Celtic’s Scottish Cup win over Raith Rovers came with a worrying twist as Paulo Bernardo limped off in the first half.
The Portuguese midfielder signalled to the bench that something was wrong before being replaced by Reo Hatate, sparking fears over his availability for next week’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.
Bernardo has grown into an important presence in Brendan Rodgers’ midfield, providing calmness on the ball and creativity in tight spaces.
Losing him now would be a blow, particularly with Celtic already stretched for options in Europe.
The expected trio of Callum McGregor, Arne Engels, and Hatate is likely to start against Bayern, but Rodgers will want every option available if his side are to keep pace with the Bundesliga champions over ninety minutes.
Bernardo’s absence would reduce the manager’s flexibility from the bench, a factor that could prove decisive in such a demanding contest.
The extent of the injury is still unknown, and supporters now wait anxiously for Rodgers’ update in the coming days.
With just a short window before Bayern arrive at Celtic Park, the hope is that Bernardo’s setback is minor and not something that rules him out of the tie altogether.
Tickets for the match sold out instantly, underlining the scale of the occasion. Celtic Park will be packed to capacity, a wall of green and white urging the team forward.
But the task is already daunting. With Daizen Maeda suspended for the first leg and Bernardo now a major doubt, Rodgers faces an uphill battle to field his strongest XI.