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

Celtic sign off Portugal trip with victory over Sporting CP