Colombian striker Camilo Duran scored two goals as Celtic beat Austrian side LASK at Celtic Park to build a three-goal Champions League lead.
The 24-year-old delivered a scintillating performance on Wednesday night, putting the Scottish Premiership champions in command of the European tie just four years after playing in the fifth tier of Portuguese football.
Benjamin Nygren opened the scoring with a long-range screamer, his fourth goal of the campaign, before Duran produced two outrageous strikes to plant the ball in the Austrians' net. Celtic have now scored 13 goals in four matches this season, a sharp contrast to last year's early exit against Kazakh side Kairat Almaty.
As the final whistle blew, Celtic Park's sound system blared "Hungry Like the Wolf" by 1980s pop group Duran Duran, capping off an upbeat evening that reflected a complete shift in mood around the Glasgow club.
World-class performance on European stage
Duran's display against LASK extended far beyond his two goals. The forward displayed a velvet first touch, explosive pace to evade opposition tackles, intelligent ball retention, and composure under pressure.
Equally impressive was his relentless work rate off the ball. Duran repeatedly sprinted back to assist in defense, drawing comparisons to Maeda with his willingness to push himself for the team. When he was substituted seven minutes from time, Celtic supporters rose to give him a standing ovation.
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill praised the young forward while urging caution ahead of Tuesday's return leg in Austria. O'Neill noted that Duran has already justified his transfer fee after lighting up Celtic Park.
"He was magnificent," O'Neill said. "I'm not saying he's world class at this minute, but that was a world-class performance from him. I mean that in every sense: the goals, his attacking play and his work in getting back to defend."
Remarkably, Duran achieved his game-changing display while playing out of position. Deployed on the right flank because summer signing Haissem Hassan is not yet up to speed, Duran operated away from his preferred role, offering a glimpse of what he might achieve when paired centrally alongside Danish striker Kasper Hogh.
From Portuguese fifth tier to Champions League
Duran's immediate impact has challenged two common football assumptions: that Celtic lack the financial power to buy Champions League-ready talent, and that elite prospects cannot evade modern data analytics.
Celtic secured Duran from Azerbaijani Premier League club Qarabag for an initial £4.5m fee, rising to £6m, after initial inquiries were turned down. In doing so, Duran became the first Colombian footballer to sign for Celtic.
His path to European football's flagship competition has been unconventional. Duran began his career at Independiente Medellin in Colombia, where he drew inspiration from international stars Luis Diaz and James Rodriguez. A loan move to Brazilian giants Flamengo in 2021 yielded limited opportunity, and Flamengo elected not to exercise their option to purchase him.
Frustrated by a lack of first-team openings in South America, Duran made a bold move four years ago to Terceira, a volcanic island in the Azores archipelago west of mainland Portugal. He joined SC Lusitania in the District Leagues, Portugal's fifth division.
Playing at Campo de Jogos, a modest venue with a capacity of just 1,100 spectators, Duran excelled immediately by scoring 19 goals in 20 appearances during his debut season. That form earned him a move to top-flight side Estrela da Amadora near Lisbon, but limited game time forced a return to Lusitania, whom he helped guide up to Liga 3.
Two years ago, Duran signed for Portuguese second-tier club Portimonense, reuniting with former Lusitania manager Riccardo Pessoa. Pessoa lauded Duran as technically superior to players in Portugal's top division, describing his ability as "quality outside the normal."
While major Portuguese clubs Benfica, Porto, and Sporting Lisbon overlooked his talent, Qarabag acquired him for £200,000 a year ago. Duran went on to score 15 goals in 44 matches for the Azerbaijani side, including five goals during their Champions League campaign, where he scored against Newcastle United.
Family sacrifices and life in Glasgow
Reflecting on his journey following Wednesday's match, Duran acknowledged the personal sacrifices required to progress from lower-tier football to the Champions League stage.
"It wasn't easy leaving family behind in Colombia," Duran said. "I even left my partner behind for a while. But I had to show dedication."
Duran's partner Valentina and their young daughter Emily have since relocated to Scotland to join him in Glasgow, where the forward is fast becoming a central figure for the Celtic support.
Summer signings and squad improvements
Duran was one of several major additions to impress on Wednesday. Celtic's summer recruitment drive, which saw £30m invested in four new arrivals, was evident throughout the lineup.
Midfielder Mika Baur impressed on his home debut with his passing and composure, while striker Kasper Hogh linked play effectively. Late substitute Haissem Hassan helped manage the closing minutes as Celtic saw out the win.
The fixture also highlighted significant growth among Celtic's returning squad members. Swedish attacker Benjamin Nygren demonstrated an improved all-round game alongside his goalscoring threat, while winger Hyun-jun Yang showed maturity compared to his early European outings.
Left-back Kieran Tierney continued his return to form, recalling the performances that prompted his £25m transfer to Arsenal, while captain Callum McGregor provided stability in midfield.
Defensively, 19-year-old full-back Colby Donovan produced a career-best performance under high pressure, challenging Duran for man of the match recognition in front of watching Scotland national team manager Sebastien Pocognoli. Behind them, Finnish goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo maintained a clean sheet despite frequent pressure from the Austrian side.
Despite the three-goal cushion, Celtic faced moments of vulnerability when LASK created chances. O'Neill's side will need a more disciplined approach for Tuesday's second leg in Austria, reinforcing the club's ongoing effort to recruit a defensive holding midfielder, such as Hajduk Split's Niko Sigur.
