Nicolas Kühn doubles for Celtic in comeback win against RB Leipzig | Champions League

Brendan Rodgers used his pre-match media work to urge Celtic fans to refrain from using pyrotechnics during the visit of RB Leipzig. The fireworks seemed to be in order on the field as Rodgers and his team delivered the kind of performance the manager craved on his return for a second spell at Celtic. Celtic find themselves in a very exciting Champions League position after defeating the Bundesliga second-place team in a manner that belies years of struggles at this level. Rodgers had every right to revel in it. Celtic are proving they can swim in a bigger pond, credit to their manager.

Leipzig’s presentation was muted. However, it would be unreasonable not to highlight the role Celtic played in this. The hosts attacked with patience and determination. They defended quite comfortably. Taken together, this will rank as one of Celtic’s best European performances in recent memory. Leipzig had no answer and looked completely defeated long before the end.

Celtic’s season so far has been one of extremes. They were excellent in destroying Slovan Bratislava and keeping Atalanta scoreless. Aberdeen were beaten 6-0 in the League Cup semi-final at the weekend. The downside came during the shocking 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund and when they blew a 2-0 league lead against Aberdeen. Not only did Rodgers know what version of his team he wanted to see here, but he also knew they could play with freedom; Four points from three games and favorable upcoming games meant a good placement in the Champions League.

Celtic opened with a confidence that suggested they didn’t mind playing at this level. For a team that arrived in Glasgow having lost three of three games, Leipzig were strangely subdued. However, the Germans soon benefited from Celtic’s generous defense at a corner. Kevin Kampl’s shot inside was more dangerous than fatal as the home team’s centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers slammed the ball at the near post rather than heading it away from goal. Christoph Baumgartner headed past Kasper Schmeichel, while Carter-Vickers’ team-mates ended up on the wrong foot. Loïs Openda could have scored another corner from Kampl just a few minutes later. Antonio Nusa hit high and wide, only Schmeichel could be beaten.

Celtic’s early commitment therefore seemed in vain until Nicolas Kühn, an outstanding performer of late, restored the equalizer. There seemed to be little danger as Kühn turned toward the corner of the penalty area, but the 24-year-old fired a wonderful shot over the post into Peter Gulacsi’s net. Gulacsi had been completely deceived. Skeptics suspected that Kühn had intended the crossing, which felt unfair at the moment. It was a special moment for Kühn, once a member of the Leipzig youth team.

It would have been better to come in stoppage time in the first half. Leipzig ran into huge difficulties when trying to play out of the right defense. Reo Hatate came into play, whose cross was supported by Greg Taylor. Kühn, who was standing alone eight meters from the goal, hit past Gulasci. Celtic had a lead they hardly believed but fully deserved.

Hatate fired a shot wide as Celtic scored their third. Equally valuable to Rodgers was that Leipzig applied minimal pressure on the hour. Unsurprisingly, Marco Rose turned to his bench as Yussuf Poulsen and Eljif Elmas were introduced to give Leipzig’s performance even more impact. At this point in the second half, Schmeichel had only been tested by a long-range effort from Benjamin Sesko. Sesko was among those removed, so inconspicuous was his evening work. The substitutions only briefly brought Leipzig to life. Schmeichel made an excellent save to deny Baumgartner.

A howler at the other end from Gulasci gave Celtic breathing room. Alistair Johnston’s flat cross should not have caused any problems for the Leipzig goalkeeper. Inexplicably, he spilled the ball right at Hatate’s feet. The Japanese midfielder could hardly miss his goal; and neither did it.

Very little that had happened before suggested that Leipzig had the ability to respond. In fact, Celtic largely stayed ahead. Few could have predicted that these teams would have seven points in Celtic’s favor after four games. Nothing about this position looks like a distortion.