Celtic

We asked for your views after Celtic smashed Hearts 7-1 in a statement Scottish Premiership victory.

Here's what some of you said:

Edward: This line-up should be the template for Martin going forward. With Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston at the back, replacing Dane Murray and Colby Donovan, this could be his best XI. There's depth of talent up front, and Ross Grant's set-piece coaching is starting to pay off. The Europa League tie this week will indicate how good we can be.

Patrick: About time this squad got a decent result. It's been far too long. Martin O'Neill is right: four points is nothing at this stage, but we must build momentum now and bank some more good performances.

Michael: Performance of the season so far. Relentless - we never stopped, with shades of Ange's teams. Finally, everything clicked. Callum Osmand brings something we don't have in the team: a relentless drive to create and go forward. Camilo Duran is in his best position, and if Haissem Hassan rediscovers his crossing ability, he will reach another level. Nothing won yet, and it was a poor Hearts showing, but we're going in the right direction. Well done, lads!

Dan: Ruthless. A much-needed statement win. After weeks of pretty grim performances, Celtic finally look like they've figured out this 'football' thing. One big win in isolation is great; however, we need to build on this from here. We have to take Celta Vigo seriously. Hopefully, we can carry on this form into next week's game against Hibs and go into it absolutely flying!

John: Reminiscent of Angeball. Attacking at pace instead of a painfully slow build-up, playing out from the back and allowing the opposition to press and defend. Hopefully, we can build some momentum both domestically and in Europe.

Alasdair: And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the difference between the champions and the pretenders to the throne. Celtic have just sent out an ominous message.

Celtic are on high alert for the January transfer window with summer target Balazs Toth, the 29-year-old Hungary goalkeeper, resisting a new deal at Blackburn Rovers. (The Herald)

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is confident Callum Osmand can shake off his hamstring injury in time for Thursday's crucial Europa League tie with Celta Vigo - but Yang Hyun-jun and Cameron Carter-Vickers will miss out again. (Scottish Sun)

Michel-Ange Balikwisha insists he has no regrets about moving to Celtic and has claimed he turned down clubs in France and Spain to return to Belgium on loan this summer. (The Herald)

Former Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere says Scott Brown was the opponent he disliked playing against the most, claiming the ex-Celtic and Scotland player was "horrible" to face. (Scottish Sun)

Celtic striker Kasper Hogh is just the latest former Bodo/Glimt player to thrive in Norway's far north then struggle when they leave. (Scottish Sun)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.

Celtic ominously moved four points clear in the Scottish Premiership after an astonishing goal spree humiliated last season's runners-up - and this term's putative title rivals - Hearts in Glasgow.

Read the full match report here

Have your say on the game via this link

Image source, SNS

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill: "I thought we played really well, really well in the game. Once we got a goal, players got a lot of confidence from that and we carried it on throughout the 90 minutes, so it was a really good performance from us.

"It was nice to win, it was nice to win in the manner in which we did as well - scored some really great goals. We looked really good going forward. Defensively, I thought the back four did exceptionally well.

"[Callum Osmand] was really, really good, played very strongly. That's not really his position at the end of it all, although he adapted brilliantly. He's a goalscorer.

"Hearts will be still strong. They've got some really good players. They'll still be a big challenge for us and Rangers, obviously. Four points at this stage of the season is absolutely nothing."

Image source, Getty Images

Celta Vigo prepared for Thursday's Europa League visit to Celtic Park with a 2-1 home win against Alaves in La Liga.

Ferran Jutgla struck to give the hosts the lead in the 53rd minute and Javi Rodriguez's shot made it two with 19 minutes to go. Hugo Novoa pulled one back for Alaves late on.

The victory is only Celta Vigo's second in all competitions so far this season and moves them up to eighth in La Liga, below Alaves on goals scored.

Like Celtic, Celta Vigo have lost their opening two league phase fixtures in the Europa League. Cypriot side Omonia won 1-0 against the Spanish side on matchday one before Juventus were 2-1 victors in Vigo on Thursday.

Celtic meet Celta Vigo in Glasgow on Thursday at 20:00 BST.

Rangers (£132m) have the 23rd most valuable squad in British football behind the 20 Premier League clubs and Championship duo West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Celtic (£104m) at 28th, while Heart of Midlothian (£21m) are 49th and Hibernian (£15m) two places below. (Transfermarkt, external)

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, SNS

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has backed striker Kasper Hogh to score 20 goals for the Glasgow club this season.

The 25-year-old became Celtic's record signing when he joined from Bodo/Glimt in the summer but has only scored in one game - albeit a hattrick - at the start of the season.

Fans are beginning to ask questions of the striker, who missed a decent chance when Celtic were 2-0 down in their Europa League tie in Benfica on Thursday night.

He was substituted at half-time with fellow summer signing Camilo Duran moved back to his favoured position through the middle.

But O'Neill, whose Celtic side host Hearts on Sunday, expects the forward to come good.

"At the end of the season, I expect Kasper Hogh to score 20 goals.

"He has lost a bit of confidence, we will get that back during the course of time.

"We have game after game after game between now and January but he will score goals for us, there is no question about it and it is just a matter of tinkering around but that's the nature of the business."

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Celtic winger Jota admits he felt "empty" during his 18 month injury lay-off and can't wait to "give a smile" to the club's supporters again.

Jota, who re-joined Celtic in January of this year, was a second half substitute in last weekend's 2-0 win at Motherwell having not featured for the club since April 2025.

The 27-year-old suffered a serious ACL injury at Tannadice in April last year but doesn't remember much of that day.

"It's blurred," the winger told CelticTV about the day of the injury.

"I don't know whether it's a mental or psychological response to erase that day.

"The hardest part is that there is a part of yourself that goes away and you never know when it's going to come back.

"We grew up with this feeling that football is just granted for us, once it goes away you feel empty. It's still a long process once you start training but every day you get one per cent better and that's enough for you to go home and sleep well."

He returned to the pitch for the first time in 533 days at Fir Park last weekend, much to the excitement of Celtic supporters in the ground.

"After the game seeing some videos and stuff of the fans chanting, it was really nice to see," he added.

"I just want to be the best version of myself, to maximise my potential, go on the pitch and inspire - to give a smile to Celtic fans.

"There's a responsibility of winning titles but I think there's such a stronger feeling to inspire and deliver on the pitch week in week out."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Celtic defender Carl Starfelt and World Cup winner Borja Iglesias will miss Thursday's trip to Parkhead to face Celtic in the Europa League.

Former defender Starfelt had an issue while away on international duty with Sweden and an MRI revealed a muscular tear, external in the centre-back's right leg.

The Spanish club confirmed in a statement, external that forward Iglesias suffered a myotendinous tear in the soleus muscle of his left leg during a training session earlier this week.

Both Starfelt and Iglesias are facing six weeks on the sidelines.

Celtic have suffered back-to-back defeats in their Europa League campaign and sit 32nd in the 35 team table as they prepare for the visit of Celta Vigo midweek.

Image source, SNS

Portuguese winger Jota returns to the Celtic squad after dropping out of the Europa League squad in midweek as he was not registered. Summer signing Landon Emenalo is fit after his rehabilitation at parent club Chelsea and could be added to the squad. Cameron Carter-Vickers (hamstring) is a doubt and Yang Hyun-jun and Alistair Johnston (hamstring) are set to remain sidelined.

Hearts will have Tomas Magnusson available after suspension, but Ageu (muscle), Craig Halkett (Achilles), Blair Spittal (shin) and Tom Renaud (ankle) are out.

Image source, SNS

Hearts on Sunday meet Celtic in Glasgow for the first time since their dramatic title decider on the final day of last season.

While some may think Hearts are on a revenge mission, Tynecastle midfielder Oisin McEntee says that is not true, with plenty of new additions to the squad simply eager to prove themselves against the current champions.

It will be Hearts' first visit since the final day of last season, when late Celtic goals denied the Tynecastle side their first top-flight title in more than 60 years.

McEntee acknowledges the disappointment of that afternoon still lingers but believes a new-look Hearts squad can approach the occasion without being weighed down by the past.

"I'm really, really looking forward to it," he said. "It's going to be a massive game in a big stadium.

"A lot of those boys are new and I think nothing really fazes them. I don't think there'll be a lot of that in our heads and in our minds for the game - we just want to go and win.

"It's a new group and I feel like we have a different style of play, we have a new manager, it's all different, so I think that's all we can do, just focus on the game itself.

"Genuinely, I'm not lying, I don't think it will [be about revenge]. I think we'll just focus on the game at hand and we're all looking forward to it."

Portuguese winger Jota has revealed he felt "empty" inside during his 533-day Celtic injury lay-off. (The National, external)

Titanic Property Development Ltd (TPDL), which Celtic's largest shareholder, Dermot Desmond, co-owns, suffered an increased pre-tax loss of £2.75m in 2025. (Belfast Telegrah, external)

Celtic are planning to stand firm in the face of ongoing protests from their supporters, with executives happy with their long-term plans and vowing not to bow to fan pressure. (Football Insider, external)

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

• Josh McPake has scored (3) or assisted (3) six of Hearts' last seven goals scored from open play in the Scottish Premiership.

• No player has more goal involvements (7 – 4 goals, 3 assists) or chances created both overall (21) and from open play (19) in the Scottish Premiership this season than Celtic's Benjamin Nygren.

• Heart of Midlothian have scored more goals from set-pieces (excl. penalties) than any side in the Scottish Premiership this season (6). Indeed, each of Hearts' last four league goals against Celtic have come from set plays (3x corner, 1x free-kick).

• Celtic lead the 2026-27 Scottish Premiership for total shots (165), while no side has faced fewer shots in the division this term than Hearts (76, level with Rangers).

• Hearts have only won two of their last 11 away league outings (D3 L6), failing to keep a single clean sheet in this period.

• Celtic have won 14 of their last 15 league games (L1), scoring 2+ goals in 11 of those. Since the start of April, no other side has won 10+ Scottish Premiership matches.

• Last season, Heart of Midlothian picked up seven points in four league games against Celtic (W2 D1 L1), the most by a side other than Rangers in a single campaign since Motherwell in 1999-00 (also 7), and Hearts' most since 1994-95 (8).

• Celtic have won 26 of their last 29 home league games against Hearts (D1 L2), although have lost two of their last six (W4).

Image source, EPA

Martin O'Neill believes that Sunday's Premiership match against Hearts will be "every bit as tough" as last season's final day battle as the two sides prepare for their first meeting this season.

Last season's finale will live long in the memory of many Scottish football fans as Celtic pipped Hearts to win the league.

However, O'Neill believes that last season wasn't a one-off for Hearts and tips them to challenge for the title yet again.

"I think it will be every bit as tough as it was on the last day of the season.

"I genuinely do [think they are title challengers]

"I think they've got the capability, I know they've lost the two games, but overall, I do, I think they can challenge.

"I think they've got the pedigree, and I think they'll maybe want to change last season's results.

"I'm quite sure that those players who played in that game will have something to want to retrieve and certainly want to put right again."

Celtic's sole win in this fixture last season came on the final day when two late goals won them the title, and O'Neill knows that this time around his team will need to be full of energy to deal with a "very impressive" Hearts side.

"It looks as if they've got over that disappointment because they've been roaring back.

"You know, you'd have thought opening the game of the season to lose that, they might, not so much crumble, but maybe feel as if they lost a couple of players and lost their manager, maybe thinking that it's not going to happen for them.

Celtic captain Callum McGregor told TNT Sports: "Disappointing result.

"We were here to get points and win.

"We were playing against a really good side with with really good quality in final third.

"First half we didn't help ourselves.

"Second half we score one, probably could score another.

"Bit of a game of two halves.

"Unforced errors lead to the second and third goals and you have a mountain to climb.

"We know at this level if you don't look after the ball you're going to get punished."

Celtic fans, we asked for your views on your side's 4-1 loss to Benfica in the Europa League.

Here's a taste of what you had to say...

Con: Are we even Europa level? I am not so sure. Our record in Europe under various managers is pathetic in the past 15 years. A long season ahead with this management team and board in place. Again.

Gerry: It's not about tonight's result, it's about a rot that set in at Celtic FC a long time ago.

It's time for the board to take responsibility and go. What is the point in winning the league to be embarrassed every season in Europe? More pain to come for sure. Celtic aside, Scottish football, both national and clubs, are becoming a laughing stock.

John: Typical display again. All the talk beforehand about what they are going to do. The whole team look very disjointed. Poor, poor defending. Never win a game when the defence is so bad. I think a few first choices need to be dropped. Give the fringe players a chance. Can't do any worse.

Paul: Another spineless and humiliating performance from a Celtic team playing in Europe, and once again being totally outplayed by a classy Benfica side from the outset.

Defensively inept and naive at times, especially inside the first few minutes of the game, which is now sadly becoming a huge factor as to why Celtic's recent results in Europe have been so bad, and it's simply well below the standards required at this club. Unfortunately, this Celtic team's modus operandi in European football is now going to define them, and it's definitely not going to change anytime soon.

Michael: The coaching team are responsible for that dreadful performance. You know it will be a tough night, and yet you set up in the same formation as you did at Motherwell. Inept and amateur, the management have no credibility with the players and even less with the fans. Let's not kid ourselves, Benfica were in second gear in the second half, they were slicing us open at will. A few shots off the post should not disguise the depths we have fallen to.

Complete apathy from the support now, and O'Neill's comments were baffling.

Sally: Poor performance from Celtic. Fans blame the board... let the manager choose the players he needs in the transfer market. Money is not always a factor in player choice... it is compatibility, skill, awareness and a willingness to work for the team.

Mike: The club is toxic from the top. Need a reset starting with who controls the club and the governance. Last season MON masked the deficiencies, but no longer. The club just isn't together.

Gordon: No one is surprised by the result, it's the performance that's maddening. The failure to strengthen the defence over the past few windows was bound to cost Celtic, and now it has. Unfortunately, some new signings haven't stepped up yet either.

George: Must be the weakest Celtic team ever.

Image source, SNS

Martin O'Neill's "patience is running a bit thin" with Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran is likely to spearhead the attack against Hearts on Sunday, former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan has suggested.

The Dane was overshadowed by his fellow summer signing again as O'Neill's side suffered another Europa League disappointment, going down 4-1 to Benfica in Lisbon.

"I think you could tell from Martin O'Neill's interview after the game that it is as if his patience is running a bit thin with Kasper Hogh," Allan told the BBC Scottish Football Podcast.

"I think I would expect to see Duran through the middle. I think he's much better outlet at this moment in time.

"I'm not saying that Hogh's not going to come good, but I just think it's now time for him to take a rest out of the team."

Allan thought Celtic looked more dangerous when Callum Osmand and Haissem Hassan came on half time on the wings, with Duran through the middle.

He understood why O'Neill preferred to look at the positives considering Benfica "are really formidable at home" and "have quality throughout their squad" and it could have got "really ugly" considering the Portuguese were already leading 3-0 by half-time.

However, Allan thought that "collectively, defensively, I don't think they're quite there yet, especially at that level".

"Anytime they've had a test against better opposition this season, they just haven't performed defensively well enough," he said.

While he would still have Celtic as favourites, Allan has been impressed with "what Wouter Vrancken's trying to create there at Hearts" and they "were really brave" in their 1-1 Conference League draw at home to Nordsjaelland.

He was impressed with Oisin McEntee and Laurent Mendy in central midfield and thought Hearts would arrive at Celtic Park trying to play more on the front foot than under Derek McInnes last season and have players "who can make it uncomfortable" for Celtic.