GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – NOVEMBER 05: Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Credit: Getty
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Soccer Football – Champions League – Celtic v RB Leipzig – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – November 5, 2024 Celtic’s Nicolas Gerrit Kuhn with Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers after being substituted Action Images via Reuters/Lee SmithCredit: Reuters
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Soccer Football – Champions League – Celtic v RB Leipzig – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – November 5, 2024 Celtic’s Reo Hatate reacts REUTERS/Russell CheyneCredit: Reuters
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epa11703744 Leipzig’s head coach Marco Rose reacts during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Celtic FC and RasenBallsport Leipzig, in Glasgow, Britain, 05 November 2024. EPA/ROBERT PERRYCredit: EPA
Nicolas Kuhn played for the Bundesliga’s Under-16’s side and showed signs of taking off.
In this Champions League tie against them, he was flying.
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There will likely be some Academy coach at the German club telling how he once watched the Celtic star scored 18 goals in 22 youth team appearances.
But they count for nothing compared to his double here and performance to go with them.
Kuhn, at 24, is now the real deal as he produced on the big stage to be the catalyst for this sensational comeback victory.
The German side took an early lead but after Kuhn’s double Reo Hatate sealed the three points.
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For Brendan Rodgers, it’s arguably his biggest European result in his two spells at the club given the standard of opposition.
His side gave him everything he hoped for and more to respond to an early set-back.
Celtic had initial control of the game.
Right up until they didn’t.
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Rodgers’ side made such a promising start and were the dominant team for the first 20 minutes.
The packed stadium brought the big match atmosphere and the early signs were the players would deliver the performance to go with it.
But European outfits like Leipzig only need a sniff of a chance to pounce.
And teams like Celtic cannot afford to make two mistakes in quick succession and expect to get away with it.
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That’s precisely what Rodgers warned in his pre-match press conference.
He talked about how keeping possession of the ball was the best form of defence.
So there was real frustration when Auston Trusty passed straight to a Leipzig player on 23 minutes.
The centre-back had picked up an ankle knock earlier.
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But it was still slack play from the big defender when he was under no real pressure.
The error led to a shot on target which was going wide.
But Kasper Schmeichel threw out his right arm to turn the ball out for a corner.
Rodgers turned away in annoyance, knowing it was needless.
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The first ball into the box was cleared by Arne Engels.
But when it came back in a second time, Cameron Carter-Vickers could only flick the ball on and Leipzig scored through Christoph Baumgartner.
The Bundesliga side started to look like a really, really good side and they could have doubled their lead.
There was a panicky few minutes for Celtic, without doubt.
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Alistair Johnston was required to make a vital last ditch block in that worrying spell with Antonio Nusa blasting another chance high over the bar.
Those were big moments.
But just as Celtic had control of the game and lost it, so too did Leipzig.
Rodgers’ side deserve huge credit for the way they composed themselves after that shaky five minutes.
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Skipper Callum McGregor led by example in the middle of the park with a proper captain’s performance.
But the star of the show was wearing the number ten jersey.
Kuhn is just playing with so much confidence right now that he doesn’t run around the pitch, he swaggers.
It’s amazing to think he was so ordinary looking last season after he initially joined the club in January.
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But he’s settled now, alright.
Kuhn made it 1-1 with a tremendous goal after 34 minutes.
He struck the ball almost nonchalantly from outside the box to beat goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi with a sensational curling shot.
Kuhn held his arms out, when the ball hit the net off the post, like it was nothing special.
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But that’s exactly what it was.
Celtic could easily have settled for that before half-time.
But with Leipzig rocking they grabbed the initiative, pushed forward and scored again seconds before the break.
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Hatate did brilliantly to feed the ball into the box from the left and this time Kuhn was in the right place at the right time to score again.
The goal raised the roof but no-one inside the stadium believed there were no more goals to come.
The match was still very much on a knife-edge going into the second half.
Leipzig were always capable of getting the next goal and going on to get the much needed victory.
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While they turned up here with zero points from their first three European games this season, their defeats weren’t exactly against the minnows of the competition.
In truth, while they lost to Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Liverpool, their performances deserved better.
So Celtic had to beware.
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But when push came to shove, Rodgers’ side were in no mood to let this opportunity slip.
They made it 3-1 in 72 minutes, Hatate reacting brilliantly to slam the ball into he roof of the net after the Leipzig keeper spilled a low cross from Johnston.
Rodgers took off Kuhn at that point with the wide-man getting a standing ovation from the Celtic support.
There was still some work to do in the closing stages.
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Play being held up as young Celtic supporter invaded the pitch was an unwelcome distraction for the players.
But the final whistle wasn’t long in coming with Rodgers and his team able to take the applause of the whole crowd who were thrilled with their performance.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Firstly, let’s deal with the reality of where Amorim finds himself now.
He was joking before the game when he said a Sporting victory over City would make United feel another Sir Alex Ferguson was arriving.
There was a huge amount of added interest in the game in Manchester. Those of a United persuasion, fans and club officials alike, were delighted with what they saw. To some, it made a mockery of City’s private insistence that Amorim was not a name on their wish list for when Pep Guardiola eventually leaves.
But nobody, Amorim said, should read too much into events at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
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“I already said previously you cannot transport one reality into another,” he said. “At Manchester United you cannot play exactly like this. You cannot play so defensively and so there we will have to adapt. Clearly it is really difficult to beat this team and to beat Pep Guardiola. And he is not a worse manager than me.
“It will be a completely different world, a different team, we won’t have that much time to train and we will begin from a different starting point. People can make their own judgements but I say to the people of Manchester that this was a one-off.”
Amorim’s observations about his defence are worth further examination.
The most obvious difference being widely analysed is that Amorim plays three central defenders.
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Against City, that turned into a back five for long stretches of the game.
Yet that is one of the attractions. Inside United they believe labelling Amorim as someone who plays with three central defenders is too simplistic.
How that shows itself can change, it is argued. This could be through inverted full-backs, more orthodox wing-backs – which is what Geovany Quenda and goalscorer Maximiliano Araujo tried to be when they weren’t being pushed back – or central defenders stepping forward into midfield areas.
In front of them are two sitting midfielders, beyond that two narrow forwards and, up top, the excellent Viktor Gyokeres.
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If Amorim sticks to the formation, does he have the personnel to make it effective?
If not, will he have to compromise to the extent Erik ten Hag did, where his eventual team bore no relation to the style he was supposed to be bringing with him from Ajax.
A filmmaker from London is bridging the gap between cinema and boxing. Award-winning film director and producer Anthony Vander launches SPAR
Vander, an accomplished director and producer whose debut feature Sweetboy premiered at the American Black Film Festival back in 2014, co-produced the pilot episode of Spar, following the short film version in 2020.
Spar stars Nicola Roffe (Fast Girls) alongside Edwin De La Renta (Pretty Red Dress, Bharat), Andre Fyffe (Casualty), and 2023 BAFTA nominee Jordan Pitt. The episode is written by Vander and Kate Napoli, and is produced by actor Mavin Rasheed (Professor T, The Power).
Vander cited director Rapman as one of his inspirations whilst creating Spar.
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“He (Rapman) has a fresh approach to storytelling as well as strong representation in all his creations. It’s incredibly inspiring and the blueprint for success. I went out and made Spar because I had to create my own yes, plus no one in the UK has ever done a boxing show like this before.
After its premiere Spar will tour in boxing gyms in the London area. Vander highlighted the importance of raising awareness for grassroots boxing.
“We want to spotlight boxing gyms up and down the country. A lot of gyms are struggling due to lack of support. It’s more than a sport. Boxing emphasises discipline, self-control and community. If things remain the same, a generation of community could be lost.”
Vander is seeking out investors to push the vision of Spar even further. “With Spar, we have a franchise that is for boxing. I like to think of it as The Bear meets Cobra Kai. We welcome co-productions and investors.”
Valtteri Bottas will leave Sauber after the 2024 Formula 1 season but is understood to already be close to signing back with Mercedes as its reserve driver from next year.
In what has been an awful year for Sauber – still 2024’s only point-less team – Bottas’s place beyond the deal he struck when leaving Mercedes at the end of the 2021 season, when Sauber was branded as Alfa Romeo, was threatened as plans for Audi’s 2026 arrival accelerated.
First, Sauber hired Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg in a deal covering the 2025 season ahead of the Audi rebrand for the following year, with Bottas’s team-mate Zhou Guanyu not in contention to keep the sole remaining racing seat with the team.
Sauber then entered a turbulent period of management change, with previous bosses – former CEO Andrea Seidl and chairman Oliver Hoffmann – axed and ex-Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto hired as chief operating and chief technical officer. Red Bull sporting director Johnathan Wheatley also joined to be Sauber team principal from 2025.
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In Brazil last weekend Bottas said doing a new deal with Sauber was still “what I’m pushing for with Mattia”.
But over the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend Motorsport.com reported that Formula 2 championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto has agreed a deal to race for the Swiss team for next year after it missed out on signing Williams-bound Carlos Sainz, its long-held target.
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44
Photo by: Lubomir Asenov / Motorsport Images
“A situation like this is never easy for anyone,” Bottas said. “But after all the good and in-depth discussions we had in the past weeks, we realised that the conditions to grow this project together were not met.
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“These past years with the team have been an incredible journey, full of growth, challenges, and unforgettable moments. I’m grateful for the joint experiences as well as the trust and support I’ve felt every step of the way.
“Though it’s time to move on, I’ll always carry a piece of this team with me, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for us both.”
Mattia Binotto, COO & CTO, Sauber Motorsport AG: “We extend our deepest gratitude to Valtteri for the past three years together. He has been the embodiment of professionalism, using his vast experience to support the team’s growth. Valtteri’s dedication and approach have been invaluable during a pivotal time in our history, and the memories of these years will stay with us for a long time. In considering our driver line-up for the coming seasons, Valtteri was unquestionably a key candidate. With his fighting spirit, he frequently pushed the car beyond its performance limits. However, a decision had to be made. After open and constructive discussions, we mutually concluded that final conditions could not be met so we agreed that it is time to part ways. Valtteri will always have an open door here in Hinwil.”
Sauber’s decision means Bottas’s current F1 racing career will likely be capped at 10 wins from 246 races, come the end of the current campaign in Abu Dhabi next month.
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But he could yet see more action with his former team, after saying returning to what he called the “Mercedes family” at Interlagos was “for sure one option and I would consider it”.
Motorsport.com understands that discussions between Mercedes and Bottas have been going on for several weeks, with the squad set to field a team made up of drivers it has supported all the way to F1 – George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli – in 2025.
Although the path back to the full-time racing driver from a reserve role is difficult, F1 has had a surge in super-sub appearances in recent years.
This was turbocharged by the COVID-19 pandemic, with Hulkenberg, in particular, gaining a series of unexpected appearances for what is now Aston Martin after leaving Renault at 2019’s end.
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Injury replacements have been required elsewhere and this year Williams axed Logan Sargeant well before the end of the current campaign, although opted to replace him with its junior driver, Franco Colapinto.
But Hulkenberg’s story is one particularly relevant to Bottas, as it was his regular place in the F1 paddock as Aston’s reserve that helped him stay in regular contact with then Haas team principal Guenther Steiner and eventually to a deal to rejoin the grid as a full-time racer with the American squad in 2023.
It is not currently known when any deal for Bottas to return to Mercedes might be announced, but Sauber is predicted to be confirming the deal for Bortoleto – currently a McLaren junior – this week.
REFS’ chief Howard Webb has conceded the penalty decision that sealed Erik ten Hag’s fate at Manchester United WAS wrong.
When United played at West Ham on October 27, VAR Michael Oliver recommended that match referee David Coote go to the monitor after Hammers’ Danny Ings went down in the box following an 87th-minute skirmish with Matthijs de Ligt.
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Howard Webb has admitted penalty should not have been given for the challenge on IngsCredit: Rex
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The decision contributed to Ten Hag’s sackingCredit: Getty
West Ham were not appealing for a penalty but to the disbelief of De Ligt and his team-mates, Coote reversed his decision and pointed to the spot.
Jarrod Bowen smashed home the penalty, sending United plunging to their fourth Prem defeat of the season and Ten Hag was sacked the next morning.
Now it has emerged that PGMOL chief Webb accepted Oliver should not have intervened and urged Coote to overturn his decision.
And the Prem’s Key Match Incident panel — made up of former players, managers and referees — are also believed to have determined the final decision was an error and the initial call should have stood.
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The revelation will add fuel to Ten Hag’s fire after he was left furious by the crucial incident, suggesting it was the second shocker his side had suffered this season.
Ten Hag also referred to Bruno Fernandes’ red card during the 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham in September — which was overturned by the FA on appeal — as a critical call that wrongly went against his United team.
However, Ten Hag did not mention Lisandro Martinez’s two-footed tackle in the goalless draw at Crystal Palace the previous weekend.
Many experts suggested that the defender should have been dismissed rather than merely booked.
Even so, Webb’s admission, which is expected to be made public in a week during the next edition of the monthly Mic’d Up refereeingreview show, will only serve to justify Ten Hag’s feeling that he was the victim of poor calls which ultimately cost him his job.
Particularly after the Premier League claimed sufficient contact was made on Ings.
‘Ruben Amorim feels like Erik ten Hag all over again – Man Utd missed out on the perfect coach who’s done it already’ says Paul Scholes
A statement after the match said: “The referee did not award a penalty to West Ham for a challenge by De Ligt on Ings.
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“The VAR deemed there was sufficient contact on Ings’ lower leg and recommended an on-field review.
“The referee overturned his original decision and awarded a penalty.”
A thrilling Week 9 of the NFL season is in the books, and several stars showed out! Now, it’s time for FOX Sports lead NFL analyst Tom Brady to name his latest 3 Stars of The Week.
At the end of each week throughout the regular season, Brady will choose three players whose performances stood out to him the most. This week includes a familiar star running back still turning heads in new colors, and an under-the-radar AFC North pass-rusher. Brady also selects his power rankings of the Top 5 teams in the NFL every week and chooses one player from each game he broadcasts this season as his LFG Player of the Game. Here’s his latest 3 Stars of The Week:
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Tom Brady’s 3 Stars of Week 9: Saquon Barkley, Trey Hendrickson, Lamar Jackson | DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
Check out how Brady’s 3 Stars of Week 9 performed, with the GOAT’s full analysis below!
Week 9 stats: 159 yards on 27 attempts (5.9 yards per carry), one rushing touchdown, three catches, 40 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown — andonereverse hurdle(1!) — in 28-23 win over Jacksonville Jaguars
Brady’s thoughts: “Wow! He is having a career year in Philly right now. I’m sure everyone saw that ridiculous reverse hurdle. Are you kidding me!?!? Saquon went for 199 yards from scrimmage. He had another 100-yard rush game. I’m excited to see what moves he’s got going against the Cowboys [on] Sunday — I’ll be watching that one closely.”
Week 9 stats: Four sacks, seven QB hits, one pass defensed, one forced fumble in 41-24 win over Las Vegas Raiders
Brady’s thoughts: “He had a career day going against the Raiders on Sunday. He had four sacks! He sacked me a few times and I didn’t like it at all. But he was pressuring the QB all day. Trey leads the league with 11 sacks in nine games. What a year he’s having.
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“He’s got a huge game Thursday night against the Ravens. Lamar [Jackson], watch out, man. You better know where No. 91 is lined up on every snap.”
Week 9 stats: 84.2% completion rate, 280 pass yards, three touchdown passes, no interceptions, 158.3 (perfect) passer rating in 41-10 win over Denver Broncos
Brady’s thoughts: “Speaking of Lamar, he makes another appearance as one of my stars of the week. He had 280 yards passing, three tuddies, a perfect quarterback rating against a really good Broncos defense.
“Lamar is making a case for that second straight MVP. That performance makes it 20 touchdowns and two picks on the year. Let’s see if he can keep it rolling against the Bengals on Thursday.”
Kuhn’s second goal was not quite as brilliant on an individual level.
Instead, he was in the right place at the right time to convert from a few yards out following a fine team move.
“More and more, Kuhn is reminding me of Jota,” said BBC Sport Scotland chief sports writer Tom English. “The way he moves, his influence in games, his ability to score goals in volumes but scoring great goals as well.
“He’s become an absolutely essential player in this team. You couldn’t tire watching that [first goal]. He just cushions it in from a mile out – if you can do such a thing.”
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That second goal meant Kuhn became the first Celtic player to score two goals in the first half of a Champions League – or European Cup – match since Roy Aitken in October 1979, against Partizani Tirana.
It might not be the most eye-catching statistic from Celtic’s statement win, but it shows the rarity of what Kuhn has achieved – and the kind of form he is in.
Another former Celtic winger, Aiden McGeady, summed it up on the Scottish Football Podcast, saying: “I think the outstanding player in Scottish football this season has been Nicolas Kuhn. Every time he’s on the pitch, he impacts the game.”
It may be a little early to christen him ‘Saint Nick’, but if he keeps up these performances, Celtic fans might not see him after December.
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