New signing makes bow as Celts ship four
CELTIC 3
O’riley (19, 44), Furuhashi (41)
RENNES 4
Terrier (1), Gouiri (21), Assignon (27), Omari (39)
A guest appearance from Yuki Kobayashi and the return of skipper Callum Mcgregor were the talking points of an entertaining bounce game.
Hoops’ new signing Kobayashi cannot take part in a competitive match until the beginning of 2023.
However, having taken the 22-year-old across to Portugal to get to know his teammates and coaches, Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou decided to give him a run out in the sun.
Brought on with just over 10 minutes to go, he managed to do what so many other defenders in this game failed to do – finish with a clean sheet from his time on the pitch.
With Cameron Carter-vickers and Josip Juranovic having been away at the World Cup, this had been seen as chance for others to stake a claim.
For the decidedly chillier prospect of Saturday’s Premiership game against Aberdeen at Pittodrie and beyond.
However, while Scotland midfielder Mcgregor came through his return after injury without incident, for those playing behind him it was a more traumatic experience with Celtic conceding four times in the first half.
Martin Terrier started things off for the French side with a goal in the opening 60 seconds.
Matt O’riley grabbed an equaliser but with Amine Gouiri, Lorenz Assignon and Warmed Omari all also getting on the mark before 40 minutes, Celtic looked set to go in at the break 4-1 down.
A fine goal from Kyogo Furuhashi reduced the deficit before O’riley netted his second and his side’s third to give the scoreline a more respectable look to it.
Mortiz Jenz, the central defender on loan from Rennes’s French rivals Lorient, was taken off at the break to be replaced by Bosun Lawal.
The teenage Irishman had a better time of it with no further scoring in the second half.
As is often the case with such games, there were a raft of substitutions made by both sides.
Inevitably, that broke up the flow but two of the replacements brought on around the hour mark: Giorgios Giakoumakis and David Turnbull, did go close to grabbing an equaliser.
The Greek was denied by a great save, Turnbull hit the crossbar with his effort.
It was not the only time Celtic were denied by the woodwork either as Reo Hatate had struck the post in the first half.
The late introduction of Hatate’s countryman, Kobayashai, captured most of the attention.
Signed on a five-year deal from Vissel Kobe, the Japanese is seen as very much one for the future.
In the more immediate term, the Celtic manager will have been pleased to see Carl Starfelt, the man Kobayashi replaced near the end, get through almost a whole match.