Celtic 4-2 FC Utrecht Player Ratings: Celtic Run Riot in Six-Goal Thriller in Europa League

From the first whistle at Celtic Park, it was clear that Celtic were in total control against FC Utrecht. The home side dominated possession early, creating multiple clear chances in the opening 20 minutes and forcing the visitors onto the back foot. By the 6th minute, the scoreboard reflected Celtic’s early authority as Benjamin Nygren found the net, setting the tone for a night of relentless attacking football.

Things went from bad to worse for Utrecht almost immediately. An own goal from captain Nick Viergever doubled Celtic’s lead, and a calm penalty from Arne Engels made it 3-0 before the half-hour mark. It was a period of near-total dominance, with Celtic moving the ball with precision and purpose, leaving the visitors chasing shadows.

Utrecht showed resilience despite the early barrage. Dani de Wit pulled a goal back just before halftime, and early in the second half, Adrian Blake made it 3-2, briefly giving the away side hope.

Celtic, however, restored their two-goal cushion through Auston Trusty’s header from a corner, sealing a hard-fought but ultimately controlled win in this Europa League clash.

Let’s take a look at Sportsdunia’s Celtic vs FC Utrecht player ratings from the thrilling match.

Key Takeaways

• Nygren’s opener, an own goal, and Engels’ penalty gave a commanding 3-0 lead within 30 minutes.
• De Wit and Blake’s goals briefly brought the visitors back into the contest.
• Trusty’s header restored a two-goal cushion, securing a controlled 4-2 victory.

Celtic Player Ratings vs FC Utrecht

Let's take a look at the Celtic Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Kasper Schmeichel - 6.0: He conceded twice but couldn't have done much for either goal. Only had to make one real save all night which is strange in a 4-2 game. His passing was on point, but he was more of a spectator for large parts of the game. A quiet evening's work.

Defenders

Liam Scales - 6.5: A pretty standard performance from Scales. He was comfortable on the ball and kept his passing simple and effective. Lost a few aerial battles which was a minor concern but was generally solid. Did his job without any fuss.

Auston Trusty - 8.0: What a performance from the defender. He popped up with the crucial fourth goal, a powerful header that killed off any hope of an FC Utrecht comeback. He was a rock at the back making five clearances and dominating his aerial duels. He was a real leader back there.

Colby Donovan - 6.5: Very busy performance. He made four successful tackles which is impressive for any defender. However, what stood out to us was how often he lost the ball, putting his team under unnecessary pressure at times. A solid but slightly raw outing.

Kieran Tierney - 7.5: He was a constant source of creativity from the left-back position. He grabbed an assist for the first goal and created two other big chances. A menace going forward all game. His only blemish was committing four fouls, showing a bit of overeagerness.

Midfielders

Benjamin Nygren - 7.5: Got the party started with the opening goal, a great finish. He was a persistent threat throughout, registering three shots on target and looking to make things happen. He did give the ball away a bit but his attacking contribution was vital.

Arne Engels - 8.5: Our man of the match, without a doubt. He was simply magnificent. He coolly slotted home his penalty and then delivered a perfect cross for Trusty's goal. Beyond the goal contributions he recovered the ball seven times and was the engine of the team. A complete midfield performance.

Callum McGregor - 7.0: The captain was the picture of composure in a chaotic game. A 98% pass completion rate is just absurdly good. He dictated the tempo and ensured Celtic stayed in control even when Utrecht threatened their comeback. An unsung hero.

Forwards

Hyun-jun Yang - 6.5: He worked tirelessly and showed good effort before being subbed off. He drew a foul and made a key pass, but we expected a bit more from him in the final third. The yellow card for a clumsy challenge summed up his slightly frustrating evening.

Sebastian Tounekti - 6.0: A very quiet game for the forward. He was neat in possession but never really looked like threatening the Utrecht goal. He was a passenger for much of his time on the pitch. It wasn't a surprise to see him substituted.

Daizen Maeda - 6.0: Much like his fellow attackers, Maeda struggled to get into the game. He had very few touches and was largely ineffective. He put in the work rate we expect but lacked any real quality when it mattered. A forgettable performance.

Substitutes

Kelechi Iheanacho - N/A: Came on for Maeda but didn't have enough time to make an impact.

James Forrest - N/A: Replaced Tounekti and helped see out the victory.

Paulo Bernardo - N/A: Brought on for the superb Engels to add fresh legs to the midfield.

Luke McCowan - N/A: A late substitute for Yang with the game already won.

Manager

M. O'Neill - 8.0: Got his tactics absolutely spot on. His side's explosive start won them the game in the first 20 minutes. He identified the weakness and exploited it perfectly. His substitutions were sensible and helped manage the final stages of the match. A top-class managerial display.

FC Utrecht Player Ratings vs Celtic

Here's a look at the FC Utrecht Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Vasilios Barkas - 5.0: A night to forget for the keeper on his return to Celtic Park. Conceding four is never good, but the error leading to a goal was particularly damning. He looked shaky and devoid of confidence. We noticed his body language was poor after the second goal went in.

Defenders

Mike van der Hoorn - 6.0: He was put under immense pressure and did his best, making five clearances and a couple of interceptions. His passing from the back was okay. It's hard to rate him any higher as part of a defense that was so easily breached.

Niklas Vesterlund - 7.0: One of the few bright sparks for the visitors. He provided the assist for their first goal and was immense in his individual battles, winning almost every duel he contested. A really strong performance in a losing effort. He can hold his head high.

Nick Viergever - 4.5: A disastrous performance from the captain. The own goal was a moment of pure calamity that put his team on the back foot from which they never recovered. It's a shame because he was tidy on the ball, but that one moment defined his entire game.

Derry Murkin - 6.0: Put in a decent shift for his 61 minutes. He was solid defensively and tried to support the attack with his crossing. He was substituted as his manager sought a more attacking approach to chase the game.

Midfielders

Yoann Cathline - 5.5: He was completely overrun in midfield. He lost possession far too many times and his passing was inaccurate. He just couldn't handle the intensity of Celtic's press. A really tough night for the young midfielder.

Adrian Blake - 7.5: An excellent display from Blake. He scored a brilliant goal to give his team a glimmer of hope and was a constant threat with his dribbling. He created two chances and looked like Utrecht's most dangerous player by a mile. A fantastic individual effort.

Dani de Wit - 7.0: A real mixed bag of a performance. Conceding the penalty was a clumsy and costly error. But he redeemed himself with a stunning strike from distance to get his team on the board. A game of highs and lows for him.

Gjivai Zechiël - 7.0: Played a sublime through ball for Blake's goal, a real moment of quality. His passing was crisp and accurate all game, and he worked hard off the ball too. A very composed and impressive performance in the heart of midfield.

Alonzo Engwanda - 6.0: A very anonymous display. He kept his passing neat and tidy but offered very little in an attacking or defensive sense. The game seemed to pass him by without him making any real impact.

Forwards

Miguel Rodríguez - 6.0: He battled hard up front but was isolated for large periods. He won a decent number of duels but was starved of service and failed to create any chances. Substituted after an hour of thankless running.

Substitutes

Can Bozdogan - N/A: Replaced Rodriguez but had little impact.

Souffian El Karouani - N/A: Came on for Murkin as Utrecht chased the game.

Björn Menzo - N/A: A late sub with the game already decided.

Manager

R. Jans - 6.0: His game plan was torn to shreds in the opening 20 minutes. There's not much a manager can do about an early goal, an own goal, and a penalty. He deserves credit for the way his team fought back to 3-2, but their defensive naivety ultimately cost them dearly.

Man of the Match

Arne Engels of Celtic was Sportsdunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

Nick Viergever of FC Utrecht was the worst performer in the Celtic vs FC Utrecht UEL clash.