Celtic 3 Athletic Bilbao 2 RECAP as Brendan Rodgers wins on Parkhead return during James Forrest testimonial

James Forrest endured the perfect night for a testimonial as Celtic downed Athletic Bilbao 3-2 on a quite bizarre night at Parkhead.

Having made 467 appearances for his boyhood club, Forrest's 101 goals and 23 trophies have catapulted him into Hoops folklore as one of the leading trophy takers of his time. With the opponents hailing him as a one club man, it promised to be a special night under the lights for the star who has been at the club for 21 years.

But it took just two minutes for the deadlock to be broken; Reo Hatate's sloppy pass found the feet of Bilbao youngster Unai Gomez, and his strike from distance whistled past Benjamin Siegrist and into the bottom corner to leave fans in the green and white hoops stunned.

Celtic were offered a lifeline when Hatate scored in the moments leading up to half-time; pinball in the centre of the pitch saw the ball fall kindly for the Japan star, and his excellently wrapped effort found the bottom corner just when the Hoops needed it most. But straight from kick-off, a lumped ball saw Tomoki Iwata fail to clear, and he was spun inside out by Iker Muniain, who lashed the ball beyond Siegrist to restore the advantage after just a single minute.

Celtic subbed everyone but Forrest at the interval, before the Hoops legend was afforded his own standing ovation with a 49th minute substitution; and from there on, Celtic seemed to pick up steam. A superb team goal that started and finished with Alexandro Bernabei drew the scores level in no small part to David Turnbull and Matt O'Riley's creative excellence, and just moments later Turnbull got himself on the scoresheet with an effort that stayed hit to turn the game around.

Liel Abada, Oh and Bernabei were on fire in the second half, relentless in the press and most importantly decisive with their feet - and it was enough to see the game over the line for the Hoops.

Celtic: Siegrist, Tomoki, Carter-Vickers, Nawrocki, Taylor, Kwon, McGregor, Hatate, Forrest, Maeda, Kyogo Subs: Hart, Bain, Starfelt, Scales, Haksabanovic, Abada, Yang, Turnbull, Holm, Oh, Bernabei, O’Riley, Kelly, Ralston, Welsh, McPherson.

Athletic Bilbao: Unai Simon, De Marcos, Paredes, Vivian, Lekue, Vesga, De Galarreta, Unai Gomez, Inaki Williams, Muniain, Villalibre

Find out every kick step-by-step, including match action reaction in our LIVE blog.

Rodgers in 'prove myself' admission

And he insists he felt like he was part of the Celtic family again on his return.

Forrest wants to continue Celtic career

James Forrest admits that he had a wonderful time in his testimonial against Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday afternoon - though he doesn't want the times to stop there.

The winger played the first half of the game to endure his 15th season with the club after beginning his Celtic career in 2009, and he was substituted to a standing ovation against the Spanish outfit. But whilst Forrest admitted he was nervy before the game, he claimed it couldn't have gone any better.

Forrest told Celtic TV: “The last couple of days coming into the game, I was quite nervous. I’ve not normally been like that for any other game I’ve ever had, but actually getting to the stadium tonight made me feel so much better.

“I think being amongst the boys, seeing my family, seeing my friends, it was just incredible. Right from the start I feel as though I really enjoyed it.

“Everyone’s said it’s my night, but the effort my family have put in is incredible, and that’s down the years, as well. I couldn’t have done it without them and everyone really close to me, it’s a collective thing. It’s the fans, the players, the staff - I’m delighted with how the night went.

“I came off when we were 2-1 down, but the second half team did really well. Everything about tonight, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed.

“It’s amazing, I’ve really enjoyed pre-season. we were away for a couple of weeks in Portugal and Japan with the boys - and I know I’m 32, but I am still really enjoying it. It’s a great place to be in, and I want to keep doing as much as I can for the club.”

5 talking points!

After a sloppy start, Celtic produced a very impressive second half display to turn things around in James Forrest's testimonial and beat Athletic Club 3-2.

But there was enough to talk about in depth - both positively and negatively - on an enthralling night at Parkhead. Record Sport talks you through five key talking points.

FULL TIME! Celtic 3 Athletic Bilbao 2

That's full time! With the first half that Celtic had, it would've been a tough ask to have suggested that the Hoops would've won this one.

But against all the odds, a revitalised second half team pinned Bilbao in, rarely offering the visitors a chance to attack - and Celtic's own front line were much more clinical after the interval with top team goals from Alexandro Bernabei and David Turnbull.

It's the perfect testimonial for James Forrest - and we'll likely hear from the diminutive winger in the coming minutes. Stay tuned!

5 to go

We're almost into the final stages here at Celtic Park as Athletic Bilbao push for that elusive equaliser.

Almost sealed!

Liel Abada has just come close to making it four goals for Celtic.

He latched onto a ball in behind the deence from Oh, and aiming to round Simon, he had the Bilbao stopper scrambling.

But the Israeli couldn't quite get away from the goalkeeper and his attempt at a cross was smothered. Smart work from both.

Can Celtic see the win out?

Not long left here at Celtic Park as the Hoops aim to close the game out against their Spanish counterparts.

Wolves did equalise late on at the weekend - it will be interesting to see if Celtic can avoid a repeat of their Dublin outing.

Hairdryer treatment

Whatever Brendan Rodgers said at half time clearly worked. Celtic have, at least in the last 20 minutes, afforded Bilbao nothing. Clinical in the final third, crisp in the pass, and strong in the press.

It's a mile better than the first half showing that the other XI showed.

GOAL! Celtic 3 Athletic Bilbao 2

Where has this Celtic come from!

Oh is fed the ball with his back to goal, and after turning towards the byline, he plays a sensational reverse ball into the feet of David Turnbull who is queuing up on the edge of the box.

The Scot slams the ball into the roof of the net to give Celtic the lead for the first time in this tie.

GOAL! Celtic 2 Athletic Bilbao 2

And it's Alexandro Bernabei!

Some smart, smart play by Celtic. Bernabei inverts and dribbles inside, giving the ball to Turnbull and continuing his run. The Scot flicks the ball to Matt O'Riley, who deftly plays Bernabei in with a sublime touch, and the Argentine drills the ball under Simon.

That's one of the best team goals you'll ever see in a pre-season clash.

Sting out of the tie

The away side have taken the sting out of the game here when Celtic just looked to be on the front foot.

It's a trait very well done in La Liga, and after Abada's effort and other chances in the final third, Celtic now look rather flat once again. Masters at work springs to mind!

Abada close!

Liel Abada has been brilliant since he came on. The Israeli winger picks up a stray ball on the edge, and unleashes a shot with his right foot - but Simon, Spain's No. 1, springs like a cat to deny the youngster from levelling the game.

Outstanding save.

Penalty waved away

Shouts for a penalty from the Celtic team after an apparent handball in the box, but the officials wave away any claims. Did appear harsh on the face of it.

Wayward

Celtic have a couple of shots on target; first from Oh, who wins a corner, before the follow-up is blasted well over the bar and into Row Z.

Poor progressive football

Whatever has happened to Celtic's backline and their ball-playing capabilities today is a mystery.

The Hoops have been so sloppy out from the back today; moments before Forrest's substitution, Liam Scales was dispossessed on the edge of the box for delaying his pass and the ball was instantly turned over on the edge of the box.

And that's a wrap...

A 49th minute substitution for No. 49 and the man of the hour, James Forrest.

The tannoy makes everyone in the ground give a standing ovation to the winger, with his 101 goals for the club praised as he walks off.

He'll be replaced by Liel Abada.

Back underway - with changes galore...

It seems Celtic have changed their entire squad for the second half.

Scott Bain, Anthony Ralston, Carl Starfelt, Liam Scales, Alexandro Bernabei, Matt O’Riley, Odin Holm, David Turnbull, Yang and Oh Hyeon-gyu have all entered the fray.

The only constant is James Forrest!

We're back underway at Parkhead.

HALF TIME!

Well, it's been a strange half for Celtic.

An awful start allowed Unai Gomez to lash home from the edge of the box in just the second minute, and more stray passes and lackadaisical efforts gave Bilbao the chance to double their lead plenty times.

Kyogo and Simon have forced a decent save from Simon, and when Hatate got them back into the tie, it seemed quite undeserved.

But Muniain's goal just seconds after Hatate's leveller quickly saw to that notion, and the visitors find themselves deservingly leading at the break. Stick with us for the second half!

Maeda forces Simon

Daizen Maeda has been quiet but he's just forced Unai Simon into a solid save from his effort.

He took the ball well in his stride, chopped back inside, but his finish was too central and Simon palmed it away with relative ease.

Half-time close

Not far from half-time here; Celtic have had a couple of moments, but on the whole Brendan Rodgers will not be happy with his team's performance tonight.

They may well get the hairdryer treatment at half-time - has that ever happened in a friendly before?

GOAL! Celtic 1 Athletic Bilbao 2

Well, that was EXTREMELY short lived!

A long ball from kick-off sees Tomoki Iwata struggle against Iker Muniain, and somehow the diminutive winger wins the ball from the makeshift right-back.

He spins him inside out, and lashes the ball beyond a stunned Siegrist to give the visitors the lead. That can't have been more than one minute between either goal.

GOAL! Celtic 1 Athletic Bilbao 1!

Finally, Celtic Park has woken up - and it's courtesy of Reo Hatate.

The ball rebounds its way to the Japanese star about 30 yards from goal, and his exceptional jinking run sees the star on the edge of the box.

His well-struck effort finds the bottom corner to an unfazed face - he knows Celtic should be doing better.

Green Brigade absent

The Green Brigade are not inside Celtic Park for James Forrest's testimonial against Athletic Bilbao as the Celtic fan group opted to miss Brendan Rodgers' first home game back.

The Green Brigade were left incensed by Rodgers 2019 exit to Leicester but the anger from the vast majority of fans appears to have waned since the Irishman was appointed as Ange Postecoglou's successor.

Changes imminent?

With such a big bench at half time, you begin to wonder if there will be changes made at half time. Yang, Oh, Haksabanovic and more are all waiting in the wings to feature after their cameos at the weekend - and Celtic most definitely need a switch.

Flat atmosphere

There's little to no excitement here in Parkhead. Fans aren't even bothering to show any emotion as a simple pass down the line to Daizen Maeda dribbles out of play without a whimper.

Gomez almost at the double

Bilbao camp in around the edge of Celtic's box, and with Inaki turning on the edge of hte box, his lay-off found the man who notched the first, Unai Gomez.

The youngster lashes the ball at goal, but it fizzes just wide of Siegrist's post.

Strong from Siegrist

Another Bilbao counter and period of possession has them in at the edge of the box, and Muniain releases a shot from the edge of the box with time to drive at the heart of Celtic's defence.

It's beaten away by Siegrist, before another wave of attack ends up with a Bilbao throw-in.

Brendan Rodgers needs to try something different here or Celtic will get punished.

Back to normal...

Celtic seem to have dipped back into their slump.

The ball is given away by Reo Hatate on the edge of the box, with the Japan midfielder holding onto the ball for too long before the Athletic press catches up with him.

Even in last season's Champions League fixtures, the Hoops didn't struggle like this. It's men vs boys out there at the moment.

Nawrocki verdict

It's been a tough start so far for Maik Nawrocki; he's been caugt lacking a couple of times in possession.

He gives the ball away just as we hit the 20 minute mark, but Carter-Vickers gets across expertly to deny Inaki after his partner's lost ball. Inaki could've had three already!

Parkhead crowd calm

There were quite a few groans after the first ten minutes of this clash but the restless behaviour from Celtic fans has calmed down now.

They had every right to be annoyed - the Hoops side has done more to set up Bilbao with chances than the Bilbao midfield itself!