Posts

Showing posts with the label Celtic

Celtic are now just one point from the title

Image
Celtic 5 - 1 Kilmarnock Celtic moved to the brink of yet another Scottish Premiership title after a blistering first-half performance against Kilmarnock.  Author - Sean M Stadium - Celtic Park The Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers demanded a response following the loss to the division's bottom side. Within 24 minutes of this match against Kilmarnock kicking off, Celtic were four ahead thanks to a stunning array of goals, with Daizen Maeda, Cameron Carter-Vickers and two Reo Hatate.  Danny Armstrong's cross sailed home for some brief respite for Derek McInnes' men. However, the champions-elect utterly dominated the first half of this match. They would have been happy to be only trailing 4-1 at half-time. Not a good place to be in. They then eased up slightly but the icing on the cake arrived in injury time as substitute Anthony Ralston danced into the box and found the far corner. A closer look at what happened and why it happened It had been reported in some outlets that the ...

Celtic might have to wait another week to clinch title

Image
St Johnstone 1 - 0 Celtic St Johnstone pulled off a surprise victory over Celtic, denying the reigning champions the chance to wrap up the Scottish Premiership title in front of their home support next weekend. Author - Sean M Stadium - McDiarmid Park Brendan Rodgersā€™ side knew that a win at McDiarmid Park would have set up the opportunity to clinch a fourth consecutive league crown when they host Kilmarnock on Saturday. But an early thumping header from Daniels Balodis, following a well-delivered free-kick by Graham Carey, gave the hosts a crucial lead. That goal, combined with a resilient defensive display, saw the leagueā€™s bottom side move to within five points of Dundee. Celtic could still secure the title next weekend if they beat Kilmarnock and Rangers drop points away to Aberdeen on Sunday. However, Balodisā€™ first goal for the club has, for now at least, postponed any plans of celebrating on home turf. The early breakthrough seemed to energise the Perth side. While Celti...

Maeda inspires Celtic again

Image
Celtic 3 - 0 Hearts Daizen Maeda struck twice in Celtic's commanding Scottish Premiership victory over Heart of Midlothian, bringing his season tally to an impressive thirty goals.  Author - Sean M Stadium - Celtic Park The Celtic boss had hinted before the match that both he and the club were eager to extend the Japan international's contract, which currently runs until the summer of 2027.  This latest performance served as yet another reminder of why that would be a wise move. Maeda has now scored in eight consecutive league games and shows no sign of slowing down. The forward was at the heart of all three goals and appears almost unstoppable in Scotland at present. A closer look at what happened at Celtic Park Hearts had arrived to this match with some confidence, having lost just twice in their previous fourteen matches. They were aiming to take another step towards securing a top-six place. All eyes were on Viljami Sinisalo, who stepped in for the injured Kasper Schme...

Rangers stun Celtic with late winner

Image
Celtic 2 - 3 Rangers Rangers revelled in their second round of jubilant celebrations in just four days as Hamza Igamaneā€™s stunning late goal inflicted Celticā€™s first Scottish Premiership home defeat since December 2023. Author - Sean M Stadium - Celtic Park Pre match atmosphere. Picture from Super News Affiliate on Flickr Barry Fergusonā€™s side made a blistering start, storming into a two-goal lead by half-time. Nico Raskin glanced in a flicked header early on, before Mohamed Diomande drilled a low shot into the net to put the visitors firmly in control. However, with the exertions of Thursdayā€™s dramatic Europa League triumph over Fenerbahce beginning to take their toll, title-chasing Celtic mounted a spirited fightback. Daizen Maeda powered home a towering header, and Reo Hatate coolly slotted in an equaliser to set up a frantic finale. With momentum seemingly swinging in the hostsā€™ favour, it was Rangers who delivered the decisive moment. Igamane capitalised on Alistair Johnstonā€™...

Celtic still on course for domestic treble

Image
Celtic 2 - 0 Hibernian Daizen Maeda's 27th goal of the season and a stoppage-time strike from Adam Idah kept Celtic's treble dream alive as they edged past Hibernian in a hard-fought Scottish Cup quarter-final. Author - Sean M Stadium - Celtic Park Hibs, without a Scottish Cup win at Celtic Park since 1902, once again left empty-handed after Maeda struck just before half-time to extend the visitorsā€™ misery. The Japan internationalā€™s ruthless finish ā€“ his 13th goal in as many games ā€“ came after Jordan Smith had produced a fine save to deny Nicolas Kuhn, only for Maeda to pounce and rifle the rebound high into the net. It was a moment of redemption for the forward, who had earlier squandered a glorious chance, blazing over the bar when it seemed easier to score. Smith, who recently signed a new deal with Hibs, kept his side in contention with two excellent first-half saves ā€“ first tipping away Callum McGregorā€™s low drive and then reacting sharply to deny Reo Hatate from close...

Celtic close in on another title

Image
St. Mirren 2 - 5 Celtic Celtic are now just three wins away from retaining their Scottish Premiership title Author - Sean M Stadium - The SMISA Stadium If Celtic can secure victories in their next two league fixtures against second-placed Rangers and Heart of Midlothian, they will head to Perth in early April knowing that a win over St Johnstone would seal a fourth consecutive league title. Celtic were pushed all the way by a determined St Mirren side, who twice pegged them back before Yang Hyun-jun struck twice late on, either side of a superb finish from Daizen Maeda, to secure the points. Japan forward Maeda has now scored 13 goals in his last 12 matches, while South Korean winger Yang ā€“ who set him up with a fine assist ā€“ is looking like a player transformed. His two-goal cameo may well give Rodgers a selection headache ahead of the next game. Substitutes make the difference as Celtic close in Watch the highlights from the SPFL YouTube It was another commanding performa...

Celtic back to winning ways

Image
Celtic 5 - 1 Aberdeen Celtic took another decisive step towards retaining their title with a dominant victory over Aberdeen in Glasgow. Author - Sean M Stadium - Celtic Park Pre match atmosphere at Celtic Park Brendan Rodgers' side were minutes away from setting a new record of 10 consecutive home league wins without conceding when Shayden Morris grabbed a late consolation for the visitors. It was little more than a flicker of hope on an otherwise bleak evening for Aberdeen, who failed to capitalise on a promising start. Oday Dabbagh squandered a close-range chance, and Kevin Nisbet dragged a shot wide after Kasper Schmeichelā€™s misplaced pass. Celtic, by contrast, were ruthless. First-half goals from Daizen Maeda, Jota and Callum McGregor effectively settled the contest before the break. Maeda opened the scoring in opportunistic fashion, pouncing on a deflected Arne Engels shot and outpacing Mats Knoester before volleying homeā€”echoing his instinctive finish at Hibernian on Satu...

Celtic stunned at Easter Road

Image
Hibernian 2 - 1 Celtic Hibernian continued their impressive form as Josh Campbellā€™s first-half brace condemned Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic to only their second league defeat of the season. Author - Sean M Stadium - Easter Road Celtic, fresh from a spirited display against Bayern Munich in midweek, struggled to find their rhythm in the opening hour. Their passing was uncharacteristically sloppy, and Hibsā€™ well-drilled defence coped comfortably with the waves of crosses into their box. Campbell made the most of Celticā€™s sluggish start, drilling a low strike into the bottom corner inside two minutes to give the hosts the perfect start. Then, just before the break, he doubled Hibsā€™ lead with a well-placed header from Martin Boyleā€™s looping cross. David Grayā€™s side had chances to put the game beyond doubt, with Kieron Bowie and Lewis Miller both denied by Kasper Schmeichel in what was a commanding all-round display. Celtic, though, inevitably fought back. Daizen Maeda pulled one...

Celtic suffer heartbreak in Munich

Image
Bayern Munich 1 - 1 Celtic (Bayern Munich won 2-1 on aggregate) Celticā€™s Champions League journey came to a dramatic and heartbreaking end as Bayern Munich struck deep into stoppage time, sealing a 3-2 aggregate victory and crushing Brendan Rodgersā€™ sideā€™s hopes of a stunning upset in Germany. Author - Andrew Cheshire Stadium - Allianz Arena Having lost the first leg 2-1 at Parkhead, Celtic knew they needed a big performanceā€”and they delivered. Nicolas KĆ¼hn fired them into a shock lead just after the hour mark, pouncing on a defensive error from Kim Min-jae to slot past Manuel Neuer. The Hoops had already squandered several golden chances in the first half, with KĆ¼hn, Callum McGregor, and Daizen Maeda (twice) all going close. Meanwhile, England captain Harry Kane rattled the crossbar before being withdrawn at half-time. Champions League: 2024/2025 More Celtic news and stories Bayern, rattled by Celticā€™s intensity, pushed hard for an equaliser. Leon Goretzka nodded wide, Joshua Kimm...

Can Celtic cause a shock in Munich

Image
Bayern Munich v Celtic preview Bayern Munich lead 2-1 after what was an entertaining first leg in Glasgow Author - Sean M After edging past Celtic with a 2-1 victory in Glasgow last week, Bayern Munich will be eager to confirm their place in the Champions League last 16 when they host the Scottish champions at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday. Will the atmosphere at Bayern Munich match the one at Celtic? Vincent Kompanyā€™s side were forced to defend for long spells in Saturdayā€™s goalless draw with Bayer Leverkusen, though they remain eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga. This contest, however, is expected to be a different affair, with Bayern likely to dominate on home turf. Celtic, meanwhile, will be looking to spring a surprise in Munich. Brendan Rodgersā€™ men head into the fixture with confidence after a commanding 3-0 victory over Dundee United, which extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership. Remarkably, Celtic are in the knockout rounds for the first tim...

Celtic prepare for Champions League by thrashing Raith

Image
 Celtic 5 - 0 Raith Rovers Daizen Maeda hit a landmark 50 goals for Celtic as his stunning hat-trick fired the holders into the Scottish Cup quarter-finals with a dominant 5-0 victory over Raith Rovers. Author - Sean M Stadium - Celtic Park Brendan Rodgers made sweeping changes, bringing in nine fresh faces to the starting XI, but it was business as usual at Celtic Park as the Hoops extended their formidable unbeaten home run to 32 matchesā€”just one shy of the record set by Gordon Strachanā€™s 2007 side. Second-half strikes from Luke McCowan and Yang Hyun-Jun put Celtic firmly in control before Maeda rounded off his treble, latching onto a superb assist from McCowan. The Japanese forward, who had already bagged a brace before half-time to shatter Raithā€™s resistance, now boasts 21 goals for the seasonā€”proving himself an able replacement for the departed Kyogo Furuhashi, with six goals in his last three outings. More news from the Scottish Cup Celticā€™s strength in depth on display I...

Celtic back to their best after thrashing Dundee

Image
Celtic 6 - 0 Dundee Celtic strolled to a dominant 6-0 victory at home to Dundee, restoring their 13-point cushion at the top of the Scottish Premiership. Author - Sean M Stadium - Celtic Park The Hoops barely had to shift out of second gear in the first half but still went into the break two goals upā€”Arne Engels converting from the penalty spot before Adam Idah added a second just before half-time. Jota, rewarded with a start after his goal against Motherwell, looked sharp throughout and once again underlined why bringing him back from Rennes was such an exciting piece of business for Celtic. It was his pinpoint cross that set up Daizen Maeda for his first of the night, before the Portuguese winger showed his class by lifting the ball over Trevor Carson to grab his second just minutes into the second half. Click here for more Celtic news Celtic's emphatic win was sealed in style with two stunning long-range strikesā€”one from Engels and another from substitute Nicolas KĆ¼hnā€”allowi...

Villa secure Champions League last-16 spot

Image
Aston Villa 4 - 2 Celtic Ollie Watkins played a key role in Aston Villaā€™s victory over Celtic, securing their place in the last 16 of the Champions League ā€“ just hours after Arsenalā€™s interest in the England striker became public. Author - Sean M Stadium - Villa Park Check out this iconic banner from the Villa fans . Watkins restored Villaā€™s lead after they had squandered an early 2-0 advantage, while Morgan Rogers, who set the tone early on, went on to complete a hat-trick in the emphatic win over the Scottish champions. Celtic now face a daunting play-off clash against Bayern Munich. It wasnā€™t all smooth sailing for Watkins, who won a second-half penalty but slipped at the crucial moment, sending his effort high and wide. Villa have no plans to part ways with the 29-year-old forward, especially now that Unai Emeryā€™s side have secured qualification for the knockout stages, finishing eighth in the table. See some of the highlights in the video above. Footage from the Celtic YouT...

Jota returns to Glasgow and Celtic

Image
This could be huge in Celtic's bid to progress in the Champions League Author - Sean M Celtic fans loved the player in his first spell with the club. Celtic have successfully re-signed Jota from Rennes, while Kyogo Furuhashi has completed a transfer in the opposite direction. Jota initially left Celtic in July 2023 for a reported fee of Ā£25 million. However, he struggled to secure a regular starting position at Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League and also faced challenges with a Rennes team that is currently on a five-match losing streak. The 25-year-old player has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with the Scottish champions, who hold a 10-point lead at the top of the Premiership. Jota first joined Celtic on loan from Benfica in September 2021. After a successful season, Celtic triggered an option to buy him for a reported fee of Ā£6.5 million the following summer. He played a vital role in helping Celtic secure the treble in the 2022-23 season, scoring 28 goals in 83 appea...

Celtic begin Scottish Cup defence

Image
Celtic 2 - 1 Kilmarnock Daizen Maedaā€™s second-half goal ensured Celtic began their defence of the Scottish Cup with a hard-fought win over Premiership rivals Kilmarnock. Author - Sean M The victory preserved Brendan Rodgers' unbeaten record in this competition across his two spells in charge. However, after an early spell of dominance, his league-leading side were pushed to their limits by a spirited Kilmarnock. Celtic signalled their intent from the first whistle. Within 20 seconds, Nicolas Kuhn raced through but took a heavy touch, colliding with goalkeeper Robbie McCrorie, who had to be replaced by Kieran Oā€™Hara. Despite this setback, Kilmarnock came close to opening the scoring. Fraser Murray won and took a free-kick, his curling effort rattling the crossbar. Moments later, Kuhn surged forward and set up Maeda, but the forward couldnā€™t convert. Click here to discover more Celtic news and stories from European Super Football What else has been happening across Scotland? ...

Nicolas Kuhn stars as Celtic extend lead at the top

Image
Celtic 3 - 0 St Mirren Nicolas Kuhn added two more to his impressive tally goal this season, inspiring Celtic to a comfortable win over St Mirren and extending their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 13 points. Author - Sean M Kuhn struck on either side of half-time to bring his season total to 16 goals, with Auston Trusty heading home in between to secure a dominant victory for Brendan Rodgersā€™ side. After suffering their first league defeat of the season against Rangers on Thursday, Celtic bounced back strongly, capitalising on their rivalsā€™ latest slip-up at Easter Road to tighten their grip on the title race. Celtic break St Mirrenā€™s resilience St Mirren made life difficult in the early stages, pressing well and limiting Celticā€™s chances. However, the deadlock was broken in style. Luke McCowanā€™s superb pass set Daizen Maeda free down the left wing, and the Japanese wingerā€™s pinpoint cross found Kuhn, who delivered a typically clinical finish. That goal deflated t...

Rangers cut Celtic's lead after Glasgow Derby win

Image
Rangers 3 - 0 Celtic Rangers cut Celticā€™s lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 11 points in sensational fashion, as Philippe Clement finally secured his first derby victory at the seventh attempt. Author - Sean M Ianis Hagiā€™s early goal, followed by strikes from Robin Propper and Danilo in the second half, sealed the win as the hosts dominated a fervent Ibrox crowd. The victory ended a long and frustrating run of poor results for Rangers against Brendan Rodgers' Celtic , who had only lost once in 20 derby clashes before this encounter. However, the occasion was slightly marred when Celticā€™s Arne Engels appeared to be struck by a coin thrown from the stands. Fortunately, his manager later confirmed the player was unharmed. More reaction coming up. A bad day for Celtic. https://t.co/Mu4Cn3x6Z9 https://t.co/3FCnK8E1Sv ā€” European Super Football (@ESFootballNews) January 2, 2025 A closer look at what happened Rangers had come into the match under mounting pressure, h...

Celtic ease to win over bottom side in Scotland

Image
Celtic 4 - 0 St Johnstone Nicolas Kuhn opened the scoring in the first half, while Kyogo Furuhashi netted a double in the second half, with Daizen Maeda adding a fourth goal.  Author - Sean M A closer look at what happened at Celtic Park It was a largely one-sided affair, with Simo Valakariā€™s side putting up some resistance early on. Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kyogo, and Arne Engels all came close to breaking the deadlock. The opener came from a familiar source. Nicolas Kuhn, receiving the ball from Reo Hatate, cut inside and slotted it home with ease, leaving the goalkeeper no chance. The German forwardā€™s knack for producing key moments in front of goal has been exceptional this season. Moments later, Kuhn nearly struck again, forcing a superb save from Josh Rae as his curling effort seemed destined for the far top corner. Celtic Football Club news and stories St Johnstone made a few changes at half-time and briefly showed signs of improvement, but they couldnā€™t turn the tide. Pi...

Celtic extend lead at top of the table

Image
Celtic 4 - 0 Motherwell Celtic maintained their composure despite a shaky start to secure a commanding 4-0 victory over Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership. Author - Sean M Following a frustrating draw at Dundee United on Sunday, the league leaders took time to find their rhythm. The breakthrough came just before the half-time whistle when a collision between Aston Oxborough and Hyunjun Yang earned Celtic a penalty. Arne Engels coolly converted, slotting the ball into the bottom-left corner as the Motherwell goalkeeper dived the wrong way. Celtic had the better chances in the first half, with Daizen Maedaā€™s effort blocked by Oxborough. The Motherwell keeper also had a nervy moment when he nearly turned the ball into his own net, but managed to clear it with the help of his defence. Early in the second half, Celtic survived a scare when Tony Watt inadvertently blocked Tawanda Maswanhiseā€™s shot on Kasper Schmeichel ā€™s goalline, deflecting it behind. The hosts doubled their lead so...

Celtic and Rangers play out classic cup final

Image
Celtic 3 - 3 Rangers Celtic won 5-4 on penalties The current Scottish champions were pushed to their absolute limits but ultimately prevailed in a dramatic Scottish League Cup final against Rangers, decided by a tense penalty shootout. Author - Sean M After both sides converted their first three penalties, Rangers defender Ridvan Yilmaz saw his low effort saved by Kasper Schmeichel. Although goalkeeper Jack Butland briefly kept Rangers' hopes alive by scoring their next spot-kick, Daizen Maeda calmly slotted home to secure the trophy for Celtic. The victory came after an epic 3-3 draw following extra time, extending Brendan Rodgers' remarkable record of never losing at Hampden Park. Meanwhile, Rangers manager Philippe Clement is still searching for his first derby win. This triumph also propels Celtic ahead of their old rivals in total silverware won ā€” a milestone not achieved since the 1930s. But those are just the headlines of what was a truly incredible cup final. Whil...