Thrown into a group with Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, it’s fair to say that Anderlecht and Celtic were always going to be battling for a third spot in their Champions League group.
Even if Bayern Munich look a shadow of their former selves, many would still have them as favourites against the Belgian champions and Brendan Rodgers’ side, meaning Wednesday night’s clash was a huge game for both sides.
Fielding a 5-3-2, Nicolas Frutos wanted to let Celtic have the majority of the ball (which they did), hoping to hit them on the break, but that plan failed rather spectacularly.
The Bhoys walked away with a solid 3-0 win, putting them well on their way to securing at least third spot, but Het Belang Van Limburg suggest the score, as emphatic as it was, was rather flattering.
Heavily criticising the Anderlecht manager’s tactics, the Belgian newspaper weren’t all that impressed with the way Brendan Rodger’s men played, going as far as labelling them as a ‘very mediocre opponent’.
Saying the Scots ‘didn’t even come to play football, let alone win’, the outlet feel the end result was more down to Anderlecht’s dismal performance than Celtic’s ability.
At the end of the day, few in the white and green part of Glasgow will care about how the win was achieved.
They’ll just be celebrating the fact they’ve picked up three points in the Champions League, hoping to do the exact same thing when the Belgians come to Celtic Park for the return fixture.
Next up: Bayern Munich away.
