Martin O’Neill found himself nostalgic as Celtic fans passionately supported their team to a Europa League win against Besiktas.
Camilo Duran made a significant impact off the bench, scoring twice in Celtic’s 3-2 home triumph, with 20-year-old Callum Osmand also contributing to the scoreline.
Besiktas initially went ahead thanks to Junior Olaitan, who managed to convert a rebound after missing a penalty. Orkun Kokcu leveled the match in the 85th minute following goals from Osmand and Duran.
However, Duran secured the victory just two minutes later, marking Celtic’s first win in this season’s Europa League.
With this performance, Duran made history as the first substitute to net two goals in a major European competition for Celtic since Johannes Edvaldsson accomplished it in September 1977 against Jeunesse d’Esch in the European Cup.
Celtic’s win broke a streak of three consecutive home defeats in the Europa League, dating back to their last victory against Utrecht (4-2) in January. O’Neill was particularly pleased with the home support.
“The crowd lifts us, and tonight felt especially nostalgic. It reminded me of the old days,” O’Neill expressed to TNT Sports.
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— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) November 5, 2026
“It was a fantastic performance filled with heart and determination. Just when I thought we might lose two points, we pulled through. There’s so much resilience in this team.
“Qualifying has been challenging in Europe, but tonight gives us hope. We had to make some adjustments to keep players fresh, especially with so many games coming up.”
Celtic is now the second team this season to win a Europa League match after conceding the opening goal in the second half, joining Celta Vigo, who managed it against Celtic in matchday three (2-1).
Osmand, at 20 years and 362 days old, is now the youngest player to score in a major European competition for Celtic since Liel Abada (20 years, 32 days) in November 2021 against Ferencvaros in the Europa League.
Fan Take: This victory is significant for soccer fans as it not only revives Celtic’s hopes in European competition but also highlights the emergence of young talent like Osmand and Duran. Their performances can inspire a new generation of players and rejuvenate the passion of supporters, underlining the importance of developing homegrown talent in the sport.
Source: www.soccernews.com
