Yuki Kobayashi gets one over on Rangers as ex-Celtic defender shines in European win | OneFootball

Yuki Kobayashi had extra reason to celebrate on Thursday night after helping Jagiellonia Bialystok claim an impressive European victory over Rangers.

The former Celtic centre-back completed the full 90 minutes as the Polish outfit earned a deserved 2-1 triumph in the opening leg of their Europa League qualifier.

Rangers initially moved in front through Youssef Chermiti, but their advantage proved short-lived as Kajetan Szmyt struck twice to turn the contest on its head.

By the final whistle, Jagiellonia could arguably have been disappointed not to take an even healthier advantage into the return fixture.

For Kobayashi, the result will have carried some additional satisfaction given his previous spell at the Scottish champions.

The 26-year-old produced a composed display at the heart of the Jagiellonia defence and looked a far more accomplished player than the one Celtic supporters saw during his limited opportunities at the Hoops.

There were always signs of technical quality during his seven appearances, particularly in possession, but his game remained relatively unpolished during his brief spell in Scotland.

Kobayashi even provided a late flashback to the intensity of the Glasgow rivalry when he thundered into Mohamed Diomande in the closing stages, earning himself a yellow card for the challenge.

The Japanese defender originally joined Celtic from Vissel Kobe midway through the 2022/23 campaign as Ange Postecoglou continued to strengthen his squad.

His competitive introduction came in January 2023, when he featured in a comfortable 4-0 victory against St Mirren, before ending the campaign as part of the squad which completed a domestic treble.

Kobayashi followed a hugely successful wave of recruitment from the Japanese market which had already delivered Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate to Glasgow.

Unlike those compatriots, however, he was unable to nail down a regular place in Postecoglou’s starting side.

Comfortable carrying the ball out of defence and possessing a cultured left foot, Kobayashi undoubtedly had appealing attributes, but adapting to the speed and physicality of the Scottish game proved difficult.

His Celtic stay eventually came to an end in January 2024 when he headed for Portugal to join Portimonense in the second tier.

That move also saw him share a dressing room with current Celtic attacker Camilo Duran before Kobayashi eventually continued his career in Poland.

Now established at Jagiellonia, his latest appearance offered another indication of the progress he has made since leaving Celtic — and getting one over on Rangers will have made the night all the more enjoyable.

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