European Super Football

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...

Barcelona are exploring Lionel Messi's sensational return to the club Lionel Messi’s contract with Inter Miami is set to expire at the end of 2025, with no option for an extension. This means the current MLS season could well be his last. Author - Sean M Reports suggest that Barcelona are determined to bring Messi back and rectify the circumstances of his emotional departure in 2021. The club has already begun laying the groundwork for his return, with plans to welcome him back after the 2026 World Cup, ahead of the 2026/27 La Liga season. One of the driving factors behind Barcelona’s push is their ambition to have Messi back in time for the grand reopening of the fully renovated Camp Nou. READ MORE: Transfer rumours from across Europe With major redevelopment work ongoing, Barca have been playing home games at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. They are expected to return to Camp Nou later this season, but likely with a reduced capacity of just over 60,000 while final touches ...

Celtic 2 - 3 Rangers Rangers revelled in their second round of jubilant celebrations in just four days as Hamza Igamane’s stunning late goal inflicted Celtic’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 Ferguson’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 Thursday’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 hosts’ favour, it was Rangers who delivered the decisive moment. Igamane capitalised on Alistair Johnston’...

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 visitors’ misery. The Japan international’s ruthless finish – his 13th goal in as many games – 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 – first tipping away Callum McGregor’s low drive and then reacting sharply to deny Reo Hatate from close...

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 – who set him up with a fine assist – 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...

Aston Villa v Cardiff City preview  FA Cup 5th round weekend kicks off with Cardiff  City travelling to Aston Villa. Author - Sean M It's 17 years since Cardiff reached the FA Cup final and they still have an opportunity to go one better in 2025. The home side in this encounter, Aston Villa, last reached the final ten years ago. They certainly have the quality to go all the way. Can Villa maintain a charge on multiple fronts? Aston Villa are heading into a crucial stage of the season, juggling multiple competitions. They're still in the Champions League and pushing for a top-four finish in the Premier League to secure a return to Europe’s elite next season. The big question is whether they’ll also go all-in on the FA Cup. Unai Emery will want to compete on all fronts, but we've already seen how the packed schedule has stretched his squad. That said, this is exactly where Villa fans want their club to be—fighting on multiple fronts as the season reaches its climax. Even ...

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 Schmeichel’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 home—echoing his instinctive finish at Hibernian on Satu...

Hibernian 2 - 1 Celtic Hibernian continued their impressive form as Josh Campbell’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 Hibs’ well-drilled defence coped comfortably with the waves of crosses into their box. Campbell made the most of Celtic’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 Hibs’ lead with a well-placed header from Martin Boyle’s looping cross. David Gray’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...

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 Kompany’s side were forced to defend for long spells in Saturday’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 Rodgers’ 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 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 matches—just one shy of the record set by Gordon Strachan’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 Raith’s resistance, now boasts 21 goals for the season—proving himself an able replacement for the departed Kyogo Furuhashi, with six goals in his last three outings. More news from the Scottish Cup Celtic’s strength in depth on display I...

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 up—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 strikes—one from Engels and another from substitute Nicolas Kühn—allowi...

Aston Villa 4 - 2 Celtic Ollie Watkins played a key role in Aston Villa’s victory over Celtic, securing their place in the last 16 of the Champions League – just hours after Arsenal’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 Villa’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 wasn’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 Emery’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...

Napoli 2 - 0 Hellas Verona Napoli extended their lead at the top of Serie A to four points with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Hellas Verona. Author - Sean M The 2023 champions got off to a flying start in the fifth minute when Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s effort struck the post, ricocheted off Verona goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipò, and ended up in the back of the net. Their dominance was sealed in the 61st minute when ex-Fulham midfielder André-Frank Zambo Anguissa unleashed an unstoppable strike to secure Napoli’s fifth consecutive league win. Napoli are four points clear of Inter Milan who have two games in hand.  A closer look at what happened Napoli strengthened their grip at the top of the Serie A table with a 2-0 win over Verona, courtesy of a fortunate deflection off Giovanni Di Lorenzo and a spectacular long-range strike from André-Frank Zambo Anguissa. However, the victory was not without its frustrations, as Napoli missed several clear-cut chances. The match came amid a turbule...

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 Rodgers’ side. After suffering their first league defeat of the season against Rangers on Thursday, Celtic bounced back strongly, capitalising on their rivals’ latest slip-up at Easter Road to tighten their grip on the title race. Celtic break St Mirren’s resilience St Mirren made life difficult in the early stages, pressing well and limiting Celtic’s chances. However, the deadlock was broken in style. Luke McCowan’s superb pass set Daizen Maeda free down the left wing, and the Japanese winger’s pinpoint cross found Kuhn, who delivered a typically clinical finish. That goal deflated t...

Rangers 3 - 0 Celtic Rangers cut Celtic’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 Hagi’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 Celtic’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 — European Super Football (@ESFootballNews) January 2, 2025 A closer look at what happened Rangers had come into the match under mounting pressure, h...

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 Valakari’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 forward’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 couldn’t turn the tide. Pi...

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 Maeda’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 Maswanhise’s shot on Kasper Schmeichel ’s goalline, deflecting it behind. The hosts doubled their lead so...

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 — a milestone not achieved since the 1930s. But those are just the headlines of what was a truly incredible cup final. Whil...

Celtic 3 - 0 Hibernian Brendan Rodgers commended Celtic's attacking display as they capitalised on a wasteful Hibernian to extend their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to nine points.  Author - Sean M Celtic secured their seventh consecutive league win with Arne Engels' first-half tap-in, an own goal from Joe Newell, and a sublime finish from Kyogo after the interval. Hibs, though, had their chances, particularly in the first half, where they exposed Celtic's high defensive line. Mykola Kuharevich was twice denied in one-on-one situations by goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, while Joe Newell squandered a golden opportunity, firing over the bar unmarked inside the box. At the other end, Celtic proved clinical. Engels converted Alistair Johnston's cross, and Adam Idah's flick-on was inadvertently turned into his own net by Newell. Celtic Football Club news and stories Can anyone stop Celtic in Scotland? Hibs' inability to take their chances persisted i...

 It’s a question every top-flight manager, and some beyond, must be wrestling with.  And if the answer seems elusive, a bigger question arises that is, how do you stop them? Author - Sean M As they pursue a fourth consecutive league title, Brendan Rodgers' side have already thumped three past Rangers, triumphed at second-placed Aberdeen, and hammered the same opponents 6-0 in the League Cup semi-final. Their domestic dominance isn’t just impressive – it’s overwhelming. Out of a possible 42 Premiership points, Celtic have amassed 40. They boast a seven-point lead at the top of the table, which could stretch to ten with a win in their game in hand. They remain unbeaten away from home in the league, and across all competitions, they’ve netted a staggering 65 goals in 22 games.  Celtic fans have been loving this season so far. The video below shows fans response to that extraordinary win over Aberdeen in the League Cup. Rodgers has done this before. In his first sea...