CELTIC crashed Banik Ostrava’s party to round off their pre-season training camp in style, as goals from Kyogo, Matt O’Riley, Giorgos Giakoumakis and Liel Abada gave them a deserved win in the Czech Republic.
There were a couple of sloppy moments that led to the concession of goals, mind you, and a couple that Celtic got away with too. All-in-all though, it was a more than decent performance from Celtic at this stage of their preparations.
There was a festive atmosphere around the Mestsky Stadion as the locals toasted their centenary with this match against the Scottish champions, with colourful displays and foil flags waving all around as the teams emerged. Not bad for a friendly.
Celtic hero Lubo Moravcik, who earned 42 caps for the former Czechoslovakia, even dropped in to join the fun.
Ange Postecoglou’s men were far from the ideal guests though. The Celtic manager named a strong line-up as his preparations moved up another notch, putting out arguably his strongest side available, the only points of contention perhaps the preference of James Forrest over Daizen Maeda and David Turnbull over Reo Hatate, who was missing from the squad altogether.
Stephen Welsh deputised for Carl Starfelt with the Swede still following his own injury recovery programme, while there was a first sighting of Josip Juranovic this summer after the right-back shrugged off his own knock.
It has been noticeable in these pre-season matches just how advanced Joe Hart’s starting position has been, standing almost level with his centre-backs. It seems hugely risky, and Celtic were indeed almost punished early on as a slack square ball from Jota in midfield inviting a shot at the unguarded goal, but luckily for Celtic Nemanja Kuzmanovic’s effort bounced just wide.
They wouldn’t get so lucky moments later though as a deep cross from Kuzmanovic bypassed the whole Celtic defence and allowed Eldar Sehic to sidefoot home at the back post.
Kyogo got his first sight of goal from the kick-off as Celtic looked to respond, his effort blocked away by home keeper Jan Lastuvka.
The hosts didn’t heed the warning though, and when Forrest barrelled through a challenge and into the area, he eventually worked the ball square for Kyogo in acres of space to tap home.
The goal seemed to settle Celtic down, and they soon went ahead after a delightful passage of passing play ended with Turnbull threading the ball to O’Riley on the edge of the area, the midfielder dropping a shoulder to buy a yard of space and then curling a brilliant effort into the far corner.
Postecoglou made six changes at the break, Anthony Ralston, Alexandro Bernabei, Yosuke Ideguchi, Daizen Maeda, Abada and Giakoumakis entering the fray with Juranovic, Greg Taylor, O’Riley, Forrest, Jota and Kyogo making way.
They made an immediate impact, Bernabei’s run and weighted through ball putting Maeda in behind and his cross being poked just wide by Giakoumakis with Lastuvka at his feet.
He would get his goal moments later though, as Ralston chipped the ball into the area and the Greek forward produced an acrobatic overhead finish that kissed the bar on the way into the net.
Hart was given a rest and Ben Siegrist brought on in his place, and Celtic had a couple of chances to move further ahead through Maeda, the attacker blazing the first high over the bar and heading the second at the keeper from close range.
Bosun Lawal, Chris Jullien, James McCarthy and Mikey Johnston were next to be brought on, leaving Ralston as the only player on the pitch to have started for Celtic.
Some slackness started to creep in, and after possession was conceded cheaply, Muhamed Tijani ran in to slip the ball under Siegrist for Banik’s second of the night.
Celtic responded immediately though, Giakoumakis’s effort being palmed out to the right where Abada was waiting to side-foot into the empty net and give the scoreline a more accurate reflection of Celtic's dominance.
