Match Pictures | Matches: 2022 – 2023
Trivia
- KO: 12:30 Saturday
- Home debut for Siegrist & Bernanbei.
- Pre season friendly, first match at Celtic Park in this pre season.
- Previous Blackburn manager who just left/got culled at end of last season was ex Celtic player and manager Tony Mowbray.
- @CeltsFoodbanks started up in July 2022; first collection 16th July 2022 at Celtic Park at this game, all the best to them.
- Rugby: Remarkable Ireland beat All Blacks again to seal historic tour success in New Zealand! Bigcongratulations to Ireland, the players, coaching staff, the families, and the fans! What a magnificent performance! The first northern hemisphere team to win a series in New Zealand against the All Blacks.
- Rugby: Scotland lost to Argentina after letting 15-point lead slip in Santiago del Estero, so Scotland series loss to Argentina for the first time in 28 years. England won & Wales lost.
- SPOTVNOW, Japan’s new Premier League streamer, announced that it’s picked up the rights to the Scottish Premiership and will air one match/round with an “emphasis” on Celtic.
- “My first thought about Scottish football is that the Scottish Premiership is an incredibly, incredibly underrated league.”Italian scout Francesco Strozzi tells @nicholaspwright why Serie A clubs have been targeting Scottish talent. https://t.co/NjNCiCgtmo
- Reports:
- Ange Postecoglou downplays that Celtic are in the running for either Edouard Michut or Aaron Mooy.
- Ange coy on Banik Ostrava striker Ladislav Almàsi link
- Celtic are considering move for Aaron Mooy
- Transfers:
- Aaron Hickey: Ex-Celtic youth bought from Italy to England for 8 figure sum! Well done
Summary
@joebloggscity of TheCelticWiki: Despite the draw, Celtic fully controlled the first half and really should have scored. Asleep at the kick-off allowed Blackburn to have a goal in 30 seconds! Second with so many changes and a new goalkeeper, things weren’t as good but not concerning. However the defence needs a lot of work and time to improve. Can’t dismiss 7 goals conceded in last three games now.
Pendy12 of KDS:
Back from the game and thoughts on some of the squad.
Abada looked mega sharp, his pace over the first ten yards looked far quicker than last year and clearly we are going to be throwing early balls in the box.
Bernabei will be a good player. Comfy on the ball and quick. Once he settles in and gets used to the physical side of the game, I think we have a gem.
Jota was an absolute joy to watch and his work off the ball is really impressive. Entertainment wise, he’s probably the most exciting since DiCanio. (I’m maybe being nostalgic, but watching him in the bumble bee was unreal)
Lawal and Jullien aren’t good enough in the ball to play in an Ange team. Far too slow in possession and nervous when pressed. Similarly, I can’t see Forrest and Johnston providing a huge amount this year. The latter could do with a loan move as he looks completely rocked of any confidence.
The need for a DM is of huge priority. Guchi came on and I just don’t see him making it with us. Not great technically and seems to drift towards the ball rather than being disciplined. When he came on, it allowed Mcgregor to move forward and it’s clear there would be a great chemistry between him and ORiley. Both clever footballers and compliment each other. Also ORiley is going to be a superstar. An absolute Rolls Royce of a player.
@bhoysanalytics: Issues in the squad are very apparent. Absolutely fine to go again domestically. But the needle hasn’t moved at all from a European perspective The left sided cb needs addressed. More gk focussed possession, and none are very suitable for that Need 4 signings I’d say 2 loans?
HP: Good run out again , but I still get the fear when out of possession, teams are in creating chances far too easily.
Luboesque moment from Jota in one moment.
Really enjoyed that today. The pace and movement was tremendous. Closing down quickly, too. That Jota lad might have a future in the game!
@mclaughlin_1888
If this is an example of top half championship football then a team like Aberdeen could easily cope in that league.@celticunderground
@agentscotland: Really poor from Seigerst there, that’s his corner, no point covering it if your going to gamble and move
Teams
Celtic:
(4-3-3):
Hart (Siegrist 45), Juranovic (Ralston 45 (Urhoghide 87)), Carter-Vickers (Jullien 73), Welsh (Lawal 73), Taylor (Bernabei 45), McGregor (McCarthy 73), O’Riley (Vata 73), Turnbull (Ideguchi 59), Abada (Forrest 45), Jota (Johnston 59), Kyogo (Maeda 45).
Subs: Bain, Oluwayemi, Kenny.
Goals:(Jota 16, Turnbull 27)
Assists:
BLACKBURN ROVERS: Kaminski, Carter, Ayala (A. Wharton 76), S. Wharton, Pickering, Travis, Buckley (Markanday 76), Gallagher (Hedges 66), Dolan (Garrett 83), Brereton Diaz (Rankin-Costello 76), Vale.
Subs: Pears, Hilton, Magloire, Barnes, Phillips, Edun, Harlock, Leonard, Butterworth.
Goals:
(Gallagher 1, Brereton Diaz 76)
Assists:
Ref:
Att:
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Articles
Celtic held by Blackburn Rovers in first pre-season game at Celtic Park
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2022/july/16/celtic-held-by-blackburn-rovers-in-first-pre-season-game-at-celtic-park/
By Ryan Maher
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Pre-season friendly
Celtic Park, Glasgow.
July 16, 2022
CELTIC… 2
(Jota 16, Turnbull 27)
BLACKBURN ROVERS… 2
(Gallagher 1, Brereton Diaz 76)
Celtic returned to Glasgow for their first pre-season match on home soil, playing out an entertaining 2-2 draw against English Championship side Blackburn Rovers.
Fans had to wait more than two months to see their side back in action at Celtic Park, with the last game at Paradise coming on trophy day against Motherwell on May 14.
After a positive pre-season camp, where the Bhoys fired in 14 goals across three games in Austria and the Czech Republic, there was a sense of excitement about watching Ange Postecoglou’s team back at home once again.
However, after just 20 seconds, the Celts got off to the worst possible start as the visitors took the lead.
Straight from kick-off, Callum McGregor lost possession in the middle of the park and Blackburn Rovers pounced. Jake Vale raced forward and played a reverse through ball into the path of Sam Gallagher and the former Southampton striker made no mistake, curling past Joe Hart into the bottom right corner.
Any goal that early comes as a shock, but as the Hoops had shown in their previous two pre-season matches, there’s no panic when they do concede.
Almost immediately, the Celts took control of proceedings, dominating possession and creating opportunities, the first significant one falling to David Turnbull on 12 minutes who curled wide from inside the area after nice link-up play with Jota.
The Portuguese winger was making his first outing at Celtic Park as a permanent signing after penning a five-year contract from Benfica and on 16 minutes he levelled the scoring.
A corner from the right found the head of Kyogo but his effort was deflected to the edge of the box where Jota was lurking and he smashed the bouncing ball into the bottom right corner.
The chances kept coming and Kyogo almost put the Hoops into the lead on 21 minutes with a half-volley inside the area, but on 27 minutes the Bhoys edged in front.
Matt O’Riley was brought down on the edge of the area, setting up a shooting opportunity for David Turnbull from the free kick. The Scotland international made Blackburn pay, smashing his attempt under the wall and straight into the middle of the net with Thomas Kaminski diving to one side.
The chances kept coming, with Kyogo again going close just before the half-time break, but at the interval, it was the Celts who entered with the advantage.
When the teams emerged for the second period, Ange Postecoglou used the opportunity to make a number of chances, with Daizen Maeda, James Forrest, Anthony Ralston, Alexandro Bernabei and Benjamin Siegrist on for Joe Hart, Josip Juranovic, Greg Taylor, Liel Abada and Kyogo.
Siegrist and Bernabei were both making their first appearance as Celtic players in Paradise and the Swiss keeper was tested just four minutes into his home debut as he had to get down well to stop a curling drive from Ben Brereton Diaz from nestling into the bottom right corner.
Not wanting to let the visitors back into the game, the Celts immediately went on the hunt for another goal, with Jota and Bernabei denied by good saves from Kaminski on 51 and 52 minutes.
Siegrist was called into action again on 56 minutes, this time stopping a low strike from Gallagher, before keeping out the striker again a minute later with a brilliant stop with his legs.
Celtic began to settle again into their passing rhythm and took control of the game, with McGregor almost making it 3-1 on 69 minutes, but his shot from the edge of the box was pushed away from the bottom right corner by the Rovers’ keeper.
Then on 75 minutes, against the run of play, Blackburn would hit back as Brereton Diaz scored from a free kick, nestling his effort into the bottom right corner and past Siegrist from just over 20 yards.
That brought an end to an entertaining 90 minutes at Celtic Park and another good warm-up with the league campaign kicking off in two weeks.
Celtic’s intoxicating quality on show against Blackburn Rovers – and the Champions League identity fascination
There cannot be many more intoxicating teams in world football than Celtic. Ange Postecoglou’s men have a seldom seen quality in the game, the ability to make the mundanity and routine of pre-season friendlies a thrilling joy-ride.
By Joel Sked
Saturday, 16th July 2022, 2:22 pm
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtics-intoxicating-quality-on-show-against-blackburn-rovers-and-the-champions-league-identity-fascination-3770990
Enthusiasm for friendly matches can understandably be low, the tempo slower than the proper thing and lacking a semblance of edge. None of that has been the case during the Scottish champions’ preparations so far.
Twenty three goals and no shortage of feisty challenges and yellow cards across four outings.
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Coming away from Celtic Park, supporters should be rubbing their hands at the prospect of what is in store for when the competitive action gets underway. And so should the neutral.
Celtic, with 12 months of Ange Postecoglou’s influence drilled, seeped and cajoled into them, should, in theory, be an even greater, more refined force.
Going by the giving up of seven goals, there are still aspects which are a work in progress. The last two games have seen early concessions. Against Blackburn it was within the first 20 seconds when Callum McGregor of all people took a loose touch and the visitors pounced through former Scotland youth international Sam Gallagher.
But it is part of Celtic’s charm, the fact they have this vulnerability. Where, for the club’s fans with a nervous disposition, it can be walking a tightrope across a barely frozen lake below. Brave opposition can be presented with opportunities from turnovers, as Blackburn were, for both goals.
Slick, quick and tricky
Celtic players prior to the friendly with Blackburn Rovers. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)
Celtic players prior to the friendly with Blackburn Rovers. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)
It’s getting the ball which, for teams in Scotland at least, will be the difficult aspect.
Celtic have players, in their starting XI and beyond, who are so slick, quick and tricky. Individuals who can, will and often succeed in bettering their opponent in 1v1 duels.
Postecoglou continues to push his players high up the park. They have the capacity to, like a boa constrictor, wrap themselves around the opposition, not giving them a breath, squeezing, squeezing, squeezing. Suffocating. With and without the ball. When they click it can be like being hypnotised by a table tennis match as the ball pops around at pace. Both goals, from the effervescent Jota and David Turnbull, arrived during such a period.
At one point in the first half, the ball was wide on the right. Matt O’Riley played it infield, Liel Abada stepped over it and who was running onto it on the right-hand edge of the box? Bah Gawd, that’s Greg Taylor’s music. All the way from left-back.
Then there was Kyogo Furhashi. He ran 30 yards one way to press a centre-back then again, another sprint to press. The Rovers defender made a ‘what the hell am I meant to do’ gesture. Life was uncomfortable.
There will be teams in the Premiership who will have to prepare themselves for a hiding. The fascinating aspect is the Champions League. For the first time since 2018, Celtic are back in the group stages. As a pot 4 side, Postecoglou’s Celtic identity will be tested by Europe’s very best.
The talent they possess going forward they have the capacity to hurt teams, even the continent’s elite, but that vulnerability will see that tightrope get thinner and much higher.
For Celtic fans it will be heart-attack inducing. For neutrals it is going to be fascinating.
Celtic (4-3-3): Hart; Juranovic, Carter-Vickers, Welsh, Taylor; McGregor, Turnbull, O’Riley; Jota, Kyogo, Abada.
How Celtic new boys Benjamin Siegrist and Alexandro Bernabei performed on home debuts
Celtic handed non-competitive home debuts to summer signings Benjamin Siegrist and Alexandro Bernabei for the second half of the 2-2 friendly draw with Blackburn Rovers.
By Joel Sked
Saturday, 16th July 2022, 7:13 pm
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/how-celtic-new-boys-benjamin-siegrist-and-alexandro-bernabei-performed-on-home-debuts-3771123
Benjamin Siegrist
The Swiss star demonstrated that he has the quality to push Joe Hart for the No.1 spot at Celtic Park. A commanding presence between the sticks, he produced three impressive stops with the home side winning 2-1.
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The first was a strong stop down to his right, pushing the ball away from danger. It was evidence of his ability to get down quickly despite his tall frame. The second was on his opposite side, again stopping a shot from Sam Gallagher which was low but close to him. This time he pushed the ball in front of him but took the sting out of the shot to allow Bernabei to clear easily. His third and final may have been the most impressive. A through ball, he had to come and narrow the angle, which he did and prevented a goal with a save using his left leg.
Alexandro Bernabei
The left-back became the first ever Argentine to play for the club at Celtic Park. He replaced Greg Taylor at half-time and didn’t look out of place. In fact, he looked right at home. He spoke to Stephen Welsh early on, asking for him to move the ball to his side to allow him to motor up the flank. And, largely, that’s what he did.
Bernabei constantly looked to rampage forward but there was thinking behind it. He would dovetail nicely with Jota, moving infield when required or overlapping. There was a moment he tried to overdo it having got the better of one man. Rather than knock the ball back to Jota who had space he tried to beat a second opponent before winning the corner. The second time in a similar position he floated in a cross which you could imagine Giorgis Giakoumakis gobbling up.
The 21-year-old even went close to scoring, taking in a David Turnbull through ball on the edge of the box, his stinging effort pushed away by Thomas Kaminski in the Rovers goal.
Benjamin Siegrist had an impressive showing. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Benjamin Siegrist had an impressive showing. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
There were enough positive signs prior to Jota’s substitution midway through the second half to suggest a strong relationship forming.