Celtic hosted AC Milan at Celtic Park on Saturday, 25 July 2026, in a high-profile club friendly scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off. A Sportfortuna match listing records the fixture at 16:00 and gives the final score as 2-2. Classified as a club friendly, the match brought the Glasgow side and the Italian club together for a pre-season test ahead of the competitive campaign.
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill chose a 4-3-3 formation. V. Sinisalo started in goal, behind a defensive line of D. Murray, K. Tierney, C. Carter-Vickers and C. Donovan. A. Engels, S. Tounekti and captain C. McGregor formed the midfield, while L. McCowan, C. Durán and J. Forrest led the attack. The bench featured experienced players alongside emerging talent: R. Doohan, M. Gill, Paulo Bernardo, R. Hatate, T. Hatton, S. McArdle, A. Montgomery, M. Balikwisha, C. Osmand, A. Oxlade-Chamberlain, A. Ralston, L. Scales and F. Turley.
Celtic's line-up was fully disclosed, but AC Milan released no details about their starting eleven or substitutes. Football Italia’s match coverage did identify Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze in action against Celtic at Celtic Park. That confirmed a Milan player’s involvement, but offered no full squad list or tactical breakdown. For Celtic, the friendly offered a chance to show the squad’s depth and test combinations, particularly in midfield and attack.
Football Italia also reported medical updates involving Gonçalo Ramos and Chukwueze after the fixture. A further evaluation was expected in 10-15 days to assess their condition and determine whether additional treatment would be needed. Chukwueze was expected to miss at least another couple of weeks, pending that assessment. The report did not establish that either injury was sustained during the Celtic match.
Club friendlies give managers a chance to assess fitness and experiment with tactics, while new signings or academy graduates can settle in before competitive matches begin. For Celtic, facing a European heavyweight such as AC Milan offered valuable experience and a benchmark for the team's progress under Martin O'Neill. Sportfortuna's 2-2 scoreline gave the fixture a recorded result as the two prominent clubs met at Celtic Park. The ground regularly draws impressive attention from supporters and media.
