Even as Celtic racked up the chances and racked up the goals, it looked as if it simply wasn’t to be his night.
Daezen Maeda clipped the bar early on when the score was still 0-0. He then planted a free header straight into the arms of an overworked Slovan Bratislava goalkeeper.
A couple of fizzed crosses squirmed agonisingly out of his reach, too.
But if anything epitomises Celtic’s ever-unquenchable wideman, it is the manner in which Maeda continues to get himself in the right place at the right time. Totally unburdened by past failures and determined to right previous wrongs.
No one deserved a place on the scoresheet more than him, Maeda producing a trademark display of fearsome enthusiasm and non-stop running.
The roar that greeted his eventual 70th minute strike – constructed by compatriots Kyogo Furuhashi and Reo Hatate, and Celtic’s fourth of a historic 5-1 win – spoke volumes about the esteem in which Maeda is held by this adoring fanbase.
Daizen Maeda dazzles as Celtic thump Slovan Bratislava
The Japan international’s end product remains – and will probably always remain – a little capricious.
But the creativity of his Celtic team-mates, coupled with Maeda’s searing pace and his outstanding movement inside the penalty area, means that he is usually given the chance to atone for big misses pretty quickly.
And when that chance came, he took his tally to four in six games so far in 2024/25. Maeda’s record tally of 11 is already looming into view.
“He is incredible to watch at times,” beams Neil Lennon, the former Celtic manager on co-commentary duty for TNT Sports (19 September, 8pm). “I saw him the other week against Rangers, and he was tremendous.
“Not only his attacking play but the defensive work he does as well and his fitness levels are incredible He is just outstanding.”
Maeda, giving James Tavernier his bi-annual runaround, scored one and set up another during that 3-0 trouncing of their Old Firm rivals.
The £1.6 million fee Celtic paid to sign Maeda from Ange Postecoglou’s old J-League employers Yokohama F Marinos surely now deserves to be mentioned amongst the most inspired Hoops signings of recent times.
“He has deserved that goal tonight,” Lennon said after Maeda found a pocket of space in the left-hand side of the penalty area and stroked the ball home with uncharacteristic precision.
“He’s been a threat all night. And his work rate off the ball, again, you shouldn’t take for granted. It is a great finish. He slides it into the far corner brilliantly.
“I have really enjoyed watching these three Japanese players for Celtic. The technical ability is fantastic.”
Brendan Rodgers lauds Champions League stunner
With RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and Europa League holders Atalanta to come, Slovan Bratislava at home would probably have been the game Celtic circled on the calendar as their best shot at three points in the group-stages.
Still, you have to win those so-called winnable fixtures. And how many times over the years have Celtic stumbled against opposition they should have at least gone toe-to-toe with in continental competition.
“To get that scoreline at this level is a massive testament to the players and their mentality,” a delighted Rodgers, who’s record in European competition has been perhaps the biggest disappointment of his two Celtic spells, tells the club’s official website.
“In the second half… Wow! Just the intensity and the hunger and the greed of the team. Then, the quality for the goals was absolutely superb, so it was a great night for everyone.
“If you look at the statistics in the game, that backs up the scoreline as well, and I thought in every aspect of the game we were excellent.
“You have to respect that, no matter how dominant we were with about 60 per cent possession, that it’s Champions League level, so you have to expect you’re going to have to work. You’re going to have to shift, to slide, and you’re going to have to be brave.
“And the players did that magnificently.”