The first three pre-season matches that we watched on Celtic TV hardly got the juices flowing for the new season but that all changed last night in the Algarve as Celtic outplayed Portugal’s Champions Sporting to record a well deserved 2-0 victory with second half goals from Reo Hatate and Luke McCowan.
Sporting CP v Celtic – Pre-Season Friendly Reo Hatate of Celtic FC celebrates a goal during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Sporting de Lisboa and Celtic FC at Estadio Algarve in Faro, Portugal, on July 16, 2025. Faro Portugal Photo DAX Images
The only complaint could be that it should have been four or five nil with Adam Idah being particularly wasteful in the goalless first half as Sporting fans and Celtic supporters on holiday in the area watch on and provided a decent atmosphere.
The warm-up matches against Queen’s Park and Cork City didn’t have too many first teamers involved as the squad drifted back one at a time due to their own football schedule over the summer break. The likes of Alistair Johnston is yet to make his return and it likely to be over in Italy before he gets some minutes in his legs after a busy summer.
Sporting CP v Celtic – Pre-Season Friendly Benjamin Nygren of Celtic FC controls the ball during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Sporting de Lisboa and Celtic FC at Estadio Algarve in Faro, Portugal, on July 16, 2025. Faro Portugal Photo DAX Images
Benjamin Nygren looked great last night and was a clear man of the match. The Celtic midfield with the Swedish international alongside Reo Hatate in the two eights role with Callum McGregor sitting deep looks mouth wateringly good and Arne Engels might find himself on the bench more he’s been used to so far in his time at Celtic.
At the back Dane Murray looked like the talent that the manager has talked about. Last night we got some evidence of that and as is usually the case Liam Scales and Anthony Ralston were reliable as Kieran Tierney edged his way back into playing for the Hoops. The highlight of his evening was that sensational cross that was harder to miss than score. Don’t watch it back Adam, you’ll cringe.
Sporting CP v Celtic – Pre-Season Friendly Daizen Maeda of Celtic FC controls the ball during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Sporting de Lisboa and Celtic FC at Estadio Algarve in Faro, Portugal, on July 16, 2025. Faro Portugal Photo DAX Images
Daizen Maeda was a pest for the Sporting defender all night and maybe should have opened the scoring and James Forrest remains our best winger although the competition for that was weakened with the sale of want away Nicolas Kühn.
Celtic’s most decorated player combined brilliantly with Nygren in the early stages of the match and the pair seem to be on the same wavelength. Nygren remind you of Tom Rogic? Yep, me too.
Sporting CP v Celtic – Pre-Season Friendly Benjamin Nygren of Celtic FC controls the ball during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Sporting de Lisboa and Celtic FC at Estadio Algarve in Faro, Portugal, on July 16, 2025. Faro Portugal Photo DAX Images
Adam Idah was talking ahead of the game about forcing his way into the first pick number nine this season but he fluffed his lines badly last night and Brendan Rodgers wasn’t shy on commenting on his misfiring centre forward.
Another Irishman had a better night in the Algarve. Johnny Kenny replaced his fellow countryman at the interval and looked sharp and alert from the kickoff. That sharpness won Celtic a penalty that found the back of the net – just. Reo Hatate’s look of relief told its own story. Should we have a penalty coach at Lennoxtown? I’m never confident that we’re going to score but I did like Johnny Kenny’s spot kick at Hampden in May and was shouting at the TV last night wanting him to take it.
Luke McCowan of Celtic celebrates scoring a goal to make the score 0-2 Sporting Lisbon v Celtic, Pre Season Friendly, Football, Estadio Algarve, Portugal – 16 Jul 2025 Estadio Algarve Portugal Photo Carlos Rodrigues
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Luke McCowan took his goal really well and is looking more like a Celtic player now that the magnitude of his transfer from Dundee to his boyhood club has calmed down. He looks like having a significant role to play this season.
There’s another test against Newcastle at the weekend and that’s a chance for another summer skelping of the Premier League’s best after pumping both Manchester City and newly crowned World Cup champions Chelsea last summer.
The 10k travelling supporters will make it a tremendous atmosphere at Paradise on Saturday and there are still some tickets left – remember this game will NOT be shown live on Celtic TV in Britain and Ireland.
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Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter, out 5 September 2025. Available to pre-order now.
