Red-hot Nicolas Kuhn raises the roof as Brendan Rodgers takes Celtic to new Champions League heights

For Brendan Rodgers and Celtic, this was a Champions League night to savour. 

A decisive, statement victory guaranteed to raise eyebrows across the length and breadth of Europe.

Ten years without a home win in this tournament, Scotland’s champions have now racked up three-in-row. The last time they managed that, Gordon Strachan was the manager, Gordon Brown was Prime Minister and George W Bush was still the President of the United States.

Trailing to a 23rd-minute header from Christophe Baumgartner, a performance of courage, composure and no little skill produced three goals against the team sitting second in the Bundesliga — with the German top flight’s stingiest defensive record.

Make no mistake, this was the most impressive Champions League win of the two Rodgers spells in charge. While Leipzig sit with no points after four games – remarkable in itself — the Parkhead side now boast seven from four games. Another home win against Club Brugge or Young Boys will surely be enough to secure at least a place in the new play-off format.

Just over a month ago, Celtic’s last meeting with Bundesliga opposition in Europe was an ignominious affair, heaping scorn and derision upon the head of the manager and his team. Those who continued to ask why Rodgers returned to Glasgow in the first place had their answer last night.

The winger celebrated alongside Arne Engels after putting the hosts in front

Kuhn was front and centre of the full-time celebrations in front of the supporters 

In January 2018, RB Leipzig agreed to sell an 18-year-old Nicolas Kuhn to Ajax for a fee of £1.5million. How they came to regret that decision here, the German winger scoring twice to turn this game on its head before half-time — then playing a part in Reo Hatate’s decisive goal to make it 3-1 with 18 minutes to play.

Linked with English Premier League teams this week, the transformation in 24-year-old Kuhn’s game has become a sight to behold. Undeterred by the loss of a preventable opening goal for the visitors, he earned a standing ovation when he left the fray with a quite brilliant performance. In truth, Rodgers had no failures.

They had to do it the hard way after initially shooting themselves in the foot.

Auston Trusty made a slack pass in his own half. Kasper Schmeichel chose to push Lois Openda’s shot round the post when it might have been going wide anyway. 

Veteran Leipzig midfielder Kevin Kampl fizzed a wicked corner into the area and, instead of heading clear, Cameron Carter-Vickers allowed the ball to spin off the back of his head straight into the mixer. Baumgartner was never going to waste a free header in front of goal, giving Schmeichel no chance.

How quickly a game can turn in the Champions League. After a confident start, players in green and white were now giving the ball away at will.

The stats showed that Celtic had lost 27 of the 28 Champions League games in which they had conceded the first goal and this, now, had an ominous feel.

Christoph Baumgartner silenced the home crowd after heading home a first-half opener

When Daizen Maeda gave the ball away on the halfway line, the home side were in all sorts of trouble. They won a huge break when Antonio Nusa slashed a wild effort high and wide of goal. Leipzig could — and probably should — have been out of sight.

Remarkably, Celtic equalised with their first shot on target and never looked back.

When the peerless Kuhn cut in from the right, he clipped a ball towards the back post. Whether it was a cross or a shot is irrelevant now. The ball spun off the inside of the upright and into the net past Peter Gulacsi for 1-1. Parkhead found its voice once more.

Moments later, Kuhn burst into space before playing a gorgeous pass with the outside of his left boot for Maeda. Taking it first time, the wide man fired the ball over the crossbar. The significance was lost on no one, however. After a ropey period, Celtic were back in the game.

It took a brilliant last-ditch block from Willi Orban to deny Kyogo Furuhashi a clear crack at goal as Celtic ramped up the pressure before half-time. The scent of blood in their nostrils, Scotland’s champions could sense a switch in momentum. Rightly as it turned out.

Reo Hatate capitalised on a Peter Gulacsi error in the RB Leipzig goal to secure the three points

The lid came off this old place with the second goal on the stroke of half-time. Hatate found space on the left and rolled the ball along the touchline where Greg Taylor had made an intelligent run. The full-back’s cutback was missed by Maeda but fell perfectly for that man Kuhn to slam Celtic into the lead.

Celtic’s last win over German opposition had been a 2-1 home victory against Leipzig during the group stage of the Europa League in 2018. As the interval arrived with the same scoreline, they seemed disinclined to sit on what they had.

Leipzig weren’t done yet. Winless in their past five European matches, there was at least mitigation for the last three. They had lost by a single goal to Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Liverpool.

That Celtic ultimately made this such a comfortable win deserves all the praise in the world.

When Manchester City played RB Leipzig last year, Erling Haaland looked across the centre circle before kick-off and glimpsed his own reflection.

Brendan Rodgers’ men have secured seven points from a possible 12 in the Champions League

Benjamin Sesko walked in the shadows of the formidable Norwegian at RB Salzburg. Six foot four with frightening physical attributes, the Slovenian international last night forced Schmeichel into a big diving save as Celtic threatened to slip into a dangerous form of survival.

Feeding Kuhn was the key to relieving the pressure. Every time the German got the ball he terrorised his old club, a cut back into the path of Hatate ending in a shot which forced a Gulacsi diving save low at his left hand post.

The game was effectively settled by two moments of goalkeeping. One of the inspired variety from Schmeichel, the second of the Keystone Cops variety from Gulacsi.

Baumgartner should have drawn Leipzig level when he gathered a chipped ball from Kampl and thumped a left foot strike at goal. Great Dane Schmeichel scrambled the ball round his post brilliantly.

The game swept up the other end minutes later, Celtic claiming their third – and surely decisive — goal when Gulacsi spilled Alistair Johnston’s driven cut back at the feet of Hatate. The Japanese midfielder steered the ball into the roof of the net. Victory was secure.

Denied a fourth goal when Maeda was flagged offside in added time, it mattered not a jot. Victory over a Leipzig team still chasing their first Champions League point had been achieved in spectacular style.