Celtic defeated Slovan Bratislava 5-1 on home soil. There were five different goalscorers for the Hoops on a memorable night of European football for the supporters. However, one player in particular caught the eye by matching one of Henrik Larsson's club records in the Champions League.
What a night it was at Parkhead, as Celtic kicked off their Champions League campaign in some fashion. The Hoops played with plenty of spirit from the get-go.
After Liam Scales opened the scoring in the 17th minute, Celtic never looked like losing. By the time the visitors had replied, the Hoops were already three goals ahead. So, Kevin Wimmer scoring hardly dented Brendan Rodgers' side's confidence.
Through it all (hold that thought), there was one player who stood out above the rest for Celtic. Despite the team performance being top-notch, Celtic fans found themselves particularly impressed by Engels.
Arne Engels matches Henrik Larsson's Celtic record in UCL debut
For the first time since club legend Henrik Larsson, a Celtic player scored and assisted in the same Champions League match. It was a real sign of the times, as that was their record signing, Engels.
2 - Arne Engels is only the second Celtic player to score and assist in a UEFA Champions League game, along with Henrik Larsson in September 2001 v Juventus. Dream. #UCL pic.twitter.com/tX1uqJsYZ8
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 18, 2024
Celtic are believed to have made a hefty investment in Engels. While they aren't the type of club to throw around money, they shelled out a reported £11 million to sign the Belgian midfielder from FC Augsburg.
Engels arrived in the summer transfer window and is already nailing down his spot in the starting XI. Having made his international debut with Belgium recently, the midfielder put in an exceptional shift in the Champions League for Celtic.
He is a hard worker, combined with undeniable technical ability. Engels has every chance to become one of Celtic's best players.
It doesn't take a lot to win the hearts of Celtic fans. We only ask for maximum effort and give everything for the badge, which comes naturally as the best team in Scotland.
Engels is already doing both of those things. His celebration in front of the home end after slotting home his penalty personified this, showing that he already loves his new club.
The 21-year-old plays with plenty of maturity and reminds Celtic fans of some of their best midfielders in years gone by. Let's hope we are not talking too soon.