Japanese footballer Reo Hatate contributed an assist in Celtic’s 4-2 loss against Aston Villa in the final round of the Champions League preliminary stage. Although Celtic has advanced to the next phase, they now face a difficult playoff match against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in February.
Celtic’s Early Struggles and Hatate’s Contribution
The match started with Aston Villa taking an early lead. Forward Morgan Rogers scored twice in the first five minutes, putting Celtic in a difficult position. However, Celtic fought back. Adam Idah brought the team level with two goals, showing great determination. His first goal came in the 36th minute, and just two minutes later, he scored again. This second goal was made possible by Reo Hatate, who provided an excellent pass from the right side, allowing Idah to find the net.
At this point, the match was evenly balanced at 2-2, giving Celtic hope that they could turn things around.
Aston Villa Secures Victory
As the game progressed, Aston Villa regained control. In the 60th minute, Ollie Watkins scored, giving Aston Villa a 3-2 lead. He had a chance to extend the lead further but missed a penalty, keeping Celtic’s hopes alive. However, in stoppage time, Morgan Rogers completed his hat-trick, securing a 4-2 win for Aston Villa.
With this victory, Aston Villa finished eighth in the league phase and earned a direct place in the Champions League last 16. Celtic, on the other hand, finished 21st and must now compete in the knockout playoffs to advance further in the tournament.
Hatate Stays Focused on the Next Challenge
Despite the loss, Reo Hatate remained positive and focused on the upcoming challenge. He acknowledged that an additional goal in the first half could have changed the outcome, but he emphasized that the team must now concentrate on what they can do next.
“It’s all about what we can do to get the result,” Hatate said. “We’ll focus on the things we can do.”
Celtic now faces a tough test against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, two of the strongest teams in Europe. The playoff round will take place over two legs in mid-February, and Celtic must perform at their best to secure a place in the last 16.
Other Japanese Players in Champions League Matches
Apart from Hatate, several other Japanese players were in action in the Champions League preliminary stage.
Wataru Endo’s Champions League Debut for Liverpool
Japan captain Wataru Endo made his first-ever Champions League start for Liverpool. The English club had already secured the top position in the league phase, but they suffered a 3-2 loss against PSV Eindhoven in their final match.
Endo played in midfield and played a key role in Liverpool’s second goal. His long ball forward helped set up Harvey Elliott’s goal in the 40th minute, giving Liverpool a 2-1 lead. However, Endo also made a mistake, which led to Ismael Saibari scoring the equalizer for PSV just five minutes later. PSV’s Ricardo Pepi then scored the winning goal in first-half stoppage time, securing victory for the Dutch club.
Even though Liverpool lost the match, they still finished on top of the table, advancing directly to the next round. Endo will now have an important role to play as Liverpool moves forward in the competition.
Takumi Minamino and Monaco’s Struggles
Another Japanese player, Takumi Minamino, was part of the Monaco squad that faced Inter Milan. Unfortunately, Monaco suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat, finishing 17th in the league phase.
This result means Monaco will now face either Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) or Benfica in the playoff round. Both opponents are strong teams, so Monaco will have to perform well to secure a place in the last 16.
Ayase Ueda and Feyenoord’s Difficult Match
Japanese forward Ayase Ueda played for Feyenoord in their match against Lille. It was a difficult game for Feyenoord, as they suffered a 6-1 defeat. Ueda was unable to score in this match, and Feyenoord finished 19th in the league phase.
Now, Feyenoord must prepare for a playoff match against either AC Milan or PSV Eindhoven. Both teams are strong, and Feyenoord will need to improve their performance to progress further in the tournament.
Sporting CP Sneaks into the Playoffs
Portuguese club Sporting CP, which includes Japanese midfielder Hidemasa Morita, managed to secure a 1-1 draw against Bologna. Morita did not play in this match, but Sporting CP’s result was enough for them to finish 23rd in the league phase, just making it into the playoffs.
They now face a tough challenge against either Atalanta or Borussia Dortmund in the next round.
Looking Ahead: The Playoff Stage
With the preliminary round now over, teams must prepare for the next phase of the competition. For clubs like Celtic, Monaco, Feyenoord, and Sporting CP, the playoff stage will determine whether they can advance to the last 16 of the Champions League.
For Celtic, the challenge is particularly tough as they prepare to face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, two of the biggest clubs in Europe. If they can overcome this challenge, they will earn a place among the best teams in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Liverpool, Aston Villa, and other top teams have already secured their spots in the last 16 and will be watching closely to see which teams join them from the playoff round.
The upcoming matches will be crucial for all the teams involved, and fans can expect intense battles as clubs fight for their place in the next stage of the competition.
