With an hour gone at Parkhead, Celtic supporters were running dangerously low on hope. The Hoops were 1-0 down to Besiktas and staring at what appeared to be a fourth consecutive Europa League defeat. Then Martin O’Neill looked towards his bench, and suddenly the substitutes decided they had seen enough of the evening’s misery.
The introduction of Callum Osmand and Camilo Duran completely transformed the match. Osmand scored with his first touch just 43 seconds after entering the game, while Duran went on to score twice in Celtic’s dramatic 3-2 victory. It was the kind of turnaround that made the Celtic bench look less like a collection of substitutes and more like an emergency response unit. Most importantly, however, the performances have intensified one major question surrounding the team: where exactly does Kasper Hogh fit in now?
THE BENCH DELIVERS THE SPARK CELTIC DESPERATELY NEEDED
Celtic’s evening had been heading in the wrong direction until O’Neill made his changes. Osmand’s immediate equaliser gave the home side fresh energy and belief, while his intelligent play helped create Duran’s first goal after the Colombian was moved into a more central position. Besiktas briefly fought back to level the match, but Duran had the final word, scoring again to complete his double and secure a vital 3-2 victory.
O’Neill later explained that the substitutions were part of managing a demanding schedule, with Celtic having played a heavy number of matches in a short period. Whatever the original plan was, the evidence on the pitch was difficult to ignore: the spark arrived when Osmand and Duran arrived. Celtic suddenly looked more dangerous, more direct and considerably more interested in scoring goals. Football managers often describe substitutions as tactical adjustments, but this one looked suspiciously like somebody finally finding the correct remote control.
DURAN RISES AS HOGH FACES AN UNCOMFORTABLE REALITY
The biggest talking point may now be the position of Kasper Hogh. The club-record signing was withdrawn after another difficult performance, having struggled to make a meaningful impact against Besiktas. Reports indicate that the Danish forward has failed to score in 16 of his 17 Celtic appearances, while against Besiktas he managed no shots and only one touch inside the opposition penalty area. Those are uncomfortable numbers for a striker carrying such a significant price tag.
The contrast with Duran was striking. In roughly half an hour, Duran scored twice and immediately strengthened his case to become Celtic’s preferred option through the middle. Osmand, meanwhile, also enhanced his chances of earning more starts after scoring with his first touch and providing an assist. The competition for places is suddenly becoming fierce—but unfortunately for Hogh, football rarely pauses to admire a transfer fee. Celtic may have paid big money for him, but Duran and Osmand have delivered the one currency supporters value most: goals and impact.
Conclusion
Celtic’s dramatic victory over Besiktas has revived their Europa League campaign and provided a much-needed reminder of what the team can produce when its attacking players truly come alive. Duran and Osmand supplied the spark, changed the atmosphere and may have changed the conversation around Celtic’s strongest attacking lineup. For Hogh, the challenge now is painfully clear: keep working and find a way back into the picture before the picture is taken without him. OGM News FC will be watching closely, because Celtic may have won the match—but the battle for places in the team could be only just beginning.
