Match Pictures | Matches: 2025 – 2026
Trivia
- KO: 19:30 UK time (20:30 local time) Wednesday; Celtic TV
- Second & final away friendly in Portugal.
- Idah missed a couple of sitters, Kenny scored a beauty at the end of a long end to end run from the team, and Hatate scored an excellent penalty.
- Shelbourne defeat Linfield 2-1 over two legs in Champions League qualifiers.
- Another Celtic top revealed today getting everyone really fed up.
- Celtic squad visited Estadio Nacional, site of Celtic’s European Cup win.
- Brendan Rodgers, entering final year of his contract, held talks with majority shareholder Dermot Desmond over his Celtic future, but admits not any closer to signing a new deal.
- Luis Palma returned to Vida, his first club in Honduras, to do his own pre-season training after he was granted extra time off after playing for his country in the Gold Cup. Or more truthfully he’s fully out the picture at Celtic.
- Ex-Celt Mikey Johnston’s proposed move to Brazilian giants Flamengo collapsed, with conflicting views inside the club behind the dramatic U-turn.
- Ex-Celt Ewan Henderson joins Wycombe Wanderers.
- Celtic are in talks with another Scottish Championship club about a co-operation agreement after discussions with Queen’s Park stalled. Ayr United are set for a co-operation agreement with Celtic.
- Young Lenny Agbaire signed a new Celtic deal just over 12mths ago to the summer of 2026. But the 20-year-old has now made his permanent exit joining Rotherham United
- Reports:
- Linked with Italian international Salvatore Esposito.
- Norwich City expressed interest in Yang Hyun-jun.
- Brighton striker Evan Ferguson would like to join Roma, according to Calciomercato, despite reports suggesting Celtic interested taking him on loan.
- Melbourne want to resign Marco Tilio.
- ‘Flàvio Nazinho on his way to #Celtic,’ Belgian outlet reports.
- Celtic said to have been in contact with Odsonne Edouard’s agents as they explore a return for the striker.
- Transfers in: Kieran Tierney (free from Arsenal, 27 May 2025); Ross Doohan, has signed for the club on a three-year deal. Isaac English from Morton; Benjamin Nygren undisclosed fee from Nordsjaelland (est €1.5/£1.3m); Callum Osmand development fee from Fulham; Hayato Inamura from Albirex Niigata fee £~250k;
- Transfers out: Scott Bain released on a free, moved to Falkirk; Daniel Cummings (£300k, pre-contract signed last Jan with West Ham); Joey Dawson (free to Scunthorpe); Matt Anderson to KV Kortrijk (Belgium, Free); Maik Nawrocki year loan deal to German side Hannover 96 with purchase clause; Lagerbielke to Braga (est up to £2.7m with 10% sell on clause); Lenny Agbaire to Rotherham (free);
Summary
joebloggscity of KdS: Much better performance after the last two poor matches. The positives was better passing & movements with Nygren impressing everyone with his play albeit he missed a sitter in the first half. Taht was overshadowed by Idah missing two sitters with the pressure building on him. A great goal by Kenny following a great end to end move by Celtic was a joy to see, and Hatate scored a fine penalty to seal the match. Sporting had their chances but squandered them, but the scoreline reflected who was the better side on the day. Good runout for Celtic.
DoctorRamesh of KDS: First time I’ve seen Nygren and Inamura. Nygren looks very good, lots to like about his game. Inamura seems stronger than he looks and is very calm on the ball.
Kenny vs Idah, well Kenny looks up for it, he’s quite fast and has got stronger but I haven’t seen any real quality yet. Idah, he has scored some pretty good goals in the past but always seems like he found where david Fernandez hid the Scared Celtic Bong.
Murray was very good with his passing. Tillio is tiny.
On visiting Estadio Nacional: “There’s very few times would I be lost for words,” Brendan said. “But today is really about a feeling.
“When you grow up as a Celtic supporter, you know all the stories. You know about Bertie singing in the tunnel and the support that came here.
“But just to actually walk the journey and relive some of those memories, just coming out the tunnel was very emotional.
“And then we make our way up to where big Billy lifted the trophy and knowing that thousands of Celtic supporters were down there watching.
‘To be stood here as the Celtic manager, and my first time here, it’s really special and really emotional.’
“Your DNA as a football club comes from your greatest moments and this is our greatest moment as a club.
“I know the score was 2-1 but it’s how dominant we were in that game. These players will take that on board and guys like myself will remind them of that as well.
“This is a huge part of the history of our club and for the young guys and everyone to be here, it feels really special.”
Callum McGregor spoke to Celtic TV about his immense pride at being in such a historic Celtic location.
He said: “We’re so lucky to be here and represent this club and to be at a stadium which is so iconic in our history.
“To stand where Billy stood just brings in to focus how amazing an achievement it was.
“You try and get a sense of what he would have felt like, looking out and seeing a sea of green and white.
“I’m so lucky to be a part of this club and on days like this you feel the enormity of it, and like I say, I’m very lucky and blessed.
‘You’re representing something that is so big and so important to millions of people around the world.’
“For those guys to achieve what they did sets the bar so high, and us as players can only ever try our hardest to get anywhere close to that.
“It’s honestly amazing and you’re so privileged to be here. It just whets the appetite for more as well.”
Teams
Celtic
Schmiechel, Ralston, Murray, Scales, Tierney, McGregor, Nygren, Hatate, Forrest, Maeda, Idah.
Subs: Sinisalo, Doohan, Clarke, Rice, Trusty, Yang, McCowan, Osmand, Tilio, Kenny, Inamura, Engels, Summers, Montgomery, McPherson, Ure, McArdle, Donovan
Goals: Hatate 47pen & McCowan 71
Assists:
Sporting Lisbon
Rui Silva, Ivan Fresneda, Matheus Reis, Jeremiah St. Juste, Geny Catamo, Francisco Trincao, Joao Simoes, Morten Hjulmand, Pedro Goncalves, Eduardo Quaresma, Rodrigo Ribeiro.
Subs: Franco Israel, Giorgi Kochorashvili, Conrad Harder, Alisson, David Moreira, Bruno Ramos, Rayan Lucas, Samuel Justo, Francisco Silva.
Goals:
Assists:
Pre-Season Friendly Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Estádio do Algarve, Faro
Ref:
Att:
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Articles
Celtic sign off Portugal trip with victory over Sporting CP
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/july/16/celtic-sign-off-portugal-trip-with-victory-over-sporting-cp/
First Team
By Daylin Docherty
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16 Jul 2025, 9:35 pm
Pre-Season Friendly
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Estádio do Algarve, Faro
SPORTING CP…0
CELTIC…2
(Hatate 47pen & McCowan 71)
Celtic closed out their Portuguese training trip with an impressive 2-0 victory over Portuguese champions, Sporting CP in the Algarve, with Reo Hatate scoring from the spot and Luke McCowan sealing the win for the Bhoys.
After an intense camp in Lisbon, a city steeped in Celtic’s history, the Hoops made the 200km journey south to the Algarve for a battle of champions in their latest pre-season test.
The Estádio do Algarve, built for Euro 2004, hosted Celtic for the first time since 2008. However, it was familiar ground for Callum McGregor, James Forrest and Kieran Tierney, who played there with Scotland just a year ago.
Following defeat to Estrela da Amadora at the weekend Brendan Rodgers’ side looked to finish their Portuguese trip with a strong display. It was 30°C at kick-off, with a cantilever roof shielding the pitch from direct sun but offering little respite from the relentless heat.
Celtic had the first opening after five minutes. Sharp interplay between McGregor and Hatate released Nygren, who drove at the Sporting defence before sliding in Maeda. The Japanese forward cut back for Adam Idah, but his left-footed strike was saved by Rui Silva.
On 13 minutes, Sporting carved out their first chance. After a patient build-up, Gonçalves clipped a ball to the back post where Matheus Reis peeled away from Dane Murray. The full-back’s left-footed effort lacked conviction and the game remained goalless.
Moments later, Sporting pressed again. Quaresma drove forward and found João Simões on the edge of the box, but his fierce left-footed shot was parried away by Schmeichel.
On 24 minutes, Celtic came close again. After a short corner was worked across the pitch, Kieran Tierney; operating high on the right, whipped in a superb cross for Idah. The striker met it well but couldn’t generate enough power and Silva saved comfortably.
Just after the half-hour mark, McGregor appeared to be fouled by Hjulmand in the build-up, but play continued and Sporting worked the ball wide to Catamo. The winger cut inside and fired a low shot that Schmeichel did well to tip the ball round the post.
Immediately, Celtic countered. Nygren burst forward again, feeding Ralston on the overlap. His cross aimed for Idah and Maeda at the back post broke kindly for Nygren, but like Idah earlier, his clipped effort was gathered by the keeper.
Ten minutes later, Sporting stretched Celtic again. Gonçalves switched play beautifully to Catamo, who fed Simões. His shot beat Schmeichel but also the far post, trickling wide.
At the other end in this end-to-end encounter, McGregor split the Sporting defence with a brilliant pass for Maeda, who raced in behind. The winger met it on the volley, only to be denied by an impressive save from Silva.
The half-time whistle blew with the sides level, despite an entertaining first-half in gruelling conditions. Brendan Rodgers made two changes at the break, with Kasper Schmeichel and Adam Idah replaced by Viljami Sinisalo and Johnny Kenny.
Celtic struck immediately after the restart. Neat build-up play freed James Forrest, who slipped in Kenny inside the box. The striker was brought down, and referee Ricardo Beixinho pointed to the spot.
Reo Hatate stepped up and fired to Silva’s right, and though the keeper did get a strong hand to it, the ball ended up in the net to make it 1-0.
Just before the hour, Ralston went down under a challenge as Conrad Harder surged forward. The young Dane’s shot struck Sinisalo’s post and bounced behind for a goal-kick.
On 66 minutes, Rodgers made wholesale changes with Ralston, Murray, Scales, Tierney, McGregor, Nygren, Hatate, Forrest and Maeda making way for McPherson, Donovan, Trusty, Inamura, Ure, McCowan, Engels, Tilio and Yang.
The impact was instant. Celtic broke on the counter through McCowan and Kenny. The Irishman shrugged off a challenge before slipping in McCowan, who still had plenty to do.
He nicked the ball past St. Juste, kept his composure and slotted beyond Silva, a fine finish from the midfielder, who also netted last week in Cork.
Celtic pushed for a third late on, with Arne Engels delivering a superb corner onto the head of Auston Trusty. The American rose well but Silva saved again.
The Bhoys saw the game out for an excellent win against a strong Sporting side.
Brendan Rodgers and his players now head back to Glasgow after a rewarding spell in the Iberian Peninsula.
And attention now turns to a mouth-watering clash at Celtic Park against Eddie Howe’s League Cup-winning Newcastle United this Saturday, with the adidas Trophy on the line.
SPORTING CP: Rui Silva, Ivan Fresneda, Matheus Reis, Jeremiah St. Juste, Geny Catamo, Francisco Trincao, Joao Simoes, Morten Hjulmand, Pedro Goncalves, Eduardo Quaresma, Rodrigo Ribeiro.
Subs: Franco Israel, Giorgi Kochorashvili, Conrad Harder, Alisson, David Moreira, Bruno Ramos, Rayan Lucas, Samuel Justo, Francisco Silva.
CELTIC: Schmiechel, Ralston, Murray, Scales, Tierney, McGregor, Nygren, Hatate, Forrest, Maeda, Idah.
Subs: Sinisalo, Doohan, Clarke, Rice, Trusty, Yang, McCowan, Osmand, Tilio, Kenny, Inamura, Engels, Summers, Montgomery, McPherson, Ure, McArdle, Donovan
Five things we learned as Celtic impress in 2-0 win against Sporting CP
Callum Boyle
Callum Boyle
Wed 16 July 2025 21:27, UK
Celtic put in their best performance of pre-season with a 2-0 win against Sporting CP.
This was Celtic’s first visit to the Estadio Algarve since 2008 as they faced the last season’s champions of Portugal, Sporting CP.
Brendan Rodgers named a near-full strength side for the first half and although both teams worked to create opportunities, they couldn’t break the deadlock in the first 45 minutes.
The Bhoys came out of the traps in the second half after Johnny Kenny was fouled in the box, allowing Reo Hatate to score for the second game running thanks to a penalty that went in with a helping hand from the goalkeeper.
Most players were handed 70 minutes to get more game time under their belts and those who came on inthe last 23 minutes were able to see it out as a great through ball from Kenny sent Luke McCowan on his way to glide through the Sporting defence and slot the ball home.
With that, here are five things we learned from the fourth game of pre-season.
Benjamin Nygren continues to shine
At FC Nordsjaelland, Benjamin Nygren was deployed in the attacking roles as a striker but the summer signing found himself in a new position.
Rodgers decided to name Nygren as part of the midfield trio alongside Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate.
Arne Engels and/or McCowan have been occupying that position in the international players’ absence but with Nygren hoping to learn from McGregor, early indicators suggest that he will be playing there this season.
Celtic’s pressing will cause teams so many problems
The high press has always been a common feature of Celtic’s games, especially when Daizen Maeda is part of the attack, but it was frightening to see how relentless it was.
All 11 players on the pitch at any one time understood the assignment against the Sporting defenders, who didn’t enjoy a moment’s peace.
Considering this is pre-season it was brilliant to see how sharp everyone looked and this is only going to be a problem for opposition sides domestically and in Europe.
Adam Idah won’t be glad to see another striker in
Shin Yamada is on his way to Celtic, as confirmed by Kawasaki Frontale, which is bad news for Adam Idah.
The £9m striker had an opportunity to show he deserves to be the main striker but squandered numerous chances put on a plate for him and was taken off at half time to be replaced by Kenny.
What’s worse is that Kenny played a role in both goals and Idah will now be fearing the worst about his starting spot.
Celtic must get a right winger in before the start of the season
Nicolas Kuhn may have angered Celtic fans after joining Como, but nobody can deny that his goalscoring exploits will be missed.
Kuhn scored 21 times last season and with Jota not back until 2025, James Forrest is the only out-and-out right winger in the squad.
Daizen Maeda and Hyunjun Yang are also available as wide options, as is forgotten man Marco Tilio, but once Yamada comes through the door a right-sided winger must be next.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha seems the most likely candidate and if so, he needs to be in before the season starts.
Dane Murray will have a part to play this season
Cameron Carter-Vickers is still continuing his recovery from injury which means that the centre-back slots have been there for the taking.
Liam Scales was slammed by fans for his performance against Estrela da Amadora but started again on Wednesday night.
Starting alongside him though was Dane Murray, who has been favoured ahead of Auston Trusty and Hayato Inamura.
Murray played almost 70 minutes in Faro and looked the more comfortable of the defenders once again. Is this a sign to say that we could see more of the 22-year-old?