Egyptian winger Haytham Hassan attracted attention during Celtic's 2-1 defeat to Spanish side Celta Vigo in the UEFA Europa League, delivering a strong attacking performance and playing a key role in his team's only goal.

His performance sparked mixed reactions in the Scottish media.

While several outlets praised his pace and dribbling ability, others highlighted weaknesses in his defensive contribution.

Hassan Makes an Impact

Hassan started the match brightly on the right wing, causing problems for Celta Vigo's defense with his speed and individual skills.

In the 47th minute, the Egyptian winger beat a defender and delivered a cross that took a deflection before reaching Mika Power, who finished to give Celtic the lead.

However, Celtic failed to protect their advantage.

Javi Rodriguez equalized for Celta Vigo in the 69th minute before scoring again just three minutes later to complete the Spanish side's comeback.

Hassan was substituted in the 72nd minute after recording 31 touches and completing 12 of his 13 passes, achieving a 92% passing accuracy.

Latest News

Watch: Egypt’s Mohamed Hossam Wins African Boxing Gold After Opponent Is Disqualified for Illegal BlowAl Qanah’s Modi Shalata Shines Against Al Ahly: Could Hossam Hassan Give Him an Egypt Chance?

He received a 6.9 rating from Sofascore.

Praise and Criticism

Hassan earned positive reviews from several Scottish media outlets, with The Celtic Bhoys and 67 Hail Hail both awarding him an 8 out of 10 rating, placing him among Celtic's standout performers.

The reports highlighted his ability to carry the ball forward and beat defenders, particularly his pace in individual battles against Marcos Alonso, as well as his involvement in Celtic's opening goal.

However, The Scottish Sun and The Herald gave him ratings of 6 out of 10, pointing to inconsistent final passes and a lack of defensive support during certain stages of the match.

Glasgow World, which rated him 6.7, also suggested that the Egyptian winger needs to improve his positioning when Celtic lose possession and contribute more defensively.

Despite the different ratings, most assessments agreed that Hassan possesses impressive attacking qualities that make him dangerous in one-on-one situations.

However, improving his work without the ball could help him become a more complete player.

The positive attention comes at a difficult time for Celtic, who suffered their third consecutive Europa League defeat, increasing the pressure on the Scottish club as it fights to reach the knockout stages.