Match Pictures | Matches: 2025 – 2026
Trivia
- KO: 15:00; Saturday, League match 6
- Celtic drop to second behind Hearts who are now top of the league. Celtic on 14pts & -7GD, Hearts on 16 pts & -9GD.
- First match at Celtic Park since the end of the transfer window with all the debacles & protests going on during the interim period. Not one the board was looking forward to.
- Banners make clear of the frustration at the board with the chanting etc. some home supporters were protesting with silence against their board until the 12th minute.
- Celtic score but ruled offside (correctly). Hatate out injured.
- Celtic forward Kelechi Iheanacho aims to better his 19-goal haul at Leicester City in season 2020-21.
- Celtic have struggled to score in every game apart from Livingston, and Rogers changed the entire team in that game with Europe in mind. It’s a real problem. Teams have us sussed out. Celtic won 1 of our 6 league games with a last-minute penalty and another with a last-minute goal. Two 0-0 draws, beat Aberdeen by 2, when they’re the poorest team in the legue (1 draw and 5 defeats this season, and they haven’t scored a single goal) and Livingston were poor so we beat them.
- Hearts seen now as potentially league title contentders due to the weakness of the Glasgow sides.
Summary
joebloggscity of TheCelticWiki:
There’s just no getting around it, Celtic have been fortunate domestically of late especially with the rapid plunge in form of Sevco, but today the chickens came home to roost with the weaknesses in the side there for all to see. Admittedly, it wasn’t a defeat and the general performance was decent, but despite all the possession and decent play, there were few if any genuine attempts at goal. Iheancho had a decent game and was unfortunate not to get his goal (his only goal was chopped off correctly for offside). Penalty claims were rightly waved away, and Hibs had one very close chance to score a goal. The weaknesses in the squad were there at the forefront today but also Rodgers tactics. There’s lots of concerns at present over the formations and style, lot of frusation. It’s not going to be an easy time.
Brendan Rodgers insists he was “happy” with Celtic’s performance despite their disappointing 0-0 draw with Hibernian at Celtic Park. That doesn’t help matters.
BBC
Celtic concerns
FT: Celtic 0-0 Hibernian
Celtic are undefeated in their last 12 games in the Premiership and kept a clean sheet in five of their six games this season – more than any other in the Premiership this season.
However, manager Brendan Rodgers will be concerned that they have failed to score in two of them.
Indeed, they have only won two of their latest six outings overall, failing to score in three of them.
FT: Celtic 0-0 Hibernian
Hibs have failed to win any of their last five games in the Premiership, but they are also undefeated in their last eight!
They had only four attempts on goal at Celtic Park, their lowest total in a single match in the league this season.
However, you can be sure they won’t be too bothered with that considering they took a point from the champions.
Pat Bonner Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Radio Scotland Yes, they had chances, they hit the crossbar twice and Johnny Kenny had a couple of chances he should have done better with. But they have to get back to blowing teams away after having so much possession.
John Collins Former Celtic & Hibs midfielder on BBC Sportsound Hibs were compact, they were organised, they had a bit of luck. Lots of good football from Celtic, getting it wide. It was one of those days when they didn’t work the goalkeeper enough. Brendan Rodgers will be disappointed with that final bit.
Torquemada of KDS:
I thought we played some good stuff with absolutely no reward. There were players out there who didn’t know each others first names but we should have scored four. I said in the family thread that Don Robertson would be a major factor – and he was. I’ve never seen a game where one team – the dominant team – was penalised so often and the desperately defending team so little. All Hibs had to do was fall down and the whistle went.
Robertson’s schtick is to break up the game as much as possible. That he has refereed us so often isn’t an accident. He’s an atrocity. I’m not going over that abominable transfer window again but it will take time for this group to come together. We’ll win this league by double digits.
Inside The SPFL @AgentScotland · 4h Celtic’s fourth 0-0 in just 11 games so far in 2025-26. They look solid enough defensively, but they’re a creative vacuum and have been since clinching the title last May. They’re a very hard watch at the moment.
jimmy mach of KDS:
We played with much greater intensity today and we really should have won that comfortably. Not many sitters but still chances that we would have put away in previous seasons with players who know how to score.
Taken in isolation you can write that off as one of those games where it just doesn’t happen for you but we’ve only scored 9 goals in 11 games (ignoring the league cup results). Its still early but considering last season we averaged across all competitions nearly 3 a game and most seasons over 2 a game, it is worrying that we are not far off 1 a game.
In terms of the game today, I thought we played well and up until all the subs, you would have marked most as 7/10. The subs killed the momentum. I’m going to single out Nygren because his tendency to hold on to the ball too long just slowed us down and gave Hibs the opportunity to regroup. There were times he picked up the ball and rather than pass to an available player and move on, he would take it forward, slow down to have a look and then cut inside.
Teams
Celtic
Manager: Brendan Rodgers
Formation: 4 – 3 – 3
01 K. Schmeichel
36 M. Saracchi
05 L. Scales 69′, Yellow Card at 69mins
20 C. Carter-Vickers 71′, Yellow Card at 71mins
56 A. Ralston
14 L. McCowan, subbed for Paulo Bernardo at 74mins
42 C. McGregor (c), Captain
27 A. Engels, subbed for J. Forrest at 67mins
23 S. Tounekti, subbed for M. Balikwisha at 74mins
17 K. Ịheanachọ, subbed for B. Nygren at 67mins
38 D. Maeda, subbed for J. Kenny at 74mins
Subs:
10 M. Balikwisha
51 C. Donovan
49 J. Forrest
28 Paulo Bernardo
24 J. Kenny
47 D. Murray
08 B. Nygren
12 V. Sinisalo
63 K. Tierney
Goals:
Assists:
Hibernian
Manager: David Gray
Formation: 5 – 3 – 2
01 R. Sallinger
15 J. Iredale
04 G. Hanley
05 W. O’Hora
21 J. Obita
20 J. Mulligan 90′, Yellow Card at 90mins
17 J. McGrath, subbed for J. Campbell at 38mins
22 D. Barlaser, subbed for D. Levitt at 67mins
14 M. Chaiwa, subbed for C. Cadden at 46mins
09 K. Bowie
10 M. Boyle (c), Captain, subbed for T. Klidje at 67mins
Subs:
35 R. Molotnikov
12 C. Cadden
19 N. Cadden
32 J. Campbell
23 J. Hoilett
18 T. Klidje
06 D. Levitt
24 Z. Mitchell
13 J. Smith
Goals:
Assists:
Referee Don Robertson
Video Assistant Referee Steven McLean
Assistant Referee 1 Graeme Stewart
Assistant Referee 2 Chris Rae
Fourth Official Iain Snedden
Assistant VAR Official Graeme Leslie
Att:
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Stats
Overall possession
Celtic 77.2% Hibernian 22.8%
Shots
Celtic 26 Hibernian 4
Shots
Shots on target
Celtic 6 Hibernian 1
Shots on target
Total touches inside the opposition box
Celtic 54 Hibernian 12
Goalkeeper saves
Celtic 1 Hibernian 6
Goalkeeper saves
Fouls committed
Celtic 16 Hibernian 1
Fouls committed
Corners
Celtic 7 Hibernian 2
Corners
In-depth match stats
Attack
Shots
Celtic 26 Hibernian 4
Shots
Shots on target
Celtic 6 Hibernian 1
Shots on target
Shots off target
Celtic 11 Hibernian 2
Shots off target
Attempts out of box
Celtic 11 Hibernian 1
Attempts out of box
Hit woodwork
Celtic 2 Hibernian 0
Hit woodwork
Total offsides
Celtic 2 Hibernian 5
Total offsides
Distribution
Total passes
Celtic 756 Hibernian 228
Total passes
Pass accuracy %
Celtic 91.7 Hibernian 68.4
Pass accuracy %
Backward passes
Celtic 97 Hibernian 28
Backward passes
Forward passes
Celtic 202 Hibernian 109
Forward passes
Total long balls
Celtic 32 Hibernian 66
Total long balls
Successful final third passes
Celtic 259 Hibernian 18
Successful final third passes
Total crosses
Celtic 46 Hibernian 6
Total crosses
Defence
Total tackles
Celtic 6 Hibernian 10
Total tackles
Won tackle %
Celtic 83.3 Hibernian 80
Won tackle %
Fouls committed
Celtic 16 Hibernian 1
Fouls committed
Total yellow cards
Celtic 2 Hibernian 1
Total yellow cards
Total clearances
Celtic 11 Hibernian 51
Total clearances
pre match facts
Celtic have won seven of their last eight games against Hibernian in all competitions, losing the other 2-1 in February last season in the Scottish Premiership.
Hibernian are winless in their last 22 visits to Celtic in all competitions (D4 L18) since a 2-1 victory in January 2010. Hibs have lost each of their last eight away games at Celtic, all by a 2- goal margin.
Celtic have lost just two of their last 84 home league games (W71 D11), and just one of their last 31 (W27 D3), going down 2-3 to Rangers in March last season.
Hibernian have drawn six of their last seven league games (W1), drawing more games in the Scottish Premiership in 2025 than any other side (11). Indeed, with draws in each of their last four league games, they last drew five successive league matches in October 2019.
Only Dundee United (9) have recorded more fast breaks in the Scottish Premiership so far this season than Hibernian (8), while they’ve scored twice from their six shots from those situations, more than any other side.
Against Kilmarnock in their last league game, Celtic scored their third-latest winning goal (95:26) on Opta’s records in the Scottish top-flight (from 2013-14), after December 2021 v Ross County (96:06) and September 2023 v Motherwell (96:39).
This game ends a run of five successive away fixtures for Celtic, ending their longest run of successive matches not played at home since November-December 2018 (also 5), and longest specifically in away matches (excl. neutral venues) since April-May 2003 (also 5).
Seven of Celtic’s eight Scottish Premiership goals so far this season have come in the second half of games (88%), the highest proportion of any side this term. Indeed, three have come in the final 15 minutes of games, with only Hearts (4) scoring more in that period.
Articles
Hoops held to a goalless draw at Celtic Park
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/september/27/celtic-held-to-a-goalless-draw-against-hibernian/
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
Share
27 Sep 2025, 5:23 pm
Scottish Premiership
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Celtic Park
CELTIC…0
HIBERNIAN…0
Celtic and Hibernian played out a 0-0 draw at Celtic Park this afternoon, though the Hoops were denied by the woodwork and by an inspired goalkeeping performance from the Hibs keeper, to deny them all three points.
From kick-off, Celtic dominated proceedings and would ultimately finish the first-half having enjoyed almost 80% of the possession.
In the early stages it was clear that Brendan Rodgers’ men were playing with confidence, with the Hoops keeping Hibs on the back foot as they knocked the ball around with purpose and looked to carve out an opportunity.
It took 20 minutes before the first big chance presented itself, and it came from a Hibs corner which Celtic defended well before breaking forward with aggression and pace.
Daizen Maeda flashed a ball across the face of goal towards Kelechi Iheanacho who was in a brilliant position, but the forward’s strike cannoned off the crossbar and the scoreline remained level.
On the left for Celtic, Sebastian Tounekti and Marcelo Saracchi, both making their first appearance at Celtic Park, linked up well throughout the match and on the half-hour mark, Saracchi rattled the bar with an effort from the edge of the area.
Celtic continued to put pressure on the visitors, and before the break, Callum McGregor, Daizen Maeda and Kelechi Iheanacho all saw shots either saved or blocked, with Hibs players throwing themselves in front of the ball at every opportunity.
77%
Possession
23%
26
Shots
4
6
Shots On Target
1
7
Corners
2
16
Fouls
1
2
0
Cards
1
0
Early in the second period, Sebastian Tounekti drove to the byline and cut the ball back to Arne Engels who shot from the penalty spot. It looked like his shot was destined for the back of the net but Sallinger produced a great save to deny the Belgian.
With an hour played, Saracchi flashed the ball across the face of goal and any touch would have given Celtic the lead. Several players slid towards the ball, including Iheanacho, but somehow the keeper got a touch on the ball and everyone in the stadium, the visitors included, were left wondering how Celtic weren’t 1-0 up.
As the match wore on, Brendan Rodgers made several changes, bringing James Forrest, Benjamin Nygren, Paulo Bernardo, Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Johnny Kenny on in the hope that the pressure that was being piled on to the visitors would produce more scoring opportunities.
Paulo Bernardo fired a great shot towards goal from the edge of the box with just under 10 minutes to go but Sallinger, who delivered an impressive performance in goals for Hibs, produced an equally good save to keep the score level.
In the dying minutes, the Hibs keeper produced another big save to deny Johnny Kenny and secure a point for the visitors on an afternoon when Celtic did more than enough to claim all three points.
Celtic: Schmeichel, Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Saracchi, Engels (Forrest 67′), McGregor, McCowan (Paulo Bernardo 74′), Maeda (Kenny 74′), Iheanacho (Nygren 67′), Tounekti (Balikwisha 74′)
Subs: Nygren, Balikwisha, Sinisalo, Kenny, Paulo Bernardo, Murray, Forrest, Donovan, Tierney
Hibernian: Sallinger, Mulligan, O’Hora, Hanley, Iredale, Obita, Chaiwa (Chris Cadden 45′), Barlaser (Levitt 67′), McGrath (Campbell 38′), Boyle (Klidje 67′), Bowie
Subs: Levitt, Chris Cadden, Smith, Klidje, Nicky Cadden, Hoilett, Zach Mitchell, Campbell, Molotnikov
BBC
At a glance
Celtic drop points for second time in six games
Iheanacho effort disallowed and several other chances spurned
Resolute Hibs hold firm for point
Celtic v Hibs highlights
27/09/25
Watch on iPlayer
ByMartin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park
Celtic dropped Scottish Premiership points for the second time this season – and slipped to second place in the table – as they were held to a stalemate by a stuffy Hibernian.
The point extends David Gray’s unbeaten league run, with this a fourth successive draw in an unbeaten start to their league campaign.
A point here in Glasgow would seem a significant boost, too, after they failed to capitalise in recent fixtures.
Brendan Rodgers opted to start Japan forward Daizen Maeda on the right, looking to find a solution to his front-three conundrum, with Kelechi Iheanacho starting centrally.
They looked sharp early on, and another big goal looked odds on for the Nigerian striker when, after a wonderful break, Maeda played him in but his shot struck the crossbar.
Marcelo Saracchi had the same outcome from a tight angle, and Callum McGregor was then denied, as Celtic continued to be frustrated.
It was Hibs who ought to have gone ahead, though, when Kieron Bowie nodded a free-kick into Warren O’Hora’s path, but he somehow scooped over from a few yards.
Hibs then showed resistance throughout the second half, blocking shots and staying solid.
Iheanacho looked to have broken through but was deemed just offside, then he couldn’t connect with Saracchi’s centre when a goal looked certain.
Celtic reinforcements arrived. Paulo Bernardo was thwarted by Raphael Sallinger and Johnny Kenny, twice, nodded over from great positions as Hibs held on for a point.
Graphic
Analysis: Resolute Hibs frustrate Celtic
Not the outcome Celtic wanted on their return home after five games on the road.
This stalemate will, no doubt, add to fan anger over a lack of recruitment in the forward line. That said, they had enough chances and were very unlucky at times.
Celtic have struggled to score, particularly in the first half of Premiership games. Just one of their eight goals have come in the opening 45.
No shots on target until the 39th minute here answers that, to a degree, although they did hit the bar twice before that and got into some great positions.
Hibs couldn’t keep much possession or get up the pitch as Celtic hemmed them in. But what a heroic defensive performance.
Players were so committed, throwing themselves to get blocks in. That answered some criticism of their back line.
They played with a high degree of stability and ought to have gone ahead just before half-time after riding their luck more than once.
What next for these teams?
Celtic return to Europa League action at home to Braga on Thursday (17:45 BST), before welcoming Motherwell next Sunday (15:00).
Hibs have the small matter of a trip across Edinburgh to face high-flying Hearts next Saturday (17:45).
Manager: We just needed to convert good performance into goals
First Team
By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor
Share
27 Sep 2025, 5:55 pm
Brendan Rodgers praised his side’s performance against Hibernian at Celtic Park this afternoon, although he, like everyone else inside the stadium was left frustrated at the fact the team’s dominance did not translate into goals.
The Hoops had to be content with a share of the spoils after the match finished 0-0, despite enjoying 77% possession, and creating 26 chances, including six on target.
Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, Brendan Rodgers said: “I think, performance-wise, the players did really well.
“We progressed the ball through the pitch, and if you look at all the numbers and statistics in the game, we were very dominant – attempts on goal, attempts on target – but it was a wee bit of both really.
“It was us just lacking that little bit of a killer touch in the box, and couple that with some great blocks from Hibs players.
‘But I can’t really complain about the performance level because we got through the pitch and into the areas we wanted to.’
“You just need that first goal. In the previous victories we’ve had here against Hibs, it’s that goal in the first half really opens it up, and we had opportunities and big chances in the game throughout, but the longer it goes on, it gives Hibs that little bit of extra motivation and commitment to keep the clean sheet.”
Given that Celtic’s last home game was back on August 23, it meant that three players were making their Paradise bow – Marcello Saracchi, Sebastian Tounekti and Kelechi Iheanacho. And the manager was pleased with their performances.
“I thought they did very well,” he said. “Marcelo in that position, you can see he plays it so well. He’s very aggressive with and without the ball, for the 90 minutes I thought he was very good.
“Sebastian, likewise, and in one-v-ones he was excellent. He tired a bit towards the end but he’s obviously played a lot since he’s come in, but again, he was beating his man well and getting crosses into the box.
“And Kels is probably disappointed that he didn’t score maybe a couple of goals, but as a reference point to the team with his touch and everything else, I thought he was good.
“So that’ll be good for him and for all three players to have played at the stadium.”
Celtic fans turn silent but point heard loud and clear against stout Hibs amid changing times
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/latest-celtic-news/celtic-fans-turn-silent-but-point-heard-loud-and-clear-against-stout-hibs-amid-changing-times-5336703?cx_testId=5&cx_testVariant=cx_undefined&cx_artPos=1&cx_experienceId=EX2NAIW0WFIR&cx_experienceActionId=showRecommendationsK080OZDSLLXE8#cxrecs_s
Alan Pattullo
By Alan Pattullo
Specialist Sports Writer
0Comments
Published 27th Sep 2025, 21:30 BST
Updated 27th Sep 2025, 21:48 BST
Celtic held to fourth goalless draw of season as Hearts go top
There might have been some disagreement about how effective a silent protest at the start of the game had proved. Celtic duly made the supporters’ point in any case by demonstrating the perils of failing to make adequate reinforcements in this latest stalemate.
Credit to Hibs, who defended stoutly on this quick return to Glasgow following last weekend’s Premier Sports Cup exit at the hands of Rangers. But the hosts suffered for a lack of star quality. Daizen Maeda once again struggled to spark into life and was replaced after 75 minutes. Kieran Tierney did not even make it onto the pitch at all.
Celtic hit the bar twice in the first half and had other chances, including when substitute Johnny Kenny’s downward header brought off a fine save from the immaculate Raphael Sallinger in the final moments. “Everything but the goal,” lamented skipper Callum McGregor afterwards.
Perhaps. But it’s happening too often. Having failed to score just five times in 57 games last season, Celtic have already produced four blanks this season as well as four goalless draws.
Celtic substitute Johnny Kenny rues a late missed chance in the goalless draw with Hibernian. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Celtic substitute Johnny Kenny rues a late missed chance in the goalless draw with Hibernian. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group
Silence broken by anti-board chant
After five games on the road, Celtic did not enjoy the comforts of returning home for the first time following such a disappointing and controversial transfer window. Supporter disenchantment, with the club’s hierarchy principally, was always likely to create a loaded atmosphere. The home fans broke into song after 12 minutes of orchestrated silence with an anti-board broadside. Not that Dermot Desmond, the major shareholder, heard it across the Atlantic at Bethpage, where he was happily watching the Ryder Cup.
“Your Silence Is Deafening,” complained the Green Brigade via a banner in their section of the ground. This was during a period where they had themselves intentionally stayed mute in a protest backed by the Celtic Fans Collective, an umbrella group for all Celtic fans’ organisations. They were back to their normal loud selves thereafter. What they watched, however, could not have brought much reassurance.
When there were no takers after the impressive left-back Marcelo Saracchi, making his maiden Celtic Park appearance, flashed in a cross just before the hour mark that was begging to be put in, it seemed to be the signal for the home fans to become officially restless. This moment strongly indicated that maybe a goal wasn’t coming.
Celtic fans hold a banner reading “Your Silence is Deafening” aimed at the board the goalless draw with Hibernian. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)
Celtic fans hold a banner reading “Your Silence is Deafening” aimed at the board the goalless draw with Hibernian. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group) | SNS Group
Elsewhere, Hearts appeared to be scoring at will against Falkirk. Celtic, meanwhile, were still struggling to make a breakthrough against a well-organised Hibs side despite almost constant pressure. Saracchi himself had seen his whipped-in shot from an acute angle strike the top of the bar. Kelechi Iheanacho, another making his first Celtic Park appearance, struck the same crossbar after a flowing move involving Luke McCowan and Maeda.
Not only was there anxiety that Celtic might not score, but there was also a growing concern they might be caught on the counter by Hibs. It had already nearly happened at the end of the first half, when away defender Warren O’Hora poked over from almost under the bar. That would have been the ultimate sucker punch.
Hibs answer questions
Manager David Gray afterwards admitted his side had not done enough in the forward areas to deserve to win, which was true, but they held on and answered some questions about their defensive capabilities, most recently after conceding two second-half goals in the 2-2 draw with Falkirk on Tuesday.
His defenders Grant Hanley (left) and Jack Iredale during the goalless draw at Celtic Park. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)
His defenders Grant Hanley (left) and Jack Iredale during the goalless draw at Celtic Park. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group) | SNS Group
This might have been a fourth league draw in a row but as when they shared six goals with Dundee United, it was undoubtedly a point won.
As for Celtic, it was a hard one to assess. Sometimes it can be just one of those days, although such days are becoming more regular now it seems. The ball often just wouldn’t run for them and when it did, Hibs threw themselves in the way.
Grant Hanley, for example, was in a ‘thou shalt not pass’ mood. One block from Maeda saved an almost certain goal. Sallinger, too, came up with stops whenever called upon. None of them were in the world-class category, but he had to move smartly to beat substitute Paulo Bernardo’s fierce half-volley aside. Manager Gray was spotted pushing Sallinger towards the away supporters at the end to make sure the No. 1, who has recently deposed Jordan Smith, enjoyed the acclaim.
The home fans, meanwhile, drifted off to process a league table that has their side placed below pace-setters Hearts. Changing times, as underlined by the Paradise Windfall. The half-time lottery celebrated its 30th anniversary this weekend. When it started in 1995, with Celtic beating Motherwell 1-0 thanks to a goal from the late Phil O’Donnell, the lucky ticket owner pocketed £2,000. The prize here was £30,000 shared between three winning tickets, drawn by Tosh McKinlay and Tom Boyd. In the absence of a goal, at least some home fans had something to celebrate.
Rodgers “happy” with Celtic’s performance despite drawing a blank
By Conor Spence 28 September, 2025 No Comments
Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic
Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic misses a good scoring opportunity. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 27 September 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock/IMAGO
Facebook
WhatsApp
Twitter
Reddit
Email
Share
Brendan Rodgers insists he was “happy” with Celtic’s performance despite their disappointing 0-0 draw with Hibernian at Celtic Park yesterday afternoon…
Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic
Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic shakes hands with Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers as he is substituted for Benjamin Nygren. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, – 27 September 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO Shutterstock
Celtic endured another frustrating outcome as their 0-0 draw with David Gray’s side highlighted Rodgers’ men ongoing struggles with finding the back of the net.
With six games into the Scottish Premiership season, Hearts, Motherwell, Dundee United, Hibernian, Kilmarnock and Livingston [equal]have all scored more goals than the current Scottish champions.
Despite dictating play, applying sustained pressure, and repeatedly testing visiting keeper Raphael Sallinger, Celtic ultimately fell short with yet another disappointing result.
For Celtic, it was their fifth draw in eight games – four of which have ended goalless, though manager Brendan Rodgers insisted this display should be judged differently from previous shortcomings.
“I was happy with the performance,” the Celtic boss said via BBC Sport. “I think every metric in the game we were dominant. I thought today our football was really good, we went through the pitch well but we just lacked that killer instinct in the box. But I also think they defended the box really well so we need to credit Hibs for that.”
Johnny Kenny of Celtic
Chris Cadden of Hibernian saves a header from Johnny Kenny of Celtic in time added on after 90 minutes. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 27 September 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO Shutterstock
“We had good chances, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. When the ball broke through we counter-pressed really well and we dealt well with the set pieces but it was just that final touch in the box we were lacking. We just couldn’t find the back of the net and when we did it was offside.”
Rodgers added: “The players are gaining confidence. I thought Marcelo [Saracchi] was excellent and played the ball really well, Sebastian [Tounekti] is excellent in 1v1s. I can’t complain performance wise it was just that little bit in the final third that was lacking. We’ll take the positives from the performance into Thursday.”
Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic
Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic misses the ball in front of the Hibernian goal. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, , Celtic Park, 27 September 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/Shutterstock
“My focus is on the group of players that are here who are full of endeavour,” he said. “Whatever we did or didn’t get is irrelevant now. We have to make the most of the players that are here and like I said I thought performance wise it was really good today we just couldn’t score.”
“It’s a long season. It’s very, very early but we want to win every game we play and that’s the nature of being at Celtic. I think the supporters can see today that the team did everything and you’ve got to give credit to the opposition who defended for their lives and kept the clean sheet.”
Sandman also named Marcelo Saracchi as his Man of the Match in his Definitive Ratings which are up now on The Celtic Star.
Conor Spence