Haitham Hassan makes first Celtic start in Falkirk victory

Celtic moved to the top of the Scottish league after beating Falkirk 2-1 to claim their third victory of the season, with the champions still having a game in hand.

The match also marked Haitham Hassan’s first start for Celtic since joining the club. The player was named in the starting line-up for the Scottish league meeting with Falkirk at Celtic’s home ground and played for 63 minutes.

Hassan completed 18 of his 27 passes, giving him an accuracy rate of 67%. He also recorded three successful dribbles from five attempts and won possession back twice as he carried out his defensive duties.

Celtic took all three points in the fourth round of the Scottish league, although Falkirk managed to score once. Camilo Duran scored both of Celtic’s goals, while Falkirk’s only goal came through Colby Donovan, who put the ball into his own net.

The result gives Celtic three league wins and takes them to the top of the table. Their position is strengthened by the fact they have played one match fewer than some of their rivals.

Hassan’s appearance was his first start for Celtic since his arrival, and he remained on the pitch for just over an hour before being replaced. His contribution included work both in possession and without the ball, with his passing, dribbling and two recoveries recorded during the match.

Celtic will return to Scottish league action on Wednesday when they face Aberdeen in the fifth round. Falkirk will also play on Wednesday, taking on Rangers in the same round.

The two fixtures will follow Celtic’s 2-1 victory, which extended their winning start to three league victories and left them leading the competition with a game still to play.