Celtic vs Braga

At Celtic Park on October 2, 2025, Celtic’s clash with Braga turned into a night of frustration for the Scottish champions as the Portuguese visitors executed their plan with precision. Celtic began with intent, feeding off the energy of the home crowd and pressing high to unsettle Braga’s backline. Despite creating early half-chances through Kyogo Furuhashi and Matt O’Riley, they struggled to find the final pass to truly test Matheus in goal. Braga, calm under pressure, absorbed the waves of early attacks before springing forward with menace.

The breakthrough came in the 20th minute when Ricardo Horta showcased his trademark brilliance. Cutting in from the left, he unleashed a ferocious strike from 25 yards that arrowed into the top corner beyond Kasper Schmeichel. The moment silenced the majority inside the stadium and left Celtic chasing the game. Despite dominating possession, Brendan Rodgers’ men found themselves trapped in cycles of sterile buildup, their crosses and through-balls consistently cut out by Braga’s disciplined defensive shape.

Celtic believed they had their equalizer midway through the second half. Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho latched onto a deflected shot and fired home from close range, sending the stands into raptures. But jubilation quickly turned to despair as VAR intervened, ruling a handball in the buildup. The decision deflated the home side, visibly rattling their rhythm, while Braga regained their composure and slowed the game down with clever game management.

Braga sealed the contest late on with a scrappy but decisive second goal. In the 85th minute, Gabriel Martínez found space inside the box, his initial effort blocked, but the rebound bounced kindly back off his body and trickled into the net. It wasn’t the prettiest strike, but it epitomized Braga’s persistence and willingness to capitalize on fine margins. For Celtic, the goal was a hammer blow, confirming another European night where effort went unrewarded.

When the whistle blew, the scoreboard read 2–0 to Braga, a result that leaves Celtic’s continental hopes in jeopardy. The statistics told a frustrating story: 61% possession, 14 shots, but only two on target for Celtic, compared to Braga’s five on target from seven attempts. Ricardo Horta’s brilliance and Braga’s efficiency were the defining factors. “We played with courage but not enough conviction,” Rodgers admitted afterward, while Horta summed up Braga’s mentality: “Nights like this are about being clinical, and we were.” For Celtic, lessons must be learned quickly if they are to keep their European journey alive.

Watch and Download Celtic vs Braga full match replay and highlights, At Thursday, October 02, 2025. The match played at Celtic Park, in Europa League, UEFA.

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