Paulo Bernardo, a midfielder for Celtic, returned to action on Friday for the Portugal U21s, helping them earn a spot in the 2025 U21 Euros. As the team’s captain, Bernardo set an exemplary example for his colleagues, motivating them to overcome an unexpected one-goal deficit when playing against the Faroe Islands.
The Bhoys star scored with a superb top-left corner kick from the right side of the box late in the game to give the team a 3-1 victory. With eight victories out of nine thus far, the victory guarantees their spot at the U21 Euros in the summer of 2021, surpassing both Greece and Croatia in qualifying Group G.
Bernardo will now put himself to the test against the greatest young talent from Germany, England, Spain, and the remaining qualifiers in Slovakia in June of next year. This will be his final game with the U21s owing to age. Portugal has finished second in the competition three times, but in 2023, when Bernardo was a member, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals. This time around, they will be hoping for a deep run.Paulo Bernardo lauded for ‘true work of art’ on international duty
Bernardo is very well regarded in Portugal for his work with the U21s, and national outlet A Bola waxed lyrical about his Friday performance.
They said he “dominated the midfield and sealed a great performance” with his goal, which journalist Eduardo Pedrosa Marques described as a “true work of art.”
Reviewing the team’s performance, Marques singled Bernardo out as the man of the match with a player rating of eight.
He said, “Bernardo played as the most defensive player of the midfield diamond, but that didn’t stop him from joining in the attack on a number of occasions.
The fact that the opponent lined up in a very low block allowed the captain to take advantage of the space and, towards the end, the cherry on the cake: a shot into the top corner for a true work of art. A great goal!”
It’s true that the Faroe Islands aren’t the most challenging opponent, but it’s still pleasing to hear that Bernardo is standing out and continuing his excellent form – especially with the pressure of being a goal behind.
Paulo Bernardo is on the rise at Celtic
After making his switch from Benfica permanent in the summer, Bernardo is now looking to establish himself as the club’s main man despite strong competition in the Celtic squad.
The Portuguese prodigy has made the most of his opportunities this season, but it will be more harder for him to establish himself as a first-choice selection in Brendan Rodgers’ three-man midfield after the addition of Arne Engels.
Impressive displays against St Johnstone and Rangers have stood out in particular. Last Saturday, he came on as a substitute and assisted in turning the game around after Ross County scored a goal. With so much more to come, the 22-year-old under Rodgers still has a lot of potential to grow and improve.
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