Celtic travels to Kazakhstan for the most important trip of their season.
They arrive on the back of three goals, three points, and a solid display against Livingston.
The Scottish champions maintain their perfect domestic start despite several lineup changes.
Fans noticed some of the same sluggishness that plagued the goalless first leg against Kairat.
Manager Brendan Rodgers expressed mild frustration with the club’s recruitment this summer.
He knows Celtic must perform near-flawlessly after a nine-hour flight to Almaty for a £40m, winner-takes-all match.
Mixed Performance Against Livingston
Livingston used a strategy similar to Kairat to frustrate Celtic in the first half.
Celtic lacked fluency initially but improved significantly after the break.
The defensive line, midfield trio, and front three rarely played together, creating unfamiliarity and slow tempo.
Celtic’s wide players often drifted inside, congesting the final third while Livingston blocked attacks.
Rodgers kept key players like McGregor, Tierney, Carter-Vickers, Maeda, Hatate, and Forrest on the bench.
He debuted Hayato Inamura at left-back and started Shin Yamada up front.
Nygren Sparks Revival
Benjamin Nygren provided quality after halftime, scoring and assisting to open the game.
He navigated crowded spaces calmly, curling a second decisive goal into Livingston’s net.
Fans cheered as Celtic regained momentum, with Nygren scoring three times in five games.
Reasonably priced signings like Nygren, bought for £2m from Nordsjaelland, often deliver the best value.
Substitutions of McGregor, Maeda, and Forrest boosted quality without exhausting the squad before the flight.
Celtic maintains several performance gears, which they may need against a stronger, more threatening Kairat side.
Kairat has already beaten champions from three other countries and aims to make it four.
