5 Celtic talking points as Alexandro Bernabei seizes Gamba Osaka chance and Maeda sees linesman end goal blitz

There was a Daizen Maeda lookalike posing for pictures outside the Panasonic Stadium before a 1-0 win over Gamba Osaka, writes Michael Gannon in Japan.

The real one could have done with a VAR camera after being denied another goal on home soil by a ropey offside call – before Alexandro Bernabeii raced into the frame to give the Far East End Bhoys among the 20,000 in the stands sometime to celebrate. Maeda was wrongly flagged after burying Reo Hatate’s cute pass as Celtic signed off from their Japan trip with victory with Gamba Osaka.

Boss Brendan Rodgers wanted his defence to sharpen up after the 6-4 defeat to Yokohama F Marinos three days' earlier. And he got his wish as Celts kept the clean sheet and carved out enough chances to be further ahead.

But the got the goal with six minutes to go when Berbabei charged down the keeper and it was another good workout for the Scottish Champions – with Rodgers rolling out two different teams for each half.

Celtic’s first half side should really have been out of sight after creating a pile of chances.

Maeda could have plundered a hat trick like he did in the Yokohama F Marinos clash in midweek.

The striker had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside and clattered the bar after a sensational turn in the box.

Callum McGregor, Liel Abada and Reo Hatate all went close too while Gamba only posed the odd threat and also had a Mushashi Suzuki strike scrubbed by an offside flag.

Rodgers was thrilled with some of his side’s attacking play against Marinos and they were slick going forward again here against an Osaka side in decent form in the J League. The Hoops boss would also have been pleased to see more composure at the back than in the wild Yokohama clash.

He sent out an entirely