Where Celtic stand after Champions League gameweek 1 as ex-Rangers man turns minnows' hero and Scotland starlet makes debut

Celtic remain in second place in the Champions League after the gameweek one fixtures were concluded on Thursday night.

Brendan Rodgers’ men thrashed Slovan Bratislava 5-1 at home on Wednesday night to ignite their European campaign and can now focus on domestic matters for the next two weeks knowing that they are in a strong position following the opening round of matches,

Bayern Munich are the only team above them by virtue of destroying Dinamo Zagreb - who Celtic play in December - 9-2 at the Allianz Arena. It was a result that cost Dinamo manager Sergej Jakirovic his job, with the Croatian champions acting immediately after such a humiliating result.

Celtic are second in the Champions League standings after the first round of fixtures. | SNS Group

On Thursday, Bayer Leverkusen did their best to take second spot from Celtic, posting an impressive 4-0 win away at Feyenoord. The sit third third in the standings, with Aston Villa, Dortmund - Celtic’s next opponents - and Sparta Prague just behind on goal difference after they all chalked up 3-0 successes over the first three nights of action.

Fifteen teams in total won across the first round of Champions League fixtures, with only three stalemates - one of which came on Thursday night in Bergamo. Atalanta, who Celtic face in matchday three, held Arsenal to a goalless draw. The game was notable for an incredible double save from Gunners keeper David Raya, who stopped Mateo Retegui’s penalty and then leapt up to thwart a certain goal from the rebound.

Elsewhere on Thursday, former Rangers forward Abdallah Sima netted the winner for Brest as the French minnows marked their Champions League debut with a 2-1 triumph over Sturm Graz in Brittany. Young Scotland right-back Max Johnston made his bow in the competition, coming on as an early substitute for the Austrians.

Arsenal's David Raya made a stunning double-save against Atalanta. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images

In the three other matches on Thursday, Benfica won 2-1 away at Red Star Belgrade, Atletico Madrid struck late to defeat Leipzig 2-1 at home and Monaco overcame ten-man Barcelona by the same scoreline at the Stade Louis II.

Celtic are next in action on October 1 when they travel to Dortmund, before facing Atalanta away on October 23. They then host Leipzig on November 5 and Club Brugge on November 27, followed by a trip to Dinamo Zagreb on December 10. They have two matches in January, at home to Young Boys on the 22nd before closing off the group-phase campaign away at Aston Villa on the 29th.

The top eight teams in the 36-strong league qualify directly for the last 16 of the Champions League, with the sides in position 9-24 advancing to the play-off round. The eight winners from those ties will go into the last 16.