Match Pictures | Matches: 2024 – 2025
Trivia
- KO: 15:00, Saturday, Celtic TV only, league match 36
- Celtic on 88pts & +24GD. Celtic have scored 106 league goals this season, with two games remaining. That’s the same number they managed in Brendan Rodgers’ first ‘invincibles’ season back in 2016-17.
- Blue skies all across Scotland, with the temperature pushing 20C.
- Title Homecoming – First home game since league title was sealed.
- Pre match guard of honour given by Hibs, Celtic players chapaeroned on young kids with disabilities. Respect to all.
- Schmeichel returns back in goals.
- Sean McArdle made his debut.
- Hibs are wearing black armbands in memory of the club’s former owner Sir Tom Farmer, who has died at the age of 84. The founder of the Kwik Fit garage chain owned a majority stake at Easter Road for 28 years before selling up in 2019.
- Digital ticketing at Celtic Park, with a trial scheme now underway in specific sections of the stadium for the final home fixtures of the season. The test in 118 and 119 seems like a quiet step into a future that’s becoming increasingly common across football.
- Reports: Celtic are interested in Red Star Belgrade defender Veljko Milosavljevic, but have been warned the teenager is not for sale. Celtic target (Motherwell’s) Lennon Miller is open to a move abroad but says he remains in the dark about his future after this season. Udinese have scouted Reo Hatate as they weigh up a big-money summer swoop.
- Daizen Maeda insists talks over a new deal with the club will have to wait until the end of the season.
- Celtic considering bringing goalkeeper Ross Doohan back to the club when his Aberdeen contract expires in the summer to help meet Champions League regulations on home grown talent.
- Celtic to host Newcastle in pre-season friendly, inaugural Adidas Trophy apparently.
- Ex-Celt Scott Sinclair has been released by Bristol Rovers. The 36-year-old had captained the EFL League One side over the last campaign but was unable to prevent their relegation to the bottom flight.
- Ex-Celt Andy Payton has opened up about his symptoms after being diagnosed with early onset dementia aged 57.
- UEFA Cup: Ex-Celtic manager Postecoglou has led his side to the UEFA Cup final to face Man Utd.
- Pope Leo XIV: Robert Prevost elected the first American pope in history.
- Ex-Celt Colin Healy, is appointed manager of League of Ireland club Kerry FC
Summary
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers tells BBC Scotland: “The performance level overall was excellent. We went one behind, but we were doing so many good things in the game. “We stayed calm. My big message was about building on our recent success because that’s what the club is all about. We want to go into [the Scottish Cup final] in a really good way. For that we need to work. “That’s why we have success here, because we build on past success and don’t settle and accept it.”
Hibs head coach David Gray tells BBC Scotland: “The timing of the goals is against us, that was the killer today. Celtic will always have periods when they dominate and we knew that. “Coming in 2-1 down [at half-time] was a big blow mentally for the players. The goals we lose we have to look at because they were quite soft from our point of view. The second half reaction was positive, but the third goal takes the stuffing out the game. “Everyone knows what’s at stake, it’s the final push of the season, three games in a week. It’s about who’s got the mentality and I believe the group is good enough to do it.”
El Salto of KDS: Dominant display, but Boyle was dangerous on the break
Fully deserved to turn it round before half time, second half was training mode for the most part
Hatate and Ralston stand outs for me
Nice wee cameo from McArdle
606AlfieConn @606alfieconn.bsky.social · 3h Love big Engels but his shooting is shocking
Teams
Celtic
Manager: Brendan Rodgers
Formation: 4 – 3 – 3
01 K. Schmeichel
03 G. Taylor
05 L. Scales 72′, Yellow Card at 72mins
06 A. Trusty
56 A. Ralston
41 R. Hatate, subbed for L. McCowan at 80mins
42 C. McGregor (c), Captain, subbed for Paulo Bernardo at 73mins
27 A. Engels, subbed for S. McArdle at 85mins
38 D. Maeda
09 A. Idah, subbed for J. Kenny at 80mins
10 N. Kühn 51′, Yellow Card at 51mins, subbed for J. Forrest at 73mins
Subs:
49 J. Forrest
28 Paulo Bernardo
24 J. Kenny
62 S. McArdle
14 L. McCowan
17 M. Nawrocki
15 J. Schlupp
12 V. Sinisalo
13 Yang Hyun-Jun
Goals:
N. Kühn (41′)
A. Idah (45′)
R. Hatate (58′)
Assists:
A. Ralston (41′), N. Kühn (45′), A. Engels (58′)
Hibernian
Manager: David Gray
Formation: 5 – 3 – 2
13 J. Smith
15 J. Iredale 51′, Yellow Card at 51mins, subbed for K. Bowie at 65mins
33 R. Bushiri
05 W. O’Hora 74′, Yellow Card at 74mins
21 J. Obita
12 C. Cadden 76′, Yellow Card at 76mins
32 J. Campbell, subbed for D. Gayle at 73mins
26 N. Triantis
06 D. Levitt, subbed for A. Manneh at 80mins
99 M. Kuharevich, subbed for N. Cadden at 65mins
10 M. Boyle (c), Captain, subbed for J. Hoilett at 65mins
Subs:
20 K. Bowie
01 J. Bursik
19 N. Cadden
04 M. Ekpiteta
34 D. Gayle
23 J. Hoilett
08 A. Manneh
02 L. Miller
22 N. Moriah-Welsh
Goals:
M. Boyle (25′)
Referee Colin Steven
Video Assistant Referee Kevin Clancy
Assistant Referee 1 David Roome
Assistant Referee 2 Colin Drummond
Fourth Official Duncan Nicolson
Assistant VAR Official Gary Hilland
Att:
Venue:Celtic Park
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Stats
Overall possession
Celtic 76.3% Hibernian 23.7%
Shots
Celtic 18 Hibernian 10
Shots on target
Celtic 8 Hibernian 4
Total touches inside the box
Celtic 32 Hibernian 11
Goalkeeper saves
Celtic 3 Hibernian 5
Fouls
Celtic 8 Hibernian 6
Corners
Celtic 8 Hibernian 3
Advanced match stats
Shots
Celtic 18 Hibernian 10
Shots on target
Celtic 8 Hibernian 4
Shots off target
Celtic 4 Hibernian 6
Blocked shots
Celtic 6 Hibernian 0
Attempts out of box
Celtic 8 Hibernian 4
One-on-one attempts
Celtic 0 Hibernian 1
Total offside
Celtic 7 Hibernian 2
Total tackles
Celtic 8 Hibernian 11
Won tackles
Celtic 4 Hibernian 8
Fouls
Celtic 8 Hibernian 6
Total yellow cards
Celtic 2 Hibernian 3
Total clearances
Celtic 24 Hibernian 31
Headed clearances
Celtic 16 Hibernian 9
Duels won
Celtic 30 Hibernian 31
Total passes
Celtic 792 Hibernian 231
Accurate passes
Celtic 728 Hibernian 170
Backward passes
Celtic 137 Hibernian 33
Forward passes
Celtic 217 Hibernian 99
Total long balls
Celtic 56 Hibernian 55
Successful final third passes
Celtic 227 Hibernian 26
Total crosses
Celtic 26 Hibernian 17
Touches
Celtic 962 Hibernian 411
Touches in the box
Celtic 32 Hibernian 11
Dispossessed
Celtic 1 Hibernian 2
Goalkeeper saves
Celtic 3 Hibernian 5
Diving saves
Celtic 0 Hibernian 3
Saved shots from inside the box
Celtic 3 Hibernian 3
Saved shots from outside the box
Celtic 0 Hibernian 2
Keeper throws
Celtic 6 Hibernian 8
Goal kicks
Celtic 6 Hibernian 9
Prematch facts
Celtic have won six of their last seven meetings with Hibernian in all competitions, although the exception was the last league match between the two, a 2-1 Hibs win in February. Not since 1950-51 have the Hoops lost successive league meetings with Hibernian within a single season.
Hibernian are winless in their last 21 away games at Celtic in all competitions (D4 L17) since a 2-1 victory in January 2010. They have lost their last seven successive trips by an aggregate score of 23-4.
Celtic have scored 58 goals in their 17 home league games this season (3.4 per game), last scoring more in 2003-04 under Martin O’Neill (62).
Since their last league visit to Celtic in early December, Hibernian have lost just one of their 19 league games (W13 D5), picking up more points in the Scottish Premiership than any side since that match (44).
Adam Idah has scored three goals in Celtic’s last two league games, as many as his previous 20 Scottish Premiership appearances combined beforehand. He is looking to score in three successive matches in the competition for the second time, after doing so in February.
Articles
Reo on target as the Hoops give more reasons to be cheerful
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/may/10/reo-on-target-as-the-hoops-give-more-reasons-to-be-cheerful/
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
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10 May 2025, 5:55 pm
Celtic showed that they are in no mood to rest on their laurels after being crowned Champions a fortnight ago, as they swept to a 3-1 victory over Hibernian at a sun-soaked Paradise.
The Champions were in control for the vast majority of the match, and were unlucky to find themselves 1-0 down through a Martin Boyle goal after 25 minutes.
However, an equaliser from Nicolas Kühn and an emphatic finish from Adam Idah had the Hoops leading at the interval before Reo Hatate got in on the act in the second half with a goal of his own.
And speaking to Celtic TV after the match, both Hatate and Idah shared their delight at picking up another three points.
“We were probably a bit unfortunate that we didn’t score more,” Adam Idah said, “but it was a great performance.
“It was a bit disappointing that we let them score first, but we showed great character and came back in to the game.
‘We want to build momentum going in to the cup final now.’
“We had a great performance today and could have scored more goals but that’s football. We’ll take the three points and another step forward.”
Man of the Match, Reo Hatate added: “I’m happy to score today, and I appreciate Arne because he passed to me so I could score! So I’m happy.”
Champions cruise to victory over Hibs at Paradise
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/may/10/champions-cruise-to-3-1-victory-over-hibs-at-paradise/
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
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10 May 2025, 5:20 pm
Scottish Premiership
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Celtic Park, Glasgow
CELTIC…3
(Kühn 41, Idah 45, Hatate 58)
HIBERNIAN…1
(Boyle 25)
The Champions returned to Paradise for the first time since clinching a fourth consecutive title a fortnight ago and were in excellent form as they cruised to a 3-1 victory over Hibernian thanks to goals from Nicolas Kühn, Adam Idah and Reo Hatate.
It was an unusual start to the match in that Celtic shot towards the Jock Stein Stand in the first 45 minutes, but there was nothing unusual about the way Brendan Rodgers’ side started the game.
The Hoops dominated the opening 20 minutes, and Adam Idah found himself with a massive chance in the 10th minute, but his effort from inside the box was saved by Jordan Smith.
Five minutes later, Daizen Maeda broke free down the left wing and sent a ball across the face of goal towards Idah, and it looked like any touch on the ball would have taken it in to the back of the net, but it evaded the Irish forward.
In the 18th minute Hibs had their first opportunity of the match when Martin Boyle spun in the box and had a shot at goal from close-range which looked destined for the back of the net, but Kasper Schmeichel, making his first appearance since picking up an injury on international duty, produced an incredible save to deny the Hibs forward.
However, with 25 minutes on the clock, Boyle found himself with another opportunity and on this occasion, he managed to get his shot from inside the box beyond Schmeichel to give the Edinburgh side the lead.
It was a lead which Hibs were fortunate to have, given that Celtic had dominated the majority of the game up until that point, and Brendan Rodgers’ side continued to control the play as they hunted for an equaliser, which arrived in the 41st minute thanks to Nicolas Kühn.
Anthony Ralston sent a good ball through the inside-right which ended up at the feet of Kühn, who was calm and composed as he darted beyond the keeper with the ball and slotted it home from a tight angle.
And less than five minutes later, the Hoops took the lead. This time, Kühn turned provider, picking out Adam Idah with an excellent lofted pass over the Hibs defence.
The Irish forward finished his effort emphatically, smashing it in to the bottom corner from inside the six-yard box to give the Champions a 2-1 lead going in to half-time.
76%
Possession
24%
18
Shots
10
8
Shots On Target
4
8
Corners
3
8
Fouls
6
2
0
Cards
3
0
The visitors started the second half well and Celtic were forced to defend a few corners early in the second period, but the Hoops defended resolutely and dealt with the danger.
And similar to the first-half, the Champions continued to dominate the match throughout the second 45 minutes, and with just under an hour on the clock, Reo Hatate scored the goal of the day to put the match beyond Hibs.
After some excellent passing in the build-up, Daizen Maeda whipped a cross in to the box which was fumbled by Hibs’ keeper.
The ball landed at the feet of Callum McGregor who picked out Arne Engels, with Engels having the awareness and vision to knock it on again to Reo Hatate.
The Japanese midfielder curled a wonderful first-time shot away from the keeper and into the bottom corner to seal the three points.
Kasper Schmeichel was called in to action a couple of times just before the 70-minute mark, with the Danish internationalist producing good stops to deny Jordan Obita and Junior Hoilett.
James Forrest was brought on with just under 20 minutes left to play, and it would have capped off an excellent day if the winger had been able to find the back of the net and extend his run of scoring every season to 16 consecutive campaigns.
He found himself with one opportunity with five minutes left to play, and it was clear that everyone of a Celtic persuasion inside Paradise was willing it in to the net, but the keeper produced a good save to deny the Celtic winger.
There was also a debut for 17-year old Sean McArdle, whose good performances for the Celtic B Team have earned him a call-up to the first-team squad.
After today’s comfortable 3-1 victory, the Champions will now prepare for a trip to Pittodrie on Wednesday night to face Aberdeen in the penultimate league match of the season.
Celtic: Schmeichel, Ralston, Trusty, Scales, Taylor, Engels (McArdle 85′), McGregor (Paulo Bernardo 73′), Hatate (McCowan 80′), Kühn (Forrest 73′), Idah (Kenny 80′), Maeda
Subs: Sinisalo, Hyunjun Yang, McCowan, Schlupp, Nawrocki, Kenny, Paulo Bernardo, Forrest, McArdle
Hibernian: Smith, Chris Cadden, O’Hora, Bushiri, Iredale (Bowie 65′), Obita, Levitt (Manneh 80′), Triantis, Campbell (Gayle 73′), Boyle (Hoilett 65′), Kuharevich (Nicky Cadden 65′)
Subs: Bursik, Miller, Ekpiteta, Manneh, Nicky Cadden, Bowie, Moriah-Welsh, Hoilett, Gayle
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c985x2k0dg6t#Report
Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland
Scottish Premiership champions Celtic fought back from a goal down to stretch Europe-chasing Hibernian’s winless run at Parkhead to 22 games.
Travelling to Glasgow amid a run of remarkable form, which included a victory over Celtic at Easter Road in February, third-place Hibs silenced the home crowd when poor defending from Auston Trusty allowed Martin Boyle to slot in the opener.
The Australia forward had already passed up a glorious chance, but Celtic always looked dangerous in attack and levelled when Nicolas Kuhn got on to a ball in behind before rounding goalkeeper Jordan Smith and finishing.
Four minutes later, German winger Kuhn turned provider with a delightful dink beyond the Hibs defence for striker Adam Idah to power Brendan Rodgers’ side ahead at the break.
And despite a bright start to the second period, with Rocky Bushiri heading narrowly wide from a long throw, the game was put beyond Hibs when Reo Hatate stroked in a third just before the hour.
The defeat is just a second loss in 20 league games for David Gray’s men, who still hold a three-point advantage in third but have played a game more than Aberdeen, who could close that gap with a win at Rangers on Sunday.
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Celtic’s Kuhn clicking back into gear
After a sublime first half of the campaign, Kuhn’s form had dipped following the turn of the year – but the Celtic winger looks to be coming back to his best at a crucial time with four goal contributions in his past two games.
The 25-year-old showed great awareness to round Smith and net the leveller before lifting through a gorgeous pass for Idah, who had been denied in the opening stages by the Hibs goalkeeper, to smash in the second.
Returning from a shoulder injury, Kasper Schmeichel, who foiled Boyle at point-blank range with a stunning reaction save before Hibs’ opener, getting minutes in the bank is a boost for Rodgers, but the Celtic boss will perhaps still have his concerns about his defence while Cameron Carter-Vickers is absent.
The opener from Hibs was a mess from a Celtic perspective, with Trusty totally unconvincing in an attempt to clear the ball and centre-back partner Liam Scales looking shaky at times in the first half.
The champions’ backline just does not look the same without Carter-Vickers. With the summer transfer window looming, it could be an area Rodgers looks to strengthen again.
No need to panic for Hibs
Gray brought Josh Campbell into the side in the hope of getting more legs into the Hibs midfield and that looked a shrewd change after a brief period of early pressing.
However, too often the visitors were too easy to play through as Celtic continually exploited their high line in the first half.
But even in such a pressurised stage of the season, this is not a result or performance that should cause panic for Hibs.
Their squad strength is something that could see them over the line in the race for third as the second-half introductions of Kieron Bowie, Nicky Cadden and Junior Hoilett raised their game.
Within seconds of coming on, Bowie failed to connect with Cadden’s stunning cross before Hoilett struck straight at Schmeichel from a dangerous position, but Gray’s men were unable to find the goal that would have mounted late pressure.
What they said
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: “The performance level overall was excellent. We went one behind, but we were doing so many good things in the game.
“My big message was about building on our recent success – that’s what the club is all about. We want to go into [the Scottish Cup final] in a really good way, for that we need to work.”
Hibernian head coach David Gray: “The timing of the [first] goal is against us, that was the killer. Celtic will always have periods when they dominate and we knew that.
“Coming in 2-1 down was a big blow mentally for the players. The goals we lose we have to look at because they were quite soft from our point of view.”
Celtic surge 20 points clear at top after comeback to beat in-form Hibs
PA Media
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/10/scottish-premiership-celtic-hibernian-rangers-aberdeen
Sat 10 May 2025 17.34 BST
2
Celtic came from behind to beat Hibernian 3-1 as the champions extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 20 points. Martin Boyle gave the visitors the lead but Celtic turned the game around with two goals in four minutes just before the break from Nicolas Kühn and Adam Idah.
Reo Hatate scored his 11th goal of the season in the second half as Celtic inflicted just a second defeat in 20 league matches on the visitors, who remain three points above Aberdeen in the race for third place.
Brendan Rodgers had flagged big changes to his team but the three alterations were all influenced by fitness problems. Kasper Schmeichel and Kuhn returned while Auston Trusty replaced the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers.
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Celtic dominated the early stages but Idah could not beat Jordan Smith when clean through and twice failed to connect with square balls from Daizen Maeda before he eventually scored.
Schmeichel made an excellent stop from Boyle, although the Hibs attacker might have been offside, before being beaten by the same player in the 25th minute. Trusty failed to divert Josh Campbell’s shot to safety and Boyle stabbed home from nine yards.
Arne Engels fired over and Hibs survived a VAR check for handball against Chris Cadden before Celtic turned the game on its head in the final four minutes of the half. Kühn rounded Smith to equalise after Rocky Bushiri had eased Idah off course for Anthony Ralston’s ball over the top, only to leave the coast clear for the German winger.
Nicolas Kühn scores Celtic’s first goal.
Nicolas Kühn scores Celtic’s first goal. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA
Kühn soon turned provider as the Hibs defence failed to track Idah’s run and the Irishman slotted home from the through ball.
Bushiri headed not far wide from a long throw early in the second half before Jack Iredale and Kühn were shown a yellow card after an off-the-ball grapple.
Celtic moved further ahead in the 58th minute after some excellent one-touch football in and around the area, ending with Hatate sweeping home from an Engels pass.
Idah twice shot over from decent chances, although he was flagged offside from the second, and Schmeichel ensured there would be no nervy finish as he saved from Jordan Obita and substitute Junior Hoilett.
Rodgers introduced 17-year-old midfielder Sean McArdle for a debut in the 85th minute and he showed some good touches and a willingness to get forward. Luke McCowan forced a decent late save from Smith as Celtic saw out the win.