Summary

  • Kyogo nets sixth goal in six games after Hart diverts effort on to upright

  • Forrest turn and shot deflected in to double lead

  • Second leg in the Netherlands next Thursday

  • Winner goes into Europa League group stage; loser drops into Conference League groups

Live Reporting

Clive Lindsay

  1. Ange posts another marker

    FT: Celtic 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

    Tonight, though, is all about Celtic as they continue their revival under new manager Ange Postecoglou.

    Five wins in a row, 18 goals scored, they have bounced back from Champions League qualifying and opening-day Premiership defeat to be on the brink of the Europa League group stage once more.

    AZ, with only one competitive game behind them so far, looked rusty, but Celtic have put themselves in an ideal position to polish them off next week in Alkmaar.

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    Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates his goalSNS

    Kyogo Furuhashi is Celtic's man of the moment with six goals in six games

  2. Another big night

    Talking of Rangers, that brings us on to Thursday's packed night of European football, when Steven Gerrard's side have the chance to make up for that Champions League exit by beating Alashkert in their own Europa League play-off.

    Meanwhile, Aberdeen have travelled 3,500 to face Qarabag in Azerbaijan as they look to make the Conference League group stage and St Johnstone likewise face a tough task against LASK of Austria.

    Join us then for all the build-up, live commentary and post-match reaction from those.

  3. Malmo no slouches

    FT: Malmo 2-0 Ludogorets Razgrad

    Incidentally, Rangers' Champions League qualifying conquerors Malmo have established a 2-0 lead of their own against Bulgarian visitors Ludogorets Razgrad.

    Another if only for Scottish teams perhaps...

  4. If only...

    FT: Celtic 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

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  5. 'Players embracing manager's style'

    FT: Celtic 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

    James McFadden
    Former Scotland forward on BBC Sportsound

    Postecoglou speaks a lot about playing good football. They're open at times, but this is a squad playing high in confidence. The players have embraced his style. It's going to be tough to do it every single game, but that's his approach

  6. 'Not about replacing Ralston'

    FT: Celtic 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

    The Celtic manager was giving nothing away when asked about the reported imminent signing of Josip Juranovic from Legia Warsaw.

    However, asked about whether a new right-back was on his way to replace Tony Ralston despite the Scot's recent fine performances, Ange Postecoglou tells BBC Scotland: "Anthony was outstanding.

    "He was enormous defensively and with the ball. He has been all along.

    "We need to support him and this group of players. We can't expect him to play at this intensity every game.

    "It's not about bringing in people to replace others, it's about bringing in players who will compliment what we've got and create a strong squad."

    Celtic right-back Anthony RalstonSNS

  7. Ralston for Scotland?

    FT: Celtic 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

    Pat Bonner
    Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

    He's young, Scottish and he's improving. That's a target for any young player, to become an international. The first thing for him is to consolidate what he's doing at Celtic

  8. 'Hart's improving with every game'

    FT: Celtic 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

    Ange Postecoglou picked out goalscorer Kyogo Furuhashi and goalkeeper Joe Hart for praise.

    "Kyogo's always a threat," the Celtic manager told Sportsound. "He's constantly on the shoulders of defenders.

    "Hart's improving every game. He's an experienced guy and it gives the team confidence that he's in goal."

  9. Celtic will look to attack again

    FT: Celtic 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

    Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that his side will not head to Netherlands next Thursday simply looking to protect their lead.

    "It was a good game of football," he tells BBC Scotland's Sportsound. "They are a good team, they took it to us at times and made if difficult, but we stood there and tried to play our football.

    "We will go there and try impose our football on the game. If you start thinking about protection, you give them a bit of an advantage."

    Ange PostecoglouSNs

  10. Ralston and Welsh dependable?

    FT: Celtic 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

    Pat Bonner
    Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

    Ralston and Welsh have come out of nowhere. We're talking about them in a very good Celtic team that looks dependable

  11. 'Ralston's confidence growing'

    FT: Celtic 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

    James McFadden
    Former Scotland forward on BBC Sportsound

    Welsh was excellent. He was winning headers and covering Starfelt at times. Ralston, he just seems to be getting better and better. His confidence is growing

  12. Forrest firing for Celtic

    FT: Celtic 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

    James Forrest's shot is deflected inSNS

    James Forrest's deflected shot put Celtic 2-0 ahead

  13. 'Celtic won't play any differently next week'

    FT: Celtic 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

    Pat Bonner
    Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

    I really enjoyed that. It was a really good game. There was probably about seven or eight chances in the first half, but Celtic looked vulnerable at the back. Celtic won't play any differently next week

  14. Reborn Ralston

    FT: Celtic 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

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  15. Tie still alive?

    FT: Celtic 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

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  16. FULL-TIME Celtic 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

    Celtic are in the driving seat as the whistle sounds to bring an end to highly satisfying first leg for the home side and manager Ange Postecoglou.

    They rode their luck early on, with AZ having a penalty claim and then hitting the post, but goals from Kyogo Furuhashi and James Forrest send Celtic to Netherlands with a healthy lead for the second leg of this crucial Europa League play-off.

    Celtic celebrateSNS

  17. Celtic 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

    It's Celtic who are playing in the AZ half as we near the final whistle.

  18. Celtic 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

    We've got five minutes of stoppage time to play.

    Can Celtic extend their lead, or will AZ hit back? Either is possible as the play continues to rage from end to end.

  19. Celtic 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

    AZ are not beaten yet and left-back Thijs Oosting sends a low drive into the arms of goalkeeper Joe Hart.

  20. Soro for Turnbull

    Celtic 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

    Ismaila Soro replaces David Turnbull in Celtic's midfield.