Match Pictures | Matches: 2023 – 2024
Trivia
- KO: 2pm, Saturday; Celtic TV only
- Summer Friendlies
- Match played in Dublin, Ireland.
- The teams were meant to meet in Korea on 26th July in a summer tournament, but all the participating teams pulled out after disagreements over contractual failings by the local organisers.
- Surprise start for Scales, with Starfelt surprisingly wholly absent (reportedly injured). CCV still out injured. No Kobayashi in squad.
- Due to the GAA football final the next day, hotels all booked up and travel prices thru the roof. So limited travelling supporters to come over esp as game was late arranged.
- Debut for Holm, Yang and Kwon. Joe Hart conceded a penalty.
- Transfers :
- In: Odin Holm (£2.5m Vålerenga); Marco Tilio (1.4m from Australia); Iwata (converted to perm from loan); Yang Hyun-jun (£2m from Gangwon); Western City Wanderers centre-half Alex Bonetig is on trial with Celtic; Celtic have signed Legia Warsaw centre-back Maik Nawrocki for £4.3m; Kwon (850k from Busan IPark)
- Out: Barkas (freed), Ronan Ferns (Brighton 250k), Ewan Otoo (free), Tsoanela Letsosa to @LommelSKOff (free), Mooy (retired), Adam Montgomery joins Fleetwood Town on a season-long loan, Jota to Al ittihad (25m), Adam Brooks move to Scottish Championship side @ICTFC; Tsoanelo Letsosa moved to Lommel SK; Urhoghide (to Amiens in France);
- Reports (in): Dominik Livakovic: Celtic remain ‘active’ in pursuit of this Croatian goalkeeper; FC Volendam defender Xavier Mbuyamba, who was reportedly a transfer target for Celtic, is set to join Sampdoria in Italy;
- Reports (out): Spartak Moscow preparing offer for Carl Starfelt; Aberdeen want to sign Liam Scales; Vata to Aberdeen for one year loan;
- Brendan Rodgers states Liel Abada wants to stay at Celtic after a heart-to-heart talk.
- Celtic have told Sevco they 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 take any tickets for the Ibrox fixture on September 3rd unless allocation / safety arrangements are reviewed.
- Shen Mengyu becomes the first Celtic Women’s player ever to feature at the Women’s World Cup! Congratulations. Irish women’s side knocked sadly out early (Scotland didn’t qualify).
- Ex Celt Efe Ambrose joins Queen of the South. F.C. Copenhagen have signed ex Celt Elyounoussi.
- Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation and strategy consultants, has placed Celtic at No.42 on their global list of clubs with a valuation of £90.6million.
- Irish music legend, Sinéad O’Connor, has died at the age of 56. RIP
- Hibernian suffered a calamitous and embarrassing defeat at the hands of Andorran side Inter Club d’Escaldes in the first leg of their Europa Conference League second-round qualifier
Summary
“The Celtic fans will travel from all over Ireland and it will be a lovely occasion.”
ex-Celt Pat Bonner
“It was a great exercise. I mentioned that it was going to be a step up in the level of the opponent and I really enjoyed the game.”
Brendan Rodgers
Etims: FT #Celtic 1 Wolves 1
Good run out in Dublin today. Some of the fitba from Celtic was excellent. Better team overall & should have won with a bit to spare. 3 of reg back 4 unavailable so even more credit to today’s team. Near 30k in Dublin, almost all Celtic fans. Outstanding.
Joebloggscity:
Celtic should have won this by a big mile with only a arguable penalty saving Wolves who were mostly poor. Wonderful early and some unfortunate close calls, but the Celtic defence was poor with Joe Hart in particular getting a lot of flak for his performance. The wolves player dived for his penalty but Hart invited the challenge.
Twitter :
“Good luck trying not to go broke while you’re in Dublin”
Teams
CELTIC: Hart, Iwata, Welsh (McPherson 67), Scales, Taylor, McGregor, O’Riley (Kwon 60), Hatate (Holm 70), Abada (Haksabanovic 70), Maeda (Oh 70), Kyogo (Yang 60).
Subs: Bain, Siegrist, Turnbull, Bernabei, Lawal, Forrest.
Goals:
Assists:
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS: Jose Sa, Lemina (Silva 79), Neto (Hwang 70), Cunha, Dawson (Esen 70), Bueno Lopez (Ait-Nouri 46), Sarabia (T. Gomes 70), Sememdo (Doherty 79), Kilman, Nunes, Hodge.
Subs: Traore, Gomes, Kalajdzic, Castro Otto, Bentley, King, Fraser, Pond, Farmer.
Goals:
Assists:
Ref:
Att:
Articles
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Articles
Celtic fans share their joy in seeing the Hoops in Ireland
First Team
By Ryan Maher
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29 Jul 2023, 7:35 pm
The trip to Dublin to take on Wolves was a vital exercise for the team ahead of the upcoming season, but it was also a really important match for the tens of thousands of local fans in Ireland to see the Celts in their homeland.
So often these fans are travelling by land, air and sea to watch Celtic in Scotland, but on this occasion, they got to witness their team close to home.
Playing out an entertaining 1-1 draw with the Premier League side, the 30,000 fans inside the Aviva Stadium sang their hearts out for the full 90 minutes and before the match, we caught up with a few fans to hear their excitement for the game.
Helena McGinnity, said: “This is my 8-year-old boy Daithi McGinnity from Clones, County Monaghan and the game today is his first ever.
“He’s so chuffed and so too is his daddy Noel as he gets to take him to his first game.
“I’m on my way to Glasgow after the game with my oldest son for James’s testimonial on Tuesday.”
Dublin-born Noel said: “I’m very excited. We live in London but we are from Dublin and we flew back over.
‘It’s great to bring Celtic back to Ireland and to try and get Celtic more involved here.’
“It’s a great atmosphere and Celtic got a great reception.”
Brogan was taking in her first-ever Celtic match and she was ecstatic to see the Hoops in the flesh.
She said: “I’m very excited, this is my first match and I’m so excited to see Celtic in Ireland.
“It’s special, it’s just amazing to have Celtic here.”
Colin said: “It’s brilliant, this is the second time I’ve seen Celtic in Ireland after coming to the Barcelona game.
“It means everything to have Celtic here, it means everything to me.”
Celtic return to Ireland and play out an entertaining draw with Wolves
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2023/july/29/Celtic-return-to-Ireland-and-play-out-an-entertaining-draw-with-Wolves/
By Ryan Maher
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29 Jul 2023, 3:52 pm
Pre-season friendly
Saturday, July 29, 2023
Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland
CELTIC… 1
(Kyogo 6)
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS… 1
(Cunha 85pen)
Celtic returned to Ireland and put on an impressive performance for the local support, drawing 1-1 with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Aviva Stadium.
Kyogo Furuhashi got the opening goal inside the opening six minutes, however, Matheus Cunha equalised with five minutes to play from the penalty spot.
But for the 30,000 Celtic fans in attendance, it was an occasion to remember to see the Celts back in Dublin for the first time in five years and round off the pre-season tour with a solid display.
For the Hoops fans in Ireland, watching Celtic usually means having to catch planes, buses and boats over the Irish Sea, but on this occasion, they got to see their heroes much closer to home.
The Aviva Stadium and those inside were doing their best to create a feeling as if it was Celtic Park as Hoops shirts packed the stands, and the Celtic songs were played over the speakers, giving the match a real sense of a home game for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Of course, Celtic’s connections run deep in Ireland and the team on the park were looking to reward those in attendance and they got off to the perfect start.
After four minutes, Reo Hatate cannoned a shot off the crossbar from an acute angle following some wonderful approach play from Matt O’Riley and Daizen Maeda to set up the opportunity.
Then two minutes later Celtic had the ball in the back of the net with Kyogo getting his first goal of the new season.
It was the Japan international that set up the move, winning the ball deep inside the Wolves half from Mario Lemina and finding Liel Abada in space in the box, who in turn played the ball back into Kyogo’s path and he rifled a first-time finish beyond Jose Sa.
Kyogo was millimetres from making it 2-0 on 11 minutes, with Celtic in firm control of the opening stages.
Callum McGregor picked out the 28-year-old’s trademark run in behind with a quarter-back-style pass from deep, and Kyogo did everything right by lobbing the keeper, but the ball clipped the underside of the bar and bounced the wrong side of the line.
There were more chances for Celtic inside the first 20 minutes, however, Wolves did have a big opportunity to equalise when Matheus Nunes blazed an effort well over the bar from six-yards out.
Matheus Cunha also went close on the 33rd minute with a header from a free-kick drifting wide, with both teams at this stage sharing possession.
Still, the best opportunities were falling Celtic’s way and if Maeda could have kept his feet on the 41st minute, it would have been 2-0 to the Hoops at half-time.
On this occasion, however, the forward just stumbled with the goalkeeper sprawled on the ground and his shot lacked any real power and Craig Dawson cleared off the line.
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Celtic came out into the second-half with the same intensity as they did in the first, with half chances falling to Kyogo and O’Riley.
Wolves almost hit the Hoops with a sucker punch though just 11 minutes into the half, when Cunha tried to send the ball across the goal from a tight angle and saw the attempt cannon off the post.
Kyogo showed how deadly he can be in the first-half, but unfortunately, he got his bearings wrong on the 59th minute when he was slipped through on goal by O’Riley and he sent his shot wide.
The fans in Dublin were treated as Hyeokkyu Kwon and Hyunjun Yang came off the bench with 30 minutes to play for their debuts in a Celtic jersey.
The Premier League side was starting to create some opportunities and with 20 minutes to play Cunha flashed a header wide after being picked out in space inside the penalty area.
Then, with five minutes to play Wolves did equalise from the penalty spot through Cunha, who sent Joe Hart the wrong way to level the score.
Overall it was a worthwhile test for the Hoops and next up, Celtic take on Athletic Club at Celtic Park on Tuesday for James Forrest’s testimonial in the final warm-up match before the league opener next Saturday.
Celtic boss reveals what was ‘unbelievable’ and what needs to be ‘better’ after Wolves friendly draw
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-boss-reveals-what-was-unbelievable-and-what-needs-to-be-better-after-wolves-friendly-draw-4236770
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers hailed the backing given to his team from the stands of the Aviva Stadium following their bright display that ended in a 1-1 draw with Wolves.
Andrew Smith
By Andrew Smith
Published 29th Jul 2023, 16:54 BST
Updated 29th Jul 2023, 17:01 BST
Comment
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers applauds the players after the pre-season friendly match against Wolves.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers applauds the players after the pre-season friendly match against Wolves.
Over 28,000 were attracted to the Dublin arena for the hastily-arranged friendly – the vast majority sporting Celtic colours – and were treated to an engaging contest. Following an electric opening spell when the Scottish champions carved out a host of chances and claimed a lead from a class conversion by Kyogo Furuhashi, it looked like they would hold out for the win, only to be denied by a debatable 85th-minute penalty converted by Matheus Cunha. It was awarded after Matt Doherty went to ground easily following the slightest contact with Joe Hart.
The equaliser could not spoil Rodgers satisfaction with an afternoon made by a turn-out he delighted in. “It was unbelievable,” said the 50-year-old. “There are very few clubs – in such a short period of time – could get that number of supporters in, so a big thank you to all the people that turned up. I know people have come from all over Ireland. It is great they came, they made a great atmosphere and we are really appreciative of that.”
Rodgers appreciated the endeavours of his squad on a day when he gave new signings Yang Hyun-jun and Kwon Hyeok-kyu 30 minute run-outs. They appeared as Rodgers ran a host of changes and Celtic’s drop-off in the closing stages led to him pinpointing what he will seek to develop in James Forrest’s testimonial against Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday ahead of the Premiership opener at home to Ross County next Saturday.
“We had some spells of fantastic football against a good side, good players, where you have to defend at times,” said Rodgers. “It was the perfect type of game we needed. Of course, the game gets a bit broken when you are making changes, and you lose that fluency and the rhythm in the game. In the second half and the last 25 minutes we gave the ball away too much, so we have to be better in that aspect.
“This week will be building again on the fitness and aspects of the positioning. The team obviously plays well, but there are certain phases of the game we can improve. I thought the build up in the early stages we were very good, but it is dealing with that under a bit more pressure and working on more positioning elements. On Tuesday we will play two 45-minute teams because players need to get some minutes into their legs.”
Related topics:Brendan RodgersWolves
Celtic reaction: Surprise stand-out as Brendan Rodgers’ side deliver attacking verve and menace in Dublin
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-reaction-surprise-stand-out-as-brendan-rodgers-side-deliver-attacking-verve-and-menace-in-dublin-4236791
It might seem obvious to concentrate on Celtic’s attacking verve when analysing what would have provided Brendan Rodgers encouragement from his team’s display in Dublin.
Andrew Smith
By Andrew Smith
Published 29th Jul 2023, 17:42 BST
Updated 29th Jul 2023, 18:38 BST
Comment
Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Jose Sa saves at the feet of Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi.
Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Jose Sa saves at the feet of Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi.
The Irishman did so himself in reflecting on the 1-1 draw with Wolves at the Aviva Stadium, and little wonder. The cohesion and incisiveness of Celtic’s front three of Kyogo Furuhashi flanked to his right and left by Liel Abada and Daizen Maeda had their English Premier League opposition bent out of shape in the first half hour. A typically crisp first-time finish from Furuhashi only six minutes in – the product of Maeda winning position high up and finding Abada to tee-up his team-mate – scant reward for the frisson in the final third Celtic produced throughout the opening exchanges, a passage in which Reo Hatate and Furuhashi both had deft attempts that struck the crossbar.
Yet, on a day in which new signings Yang Hyun-jun and Kwon Hyeok-kyu were given 30 minute second-half run-outs – among a plethora of changes that dulled Celtic’s edge – it was the performance of one of his makeshift back four that would have surely drawn satisfaction. There have been concerns over how Celtic would compensate for the injury absences of Alistair Johnston and Anthony Ralston as they head into the domestic season next Saturday in embarking on the defence of their Premiership crown at home to Ross County. These ought to have been largely assuage by the stand-out display from Tomoki Iwata in the right-back role. The 26-year-old arrived in the January transfer window as another Japanese performer expected to provide another midfield option. He had considerable experience of playing at centre-back, but his slight frame didn’t suggest that was a role he vie for regularly – though he was pressed into action there in the closing weeks of last season after Cameron Carter-Vickers required surgery for a knee problem.
In shackling Wolves key frontman Matheus Cunha in the Aviva courtesy of a display full of aggression and smart game management, Iwata’s contribution was as effective as any other in Celtic colours. Neither Kwon – despite demonstrating his dig in getting into all sorts of scrapes – and a roughed-up Yang having enough time on the pitch to find their grooves. Iwata ended the encounter back in central defence, where the little regarded Stephen Welsh and Liam Scales had largely stood up to the challenges offered by the Midlands club. They did so as Carl Starfelt, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Yuki Kobayashi did not feature in the matchday squad. Perhaps with a view to appearing in one of the two 45-minute teams that Rodgers intends to field when Celtic host Athletic Bilbao for James Forrest’s testimonial on Tuesday.
The contributions of Iwata, Welsh and Scales would have warranted a clean sheet and a win for Celtic. It was naughtily – shall we say – denied them when Matt Doherty paced towards the byline five minutes from normal time and, with no angle for a scoring chance, fell to a heap as Joe Hart at best brushed him with his fingertips. The referee fell for the, eh, fall, and Cunha’s conversion prevented Celtic engineering the outcome they appeared to be fizzing towards as the exhibited mighty menace across their initial attacking sorties.