Celtic Have Found Something Special – Camilo Duran Could Be Their Best Signing in Years
Camilo Duran's sensational double inspired Celtic's 3-0 victory over LASK, while Benjamin Nygren again showed why this team could be building towards something special.
Phillip Cooney 
There are nights at Celtic Park when the result tells only part of the story. Celtic’s stunning 3-0 victory over LASK was one of them.
Benjamin Nygren opened the scoring before Camilo Duran produced two magnificent finishes. However, this was about far more than three goals.
It felt like a glimpse of what Martin O’Neill’s Celtic could become.
Camilo Duran could be Celtic’s best signing in years
It is still early, but Duran looks special.
His first goal was sensational. The second was arguably even better, finishing a sweeping Celtic move with wonderful composure.
There were moments when his performance was genuinely world-class.
Duran has pace, confidence, technique and that priceless ability to make supporters expect something whenever he receives the ball.
If he continues developing, Celtic could have their most transformative attacking signing since Kyogo Furuhashi.
Kasper Høgh also impressed, while Kieran Tierney was outstanding down the left. His delivery repeatedly caused LASK problems and gave Celtic another dimension.
Benjamin Nygren is becoming hugely important
Nygren deserves enormous praise too.
Another game brought another goal, and his scoring record is becoming phenomenal for a player operating from midfield.
For the opener, Tierney’s delivery was knocked down into Nygren’s path near the edge of the box. He took full advantage, producing a superb finish into the top corner.
However, it is no longer simply about the goals.
Nygren is beginning to tie everything together in open play. His movement looks sharper, his combinations are improving and he is becoming far more influential whenever Celtic attack.
That may be the most exciting development of all.
We already knew he could score. Now Nygren is showing he can link attacks, create openings and become a major influence between midfield and the front line.
His involvement in Duran’s second goal summed that up perfectly.
Colby Donovan also deserves huge credit. There were doubts before kick-off about whether such a big European occasion could expose him.
He answered them emphatically.
Donovan was outstanding and looked completely at home on the European stage.
Viljami Sinisalo also delivered when required, making important saves to protect a hugely valuable clean sheet.
Celtic must add first-team-ready quality
This is where the Celtic board comes into the equation.
Tonight demonstrated what happens when genuine quality is added to this squad.
Now keep going.
Celtic still need more first-team-ready players. Not projects for the future or simply extra bodies. O’Neill needs players capable of immediately competing for starting places.
This is the moment to strengthen from a position of strength.
Nobody should look at a 3-0 victory and conclude the job is finished. Celtic have instead shown how exciting this team could become with further investment.
The foundations are there. Duran looks special, Høgh carries a genuine threat, Nygren is becoming more influential and Tierney provides enormous quality.
Tuesday’s second leg must still be approached professionally. LASK carried a threat at Celtic Park and the tie is not mathematically finished.
However, Celtic should travel to Austria looking to score and finish the job.
The goals tonight were exquisite. The atmosphere was magnificent and Celtic Park felt alive.
Supporters have always provided the ambition. Tonight, the players demonstrated theirs.
Now Celtic must continue spending and bring in the first-team-ready quality this squad still requires.
Because something is developing here.
Back it properly, and this Celtic team could become something very special indeed.
Key Takeaways
- Celtic produced an outstanding 3-0 Champions League play-off victory over LASK.
- Camilo Duran scored twice and could become Celtic’s best signing in years.
- Benjamin Nygren’s scoring record is becoming phenomenal.
- Nygren is also contributing far more in open play and tying attacks together.
- Kieran Tierney was hugely influential down the left.
- Colby Donovan answered his doubters with an outstanding European performance.
- Viljami Sinisalo made important saves to secure the clean sheet.
- Celtic still need more first-team-ready players before the transfer window closes.
A keeper, a right back, a left back and a midfielder. It’s still worrying they had two goals marginally disallowed and had a good one on one in the first half and Sinisalo saved well one on one in the second half. We need to to focus because this tie is far from over, still the Austrians are no mugs.
Nygren is still Nygren, he now has ability ahead of him who can take a ball at pace, hold it or release it quickly and accurately. His play is the same, just the introduction of players on the same wavelength around him, allows it to stand out. He could be a 30+ goal, 20+ assists midfielder this season! Look would he did last season without the quality we now have for example. I’ll run through my thoughts… Sinisalo was excellent, Donovan was imperious, CCV is Mr reliable but still working up to his best, Trusty still not as ‘reliable’, Tierney going forward was fantastic, CalMac was tidy going forward, Baur was tidy and brave with his passing, Nygren was excellent, Yang was Yang, Hogh held up well, a great focal point to transition and link up, and Duran was class – he had their wing back in his pocket all night, the finishes were sublime. Even he stated the tie isn’t over and there is still work to be done, so I love his attitude too. Yes, fortunate again to have a clean sheet, but this result is what you get when you have natural goalscorers up top. They can dig you out a win from any position. I loved the brave passes forward, quick and incisive, the long diagonals to beat the press. When defenders have confidence in those up top, they’ll ping more of those when required. There is certainly a nice insight into all round play and style forming here. We need more weight and legs in midfield, and another starting CB… at the least. Great result, looking forward to next week.