After securing a heroic 0-0 draw away to Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League last Wednesday, Brendan Rodgers and Celtic are content with their tally of four points from three league phase matches so far.

With five games still to go, however, the Bhoys are eager to build on their positive start and find the required results to get them to the last 16 play-offs.

As the Hoops convincingly beat Motherwell 3-0 over the weekend, all of their remaining European opponents were in action.

Alistair Johnston Celtic
27th October 2024; Fir Park, Motherwell, Scotland; Scottish Premiership Football, Motherwell versus Celtic; Alistair Johnston of Celtic celebrates with Luke McCowan of Celtic, Daizen Maeda of Celtic and Paulo Bernardo of Celtic after he shoots and scores with a header in the 55th minute to make it 2-0

RB Leipzig came from behind to beat Freiburg 3-1 in the Bundesliga and stay level on points with Bayern Munich at the top of the table. The Germans, who come to Glasgow next week, remain without a European win this season but are unbeaten domestically ahead of a cup tie with St. Pauli tonight.

Moving down to Switzerland, and Young Boys’ misery continued on Sunday as Lugano beat them 2-0. Interim boss Joel Magnin hasn’t improved his side’s fortunes since taking charge; they have won just two of their last eight games in all competitions and sit third-bottom of the Swiss top-flight.

Elsewhere, Dinamo Zagreb, whom the Hoops travel to face on matchday six, also lost at the weekend. Osijek came away from Zagreb convincing 4-2 victors.

After a 3-1 defeat to Milan on Champions League matchday three, Club Brugge bounced back with an important 2-1 victory over Anderlecht. The Belgians visit Parkhead at the end of November.

Finally, Aston Villa suffered somewhat of a European hangover in the English Premier League on Saturday. They have started their Champions League campaign perfectly by winning three from three but faltered at home to Bournemouth, Evanilson striking a 96th-minute equaliser for the Cherries at Villa Park.

In summary, only two of Celtic’s five remaining European opponents won over the weekend. Two suffered surprising losses, while the other couldn’t hang on in a game they were expected to win.

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