If Odsonne Edouard is feeling the pressure of becoming the most expensive signing in Celtic’s history, he’s certainly hiding it well.
On a balmy night in Armenia, the man whose signature cost the Scottish champions £9million this summer suggested a handsome return on that investment may not be long in coming to fruition.
This may only have been the first of four assignments Brendan Rodgers’ side must negotiate if they are to reach a group stage reputedly now worth £40m. Theoretically, the job may only be half done.
Celtic took control of their Champions League first qualifying round as they won 3-0
Striker Odsonne Edouard netted the opener as the Scottish champions fired three away goals
But the importance of the Frenchman’s intervention in first half injury time in terms of the season ahead cannot be understated.
Because, as limited as Alashkert were, they had their moments in an awkward first half. Edouard’s instinctive strike rather quelled their fire.
It was some way to mark your first proper appearance a Celtic player and your first European start. The Frenchman set the tone for what eventually became a perfunctory victory.
Any lingering doubts as to the outcome of the tie were removed in the final nine minutes. James Forrest’s fine finish from 15 yards and Callum McGregor’s customary European goal at the death surely rendered the second leg a formality.
Callum McGregor capped off a fine evening in Armenia as he scored Celtic’s third goal
While technically superior to Alashkert throughout this match, it was an assignment every bit as sticky as the conditions Rodgers squad were forced to play in.
What the Armenians lacked in quality, they more than made up for with spirit and physicality.
Ever the professional, the minds of Rodgers’ players won’t yet turn to Trondheim or Reykjavik. With another week’s training and a run-out against Standard Liege under their belts, however, their passage to the second qualifying round should be secured without too much difficulty.
Keen to give their side every chance of progressing to the next round, Alashkert’s directors moved the game from their normal ground to the home of the national side – the Republican Stadium.
With its 14,000 capacity scarcely tested on Tuesday night, it was not one of the world’s most intimidating arenas. Yet the free admission offered to the public ensured the local favourites enjoyed a backing they were unaccustomed to.
By the time kick-off dawned, the 39 degree heat that had pounded Yerevan all day had mercifully subsided. The sight of the pitch largely in shade and the hint of an evening breeze were very much to the Scots’ pleasing.
Captain Scott Brown ensured Celtic did not underestimate their opponents in the first round
Shorn of his World Cup quartet and Leigh Griffiths, Rodgers stuck by the 3-5-2 formation he had favoured in pre-season. That meant the most taxing of tasks for Forrest and Kieran Tierney on the flanks. Moussa Dembele and Edouard’s partnership promised power and pace.
You would never mistake Alashkert for shrinking violets. Three times in the opening 10 minutes the Armenians attempted to leave their mark – all too literally – on Celtic players. McGregor, Scott Brown and Tierney did well to dust themselves down.
McGregor’s enterprise down the right brought the first opening. Working a one-two with Forrest, the midfielder tested Ognjen Cancarevic with a curling effort but it was just the right height for the keeper.
Alashkert’s defence looked distinctly jumpy in the presence of Celtic’s French strikers. Twice Cancarevic was twice to smash short-back passes into touch as the game settled.
Tierney also had the measure of Artak Yedigaryan, Alashkert’s diminutive right-back. One blistering burst and cross left Dembele a boot size from claiming the opening goal of the tie.
Jack Hendry was next to find himself on the wrong side of the Armenians’ aggression. Jefferson, Alashkert’s live-wire Brazilian striker, was fortunate to escape with just a booking for smashing his boot into his opponent’s face.
Midway through the first half, Alashkert belatedly showed they could play a bit too. Artak Dashyan left Jozo Simunovic in a crumpled heap on the right flank and drew a fine save from Craig Gordon when he’d better options in the middle.
Danilo Sekulic worked the Celtic keeper with a rising effort from the edge of the box soon after to further encourage the home support.
Just before the first water break, Dembele came painfully close to claiming a fine opener. Olivier Ntcham’s reverse pass gave his compatriot a glimpse of the target. His curling right footer looked set to find the top corner until Cancarevic sprang to his left to claw the ball to safety.
Travelling supporters made plenty of noise as they saw their side blow the hosts away
The Armenians were not without their moments. Sekulic showed great awareness to pop the ball through Brown’s legs and it was only Kristoffer Ajer’s timely block that prevented him testing Gordon from 18 yards.
McGregor thought he’d given his side a half-time lead with a cute reverse shot after the ball had broken to him kindly in the box but Cancarevic watched the ball fly just beyond his post.
Gordon was similarly relieved when Ntcham’s slackness allowed Artur Yedigaryan a free hit that whistled just over but the final meaningful action of the half knocked the wind from Alashkert’s sail.
Simunovic’s charge into enemy territory saw him ride two tackles before being blocked. The ball spun fortuitously to Forrest who attempted to score on the volley. The winger will never his a better bad shot in his life. The ball ran straight across goal where Edouard thumped it low past the helpless keeper.
Within 60 seconds of the restart, Hendry’s lapse in concentration almost handed Alashkert a free ticket back into the tie. Under minimal pressure from Jefferson, he scuffed his pass-back to give the Brazilian a look at goal. Gordon rode to the rescue.
Lean and focused, Dembele appears to be relishing the challenge of the new campaign. Alashkert just didn’t know how to handle him.
Cancarevic denied him the chance to join Edouard on the score-sheet when he stooped to save his low shot on the turn but none of the 200 travelling fans were in any doubt as to the scale of his contribution until he made way for Scott Sinclair on 68 minutes. Eboue Kouassi relieved Ntcham at the same time with Lewis Morgan coming on for Edouard with 13 minutes left to make his European debut.
The two sides will meet again at Celtic Park as the Bhoys eye their route to the group stages
Alashkert struggled to get in behind Celtic all night but were not shy about attempting to beat Gordon from distance. What a strike Artak Yedigaryan unleashed from 30 yards midway through the second period. The Celtic keeper did well to punch it up into the night sky.
Jefferson was the best man in a yellow jersey and saw his hope of raising the roof with an equaliser denied by a terrific sliding block by Ajer.
With nine minutes remaining, though, Alashkert’s hopes of progressing were all but extinguished. Morgan’s deep corner was claimed by Hendry. As a raft of opponents pounced, Sinclair did well to keep the situation alive. Hendry’s snap shot bounced back to the edge of the box where Forrest took aim and fired low into the corner.
McGregor put the seal on a professional job in the final minute of normal time by poking a shot through a defender’s legs and into the far corner. Cool and clinical, it epitomised his side’s display.