Sporting CP 0-2 Celtic
Benjamin Nygren of Celtic Ajax v Celtic, Como Cup Pre Season Football, Football, Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como, Italy – 24 Jul 2025Como Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia Italy. Photo Shutterstock IMAGO
On 16 July, Celtic ended their Portugal training camp with an impressive 2–0 win over Sporting CP at the Estádio do Algarve, showing real purpose, control, and intensity in humid conditions.
Reo Hatate opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Johnny Kenny was brought down in the box. Luke McCowan added a second with a wonderfully composed finish, finishing off a slick counter-attack initiated by Kenny.
The midfield trio of Hatate, Callum McGregor, and Benjamin Nygren dictated play with confidence, while Daizen Maeda’s pressing and energy set the tone for Celtic’s aggressive off-the-ball work. Defensively, the back line featuring Kieran Tierney, Liam Scales, and Dane Murray looked well-organised and composed under pressure.
Brendan Rodgers praised the team’s pressing, ball movement, and overall fitness levels, describing the performance as a real step forward. The result served as a much-needed confidence boost heading into the final stages of pre-season.
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