Celtic 2-1 Feyenoord: Gustaf Lagerbielke the unlikely hero in win 'that meant everything'

Less than two weeks ago Brendan Rodgers singled out Gustaf Lagerbielke's personality, adding there are "players ahead of him" in the pecking order for a place in Celtic's central defence.

That was proved once again against Feyenoord as Stephen Welsh made his first start and just second appearance of the season.

Yet it was Lagerbielke who emerged from the bench to become Celtic's unlikely hero, the Sweden international showing rich character to head his first goal for the club and earn a long-awaited Champions League victory.

The monkey is off their back. Twelve home group-stage games without a win, over. A 15-match winless streak brought to an end.

The game may have been a dead rubber, but Celtic Park was alive with euphoria as Lagerbielke strode into the spotlight and atoned for his red card in the opening defeat in Rotterdam.

Can it be a turning point for the 23-year-old, who cost over £3m in the summer?

'Outstanding' backline the building block

Lagerbielke is not the only expensive new recruit who has found game-time hard to come by. Celtic coughed up over £4m for Maik Nawrocki, who was not even named in the Champions League squad due to injury and has yet to feature since returning to fitness.

Academy graduate Welsh started alongside Liam Scales and the "outstanding" defence soaked up the flood of Feyenoord attack for the majority of the match, said former Scotland forward James McFadden.

A stark contrast to what unfolded in Rotterdam. There were no fumbles or stumbles at the back. Instead of being flummoxed, Celtic frustrated their opponents and had a half-time lead thanks to Luis Palma's penalty.

Yet barely five minutes after Lagerbielke was summoned from the bench to replacing the tiring Welsh, Yankuba Minteh lashed Feyenoord level. Another story of Champions League heartbreak at Celtic Park beckoned, following late concessions against Lazio and Atletico Madrid.

Step forward Lagerbielke. Prior to the recent game against Hibs, Rodgers said the 23-year-old Swede was not catching his attention. All eyes were on him as he headed home unmarked.

"Could that feeling of importance to the team give Lagerbielke confidence?" posed McFadden on Sportsound.

"Maybe it'll give him a lift and make him feel like he's part of it. At times he hasn't looked assured, but it might give him confidence, feeling part of the group, and that might make all the difference."

Rodgers offered praise, saying: "It was a great moment for him because he hasn't been involved in squads, other guys have been in front of him.

"But his attitude in training in the main has been superb and he has always been ready. The irony of him being sent off and then getting the goal was great, a really nice moment for him."

'This meant everything to us'

"When Lagerbielke scored the winning goal, that felt like a goal that qualified them out of the groups," former Celtic striker Cillian Sheridan said on Sportsound.

An indictment of where Celtic are on the European stage, but he was not wrong. A collective sigh of relief was exhaled around a place that used to be a fortress. Now, it's about less huffing and puffing and building a feared arena once again.

How is that done, though? Playing attacking, aggressive football would set them on the right tracks.

"It was almost like a hybrid of Brenden Rodgers' style with a bit of Ange [Postecoglou]'s from last season," added Sheridan.

"They played with more intensity on the ball, mixed in with running beyond as well."

There was an intent among the Celtic ranks. Not for one second did they treat this like a dead rubber.

Scenes of Champions League celebrations have been sparse, so they were enjoyed. An overwhelming sense of vindication for their archive of near misses.

"Some people might have thought this was a nothing game but this meant everything to us," Rodgers said. "To get the victory, to feel the confidence to be able to compete at this level.

"I said to the players this is a competition and a level that can dent your confidence, but when you finish it you're going to be better players for it."