led to celebrations and a short break from the intense focus required in league play.
Jasenka said that the heavy loss to Zilina was a result of these circumstances and does not accurately represent Slovan’s capabilities or form. The team simply found it challenging to switch back to the demands of league football immediately following their celebrations.
He told CeltsAreHere: “Slovan is playing in good form this year and are dominant with a lot of confidence. They are playing their best football this year in recent years, so the 5-0, it tell nothing. It came after their historic qualification into the Champions League. So they had a few days off, the coach gave them time to celebrate.
“The players thought that they couldn’t switch back to the league, and Zilina took advantage of that. But the result really doesn’t say anything”
Brendan Rodgers won’t be allowing his players to think that this is an easy game, despite the odds heavily in Celtic’s favour. It’s set to be another great European night at Celtic Park on Wednesday.
