Celtic on course for Champions League group stages after Jota double
Christopher Jullien's own goal had threatened to curtail Celtic's Champions League hopes but two close-range finishes from Jota and a late strike by Giorgos Giakoumakis sealed a 4-2 win over Slovan Bratislava at Celtic Park in the first leg of their third qualifying round clash.
Celtic set up a tantalising second leg in Slovakia next week, where a draw will be enough to take them into the play-off round and within touching distance of the group stages for the first time since 2017.
Both sides made a lively start with Andre Green's powerful drive flashing wide for the visitors before Giorgos Giakoumakis failed to generate enough power on his header from Josip Juranovic's inviting cross.
Yosuke Ideguchi also headed over for Celtic and Liel Abada curled wide as the home side failed to make the most of their early dominance.
Slovan gradually grew into the game and Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart was forced to save from Green and then Vladimir Weiss in quick succession.
Celtic were dealt an injury blow just after the half-hour mark when Giakoumakis pulled up with what looked like a hamstring problem and was replaced by Daizen Maeda.
The game exploded into life just before the break with the visitors taking the lead in controversial circumstances.
Mohamed Amine Tougai's cross appeared to strike Carl Starfelt on the arm inside the penalty area and, after a VAR check, referee Erik Lambrechts pointed to the spot.
Weiss stepped up to send Hart the wrong way from 12 yards, although replays suggested Tougai was offside in the build-up.
Celtic responded well after the restart and equalised after 52 minutes when Juranovic's free-kick was headed goalwards by Moritz Jenz and Jota pounced to score from point-blank range.
Jota was proving to be a handful for the Slovakians and he glanced a header just wide before seeing a fierce drive saved by the legs of Slovan goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky.
Slovan grabbed a shock lead for a second time 13 minutes from time when Jullien diverted the ball into his own net as he tried to cut out a cross from the left.
Juranovic sent a free header well over from close range as Celtic came back again and they drew level three minutes later when Jota converted from a few yards out after Kyogo Furuhashi nodded Abada's cross into his path.
With the game opening up, both sides could have scored again before Giakoumakis planted a header beyond Hladky to put Celtic in front for the first time.
The Greek could have had a second deep into stoppage time but Hladky did well to save.
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