Match Pictures | Matches: 2025 – 2026
Trivia
- KO: 16:30 Sunday, Sky Sports, League Match 1
- First League & competitive game of the new season. Late Sunday evening kickoff with all SP games on live today this Bank Holiday weekend (as no EPL games).
- Ex-Celtic captain Paul McStay unfurls the league title flag.
- Flag day, celebrating the life’s of John Clark & John Fallon as well as cheering on Paul McStay/The Maestro again.
- Surprise attendance by Fergus McCann today, very welcome too.
- Sevco 1-1 Motherwell, so Sevco dropped pts in their first league match yesterday!
- Centre-back Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, who is closing in on a loan move to Celtic from Man City, has been watching on.
- Celtic have allegedly banned the Green Brigade on two counts, reportedly one of the reasons “relates to leaving their section to fly Palestine flags.”
- League Cup: Drawn home to Falkirk in League Cup/Premier Sports cup.
- Reports:
- Possible sell-on fee with ex-Celt Josip Juranovic lined up for big-money move to English football from Union Berlin.
- Bolton’s pursuit of Johnny Kenny blocked as Celtic demand seven-figure fee.
- Celtic make loan approach for Man City defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey.
- Celtic had three approaches turned down by Go Ahead Eagles to sign winger Jakob Breum. Initial bid £1.5m upped to £1.75m plus add-ons, before another offer of £3m was knocked back, placed a price tag of €7.5m (£6.5m).
- Celtic yet to revive their interest in winger Sondre Orjasaeter this summer after a £4m offer was rejected in Jan
- Celtic ‘have contacted’ Liverpool with Stefan Bajcetic, but Celtic want a perm deal.
- Celtic are keen on Josh Brownhill, who announced his Burnley departure.
- Marco Tilio’s departure to Rapid Vienna on a season-long loan with obligation to buy reportedly delayed because Celtic will not let him leave until they secure a replacement. Hard to believe!
- Plymouth Argyle loan offer for Stephen Welsh.
- Adam Idah among names Udinese are pursuing. But quickly he is stated to remain.
- Norwich City bowed out of discussions to sign Yang Hyun-jun.
- Celtic had top scout Paul Tisdale checking out Swedish centre half Viktor Eriksson in action for Hammarby on Thursday.
- linked with 20-year-old Monaco left-back Kassoum Ouattara. (Foot Mercato)
- Celtic have been told that Slovan Bratislava may look to cash in on striker David Strelec if they don’t reach the group stage of the Champions League.
- Sources close to Carter-Vickers confirmed to The Celtic Star that he is happy at Celtic despite links earlier this summer suggesting that he may seek an exit.
- Celtic are linked with Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa, , while more clubs said to be chasing Lennon Miller.
- Juventus eyeing move for ex-Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley…
- Transfers in: Kieran Tierney (free from Arsenal, 27 May 2025); Ross Doohan signed 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; Shin Yamada est £1.2m from Kawasaki Frontal;
- 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); Luis Palma to Lech Poznan on loan with purchase option; Kyle Ure to Ayr Utd on loan;
Summary
” I’m not the manager for Celtic if there’s just something to maintain”
Brendan Rodgers prematch
“We’re very pleased.” Brendan said. “It’s always nice to win at home on Flag Day. To play as well as we did makes me really pleased for the team. St Mirren are so well organised and you see the results they get at home and away, and how difficult they are to play against. We had to be patient when moving the ball at speed and with tempo, and we did that.”
Brendan Rodgers postmatch
“There’s no further update, and for the sake of honesty and clarity, I can tell you exactly where we are,” Rodgers said. “I said when I came here that I’d do three years minimum. People had me out the door at the end of last season or going various places. There’s nowhere to go. I love being here. I’ve done two years, I’ve got one more year to go.
“Dermot [Desmond, majority shareholder], Michael [Nicholson, CEO] and I had a conversation over the summer on where we’re at, and where it sits with myself and everything else. I said I’m very happy here, there’s conditions we want in to be able to improve and be better because I’m not the type of manager that’s good at maintaining anything. If there’s just something to maintain, I’m not the manager for Celtic. It will be someone else. But to build, grow, develop and push, then of course, I love being at Celtic.
“When the times comes where the club offer me a deal, or not, then it doesn’t make a difference to me because every single day of my life I’ll give everything here until the very last day. When the club feel it’s time to make an offer then they will do.”
Brendan Rodgers on his contract situation
@agenscotland: Inside The SPFL @AgentScotland · 2h Celtic 1-0 St Mirren Hard to take anything new from that game, it’s the same type of game these two always tend to have, St Mirren know how to neutralise Celtic, but Celtic more often than not manage to get over the line anyway. Celtic drastically need better attacking options. Adam Idah is the most basic 1st choice Celtic striker I’ve seen in the last 30 years, zero improvement in his game since he arrived, he’ll score goals, a Celtic striker always will, but his overall play is painful, touch is poor, no offside awareness & no spacial instinct at all.
fatboab of KDS:
Just in.
Day started badly with McSwain leaving our season tickets in his house and realizing it just as he was about to join me on the train. He managed to drive to CP and meet me just in time for kick off. Eejit.
Game was dull for the most part, we were bereft of any real creativity and St Mirren were stodgy and aggressive resul5ing in very little of note in the first half, other than a few decent crosses from KT that found no one on the end of them, and an unfortunate deflection onto the underside of the bar from a Nijgren effort ( about the only thing of note he did all day ).
Second half was pretty much a rinse and repeat, only the woodwork and a strange but seemingly ‘ by the rules’ handball decided ping things level late into the game. Subs changed things , especially Engels and Forrest who brought some energy and direct running, and we eventually got who we deserved with a deflected Luke McCowan effort.
Not much to get excited about, plenty cause for concern would be the report card.
Our lack of quality is truly staggering, and the managers lack of faith in Inamura and Yamada is very telling.
His use of Scales as a left back should ordinarily be a sacking offence.
Much work to be done in the remaining weeks of the window if this isn’t to be the theme for the season.
NorwichHoop of KDS:
Didn’t think we were terrible, but that was pretty dull watching…all looked a bit pedestrian until Forrest and McCowan came on – reminded me a bit of some of the later games under Lennon when we just didn’t move the ball quickly enough or with enough purpose – hopefully it will just be a case of getting up to full match fitness as frustrations aside what we have should be able to perform better.
Credit where it’s due, Scales didn’t put a foot wrong today, and wouldn’t be far off MOTM – though it was both terrifying or hilarious watching us chase the game in the last 10 minutes with Scales as a left winger
Nygren looked OK – a bit Stefan Johansen esq – he should be a good addition if he kicks on.
Genuine question about Yang….does he have no pace, or no confidence. The only positive I can say about his performance is he didn’t give the ball away, but for all his impact we might as well as had Trusty at right wing just stopping it and passing it back
Italiabhoy of KDS:
The best part of the day was undoubtedly the tribute to John Clark and Paul unfurling the flag.
The game was rotten. I’m usually pretty optimistic about Celtic, by my God that was a dreadful performance. It doesn’t even fall into the “ach, well, we won” category. It was rubbish from start to finish and alarm bells should be ringing all over Celtic Park right now.
The forward line is dire. That was an unacceptable level of effort from Idah today, simply unacceptable. If he’s on the booze just get him so far to feck, because I thought his performance today was an insult to everyone who travelled to the ground at a crap time on a Sunday afternoon.
Yang is done – he’s never Celtic class. Forget all this “loan him out to develop him” p!sh… he’s Hibs level, possibly not even that. Scales tried his best and actually had not a bad game. But watching him on the wing late on, trying to work out how to turn to face the goal was painful. Another SPFL-level jobber. AJ has been phoning it in for a while now. Only KT and CCV along with CalMac of the outfield starters had anything approaching the level of effort and concentration required.
Nygren was a real disappointment. His corners were floaty p!sh, and what was all that with the “geeing up the fans” gestures. FFS, man, do something first before having a go at the crowd!
Forrest and McCowan saved us. But the thought of this team against PSG, Liverpool, Bayern… it’s laughable. It could easily be 10 nil and that’s not an exaggeration.
Considering the resources we have, to serve that up today well,not acceptable from the Board, who increasingly look like accomplices to corporate theft.
It’s going to be a long season I think. Neither us nor Sevco look any good at all.
Teams
Celtic
Manager: Brendan Rodgers
Formation: 4 – 3 – 3
01 K. Schmeichel
63 K. Tierney, subbed for A. Trusty at 65mins
05 L. Scales
20 C. Carter-Vickers
02 A. Johnston
41 R. Hatate, subbed for A. Engels at 78mins
42 C. McGregor (c), Captain
08 B. Nygren, subbed for L. McCowan at 78mins
38 D. Maeda
09 A. Idah 64′, Yellow Card at 64mins, subbed for J. Kenny at 78mins
13 Yang Hyun-Jun, subbed for J. Forrest at 59mins
Subs:
27 A. Engels 89′, Yellow Card at 89mins
49 J. Forrest
28 Paulo Bernardo
24 J. Kenny
14 L. McCowan
56 A. Ralston
12 V. Sinisalo
06 A. Trusty
18 S. Yamada
Goals: L. McCowan (87′)
Assists: D. Maeda (87′)
St Mirren
Manager: Stephen Robinson
Formation: 5 – 3 – 2
01 S. George
05 R. King, subbed for M. Dijksteel at 91mins
13 A. Gogić
22 M. Fraser
24 D. John
02 J. Richardson, subbed for T. Sobowale at 79mins
06 M. O’Hara (c), Captain
30 F. Taylor, subbed for J. Ayunga at 46mins
88 K. Phillips
09 M. Mandron, subbed for E. Mooney at 79mins
07 R. Idowu 44′, Yellow Card at 44mins, subbed for O. Smyth at 79mins
Subs:
11 J. Ayunga
17 J. Calvin
18 M. Dijksteel
21 M. Freckleton
10 C. McMenamin
33 E. Mooney
31 R. Mullen
08 O. Smyth
19 T. Sobowale
Referee Don Robertson
Video Assistant Referee Greg Aitken
Assistant Referee 1 David Dunne
Assistant Referee 2 Craig Ferguson
Fourth Official Graham Grainger
Assistant VAR Official Graeme Leslie
Venue:Celtic Park
Attendance:58,814
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Stats
Overall possession
Celtic 76.1% St. Mirren 23.9%
Shots
Celtic 14 St. Mirren 4
Shots
Shots on target
Celtic 6 St. Mirren 2
Shots on target
Total touches inside the opposition box
Celtic 41 St. Mirren 11
Goalkeeper saves
Celtic 2 St. Mirren 5
Goalkeeper saves
Fouls
Celtic 10 St. Mirren 6
Fouls
Corners
Celtic 12 St. Mirren 1
Corners
In-depth match stats
Attack
Shots
Celtic 14 St. Mirren 4
Shots
Shots on target
Celtic 6 St. Mirren 2
Shots on target
Shots off target
Celtic 7 St. Mirren 1
Shots off target
Attempts out of box
Celtic 4 St. Mirren 2
Attempts out of box
Hit woodwork
Celtic 3 St. Mirren 0
Hit woodwork
Total offside
Celtic 5 St. Mirren 0
Total offside
Distribution
Total passes
Celtic 750 St. Mirren 236
Total passes
Accurate passes
Celtic 665 St. Mirren 144
Accurate passes
Backward passes
Celtic 140 St. Mirren 33
Backward passes
Forward passes
Celtic 234 St. Mirren 113
Forward passes
Total long balls
Celtic 56 St. Mirren 71
Total long balls
Successful final third passes
Celtic 203 St. Mirren 41
Successful final third passes
Total crosses
Celtic 35 St. Mirren 10
Total crosses
Defense
Total tackles
Celtic 10 St. Mirren 11
Total tackles
Won tackles
Celtic 8 St. Mirren 7
Won tackles
Fouls
Celtic 10 St. Mirren 6
Fouls
Total yellow cards
Celtic 2 St. Mirren 1
Total yellow cards
Total clearances
Celtic 21 St. Mirren 48
Total clearances
Pre Match Facts
This fixture is a repeat of Celtic and St. Mirren’s final league game of last season, a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park. Celtic have won both previous occasions that they have faced the Buddies on MD1 of a league season, winning 5-1 in 1916-17 and 1-0 in 2008-09.
St. Mirren have lost 11 of their last 13 meetings with Celtic in all competitions (D2), while away from home, the Buddies have lost 33 of their last 38 visits to the Hoops (W1 D4).
Celtic have won their opening game in 16 of the last 17 league seasons, the only exception coming in 2021-22 when they lost 1-2 to Hearts under Ange Postecoglou. When playing at home on MD1, the Hoops have won 22 of their last 23 openers, the other being a 0-0 draw with Kilmarnock in 2007-08.
St. Mirren have won their season opener in both of the last two Scottish Premiership campaigns, this after only winning on MD1 in two of their previous 13 top-flight participations beforehand (D4 L7).
Celtic’s Brendan Rodgers is unbeaten in each of his last 12 MD1 games as a manager across spells with Liverpool, Celtic and Leicester City (W10 D2) since a 0-3 defeat with Liverpool against West Brom in 2012-13.
Articles
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BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c3dpe12k9z8t#Report
Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park
Celtic began their Scottish Premiership season with a victory, but were far from convincing as they struggled to break down a resilient St Mirren.
Luke McCowan’s deflected 87th-minute effort split the sides in what was a frustrating match for Celtic, their lack of intensity coupled with solid defending reducing them to few clear cut chances.
Their best chance fell to new boy Benjamin Nygren, but the Swede’s attempt from a low Daizen Maeda cross was pushed on to a post by goalkeeper Shamal George, who then did well to get to the rebound.
Before kick off there was a mixture of emotion and celebration as Celtic fans paid tribute to Lisbon Lions John Clark and John Fallon, who died during the summer, then watched former captain Paul McStay unfurl the championship flag.
But rather than the occasion inspiring Brendan Rodgers’ side, it took them a while to find their feet.
Celtic stepped up a gear in the second half, and did have the ball in the net, but Callum McGregor’s effort was ruled out after the VAR officials determined that the captain controlled the ball with his arm in the build up.
While St Mirren performed some heroics defensively, they couldn’t keep out McCowan’s strike from the edge of the area, the substitute’s shot taking a significant deflection off Mark O’Hara before evading George.
What information do we collect from this quiz?
What was the main talking point?
A lot has been said about Celtic’s summer transfer business – not least by Rodgers – and the lack of a new striker has been a major talking point.
Adam Idah was given a chance to stake his claim to lead the line, but struggled to make an impact.
The Ireland international did find himself in decent areas at times, and used his physicality to hold up the ball, but was repeatedly caught offside and rarely threatened to score.
Further questions will be asked as to whether he’s the man to lead the Celtic attack.
St Mirren will take plenty from this although they will be sore about not taking a point. They were competitive throughout and that will give them huge confidence.
Which players stood out?
St Mirren’s back three of Richard King, Alex Gogic and Marcus Fraser were tested but they held firm and made important blocks, tackles and cleared dangerous balls.
Goalkeeper George, who joined the Paisley side on loan from Wycombe Wanderers, also made some fine saves. He’s a big presence and played with confidence.
Everyone knew what Kieran Tierney would bring to Celtic on his return.
There was plenty of skill, poise and pace from the former Arsenal man, who was a threat down that left side, and will be a key player just as he was in his first stint.
The Scotland defender left the field just after the hour, apparently injured, but Rodgers said Tierney was fine.
Get in touch
Have your say on Sunday’s Premiership action
The standout stats
With over 76 % possession and six shots on target, Rodgers’ frustratation that they didn’t score more is understandable.
Their three attempts off the woodwork will also be a source of annoyance.
Despite conceding that late goal, Stephen Robinson can be pleased with how St Mirren held up defensively. Just under 24% possession tells a story.
They were solid in their defensive third and made 32 recoveries to go with their 48 clearances and nine interceptions throughout the pitch.
With the ball, they’ll want to do better, and with only 41 successful final third passes they’ll want to improve on that front.
Celtic v St Mirren defensive statsImage source, Opta
What they said
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: “Naturally, we wanted more goals, but I think we played their system very well.
“The goalkeeper has maybe kept the scoreline down and, whilst we didn’t score, we didn’t get disappointed and played some fantastic football. It was an excellent win.
“We just had to stay persistent and we were able to do that. For the first game of the season, I’m really pleased.”
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: “If you are going to get beat, you prefer a 25-yarder in the top corner with a bit of quality.
“A deflected goal so late on is frustrating but we know the levels we’ve shown.
“I can’t ask for much more in terms of work ethic and organisation – we will show more quality in the final third – so we are proud of the boys but disappointed and that shows how far we’ve come.”
What’s next for these teams?
St Mirren play their first home league match of the season against Motherwell next Saturday (15:00 BST), while on Celtic are on their travels to face Aberdeen the following day (12:30).
Before that, Rodgers’ men will look forward to Monday’s Champions League play-off round draw (11:00).
Celtic begin title defence with 1-0 win at Paradise
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/august/03/celtic-begin-title-defence-with-1-0-win-on-flag-day-at-paradise/
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
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03 Aug 2025, 7:02 pm
Scottish Premiership
Sunday, August 3, 2025
Celtic Park
CELTIC…1
(McCowan 87)
ST MIRREN…0
Celtic started season 2025/26 with a well deserved 1-0 win over St Mirren at Paradise thanks to a Luke McCowan goal late in the game.
Before the match, the Maestro, Paul McStay received a brilliant reception from the Celtic Park faithful as he unfurled the league flag to get the season underway.
There was then an emotional tribute to Lisbon Lions, John Clark and John Fallon, with the entire stadium joining in a moment’s applause in memory of both Celtic legends.
From the first whistle, Celtic looked hungry and played with the attacking intent that Brendan Rodgers demands from his side.
Only a few minutes in to the match, Kieran Tierney showed his quality as he sent a clever pass over the top of the St Mirren defence for Daizen Maeda, but the Japanese forward was unable to bring it under control.
Tierney’s attacking qualities were on show again 10 minutes later as he sent two excellent crosses in to the box for Adam Idah, but the Irish forward was unable to divert them in to the net.
Celtic’s first big chance came just shy of 20 minutes gone. Callum McGregor took a quick free kick in the middle of the pitch and released Daizen Maeda, who raced through on goal.
Daizen rounded the goalkeeper before flashing the ball across the face of goal, and any touch at all would have diverted the ball in to the net but St Mirren survived and the score remained level.
At the back, Celtic were resolute, with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales putting in brilliant performances, dealing with any threat that St Mirren posed.
Kasper Schmeichel was called in to action just after the half-hour mark when Mark O’Hara curled an effort towards goal from distance. The Danish keeper was alert and sharp as he flew to his left and pushed the ball wide of the target.
Just before the half-time whistle, Benjamin Nygren was left wondering how he hadn’t given Celtic the lead, as he smashed an effort towards goal which the visitors’ keeper somehow managed to push up on to the crossbar to keep the score level at the break.
76%
Possession
24%
14
Shots
4
6
Shots On Target
2
12
Corners
1
10
Fouls
6
2
0
Cards
1
0
Celtic started the second half with the same intensity they had shown throughout the first 45 minutes, and early in the half Callum McGregor drew a good save from Shamal George as he fired a low effort towards the bottom corner from outside the area.
The captain, who put in a Man of the Match performance, thought he had given the Celts the lead with 20 minutes to go when he capitalised on a defensive error and slammed the ball home from the edge of the box.
It looked like a perfectly legitimate goal, but after a VAR review, the strike was ruled out for a handball from McGregor, much to the surprise of everyone inside Celtic Park.
The Hoops continued to pile the pressure on to the visitors, hitting the crossbar and forcing the Saints’ keeper in to some good saves, and as the clock ticked on, it began to look like the game might be heading for a goalless draw.
A huge block 10 minutes from time from Alistair Johnston prevented St Mirren from taking the lead through Oisin Smyth, who fired a shot towards goal from 12 yards out after some direct play from the visitors on the right wing.
With only a few minutes of the 90 remaining, Daizen Maeda found Luke McCowan on the edge of the box with a good pass. McCowan stepped on to his left and hit a shot which took a deflection and left the keeper with no chance of keeping the ball out of the net.
That finish gave the Celts a deserved lead and the sense of relief inside the stadium was palpable, as the champions kicked off the season with a well-earned three points.
Brendan Rodgers and his men will now prepare for a trip to the North-East next Sunday where they will face Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Manager: I’m really pleased with how well the team played
First Team
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/august/03/manager–/
By Matthew Campbell
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03 Aug 2025, 7:22 pm
Season 2025/26 got off to the best possible start for Celtic, as the champions struck late with a Luke McCowan goal to take all three points from their opening game of the season.
The Celts were the dominant team over the course of the match, and created numerous opportunities which, on another day, would have resulted in a more resounding scoreline.
The three points, which were secured with only a few minutes of the match remaining, were well deserved for the Hoops, and speaking to Celtic TV after the match, manager Brendan Rodgers praised his side for their performance at Paradise this evening.
“We’re very pleased.” Brendan said. “It’s always nice to win at home on Flag Day. To play as well as we did makes me really pleased for the team.
“St Mirren are so well organised and you see the results they get at home and away, and how difficult they are to play against.
“We had to be patient when moving the ball at speed and with tempo, and we did that.
‘You always have the belief, especially at this club. That’s what this club is about, we go right to the very end and beyond.’
“We would have scored more goals but their keeper had a great day and we were unfortunate in hitting the bar and the post.
“Overall it was a really pleasing performance.”