MATCH 2029 - Thursday 2 October 2025

SEASON 2025/26

Group Stage

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  0  SPORTING BRAGA  2

Scorers:  Horta, Martinez

Matchday 2 in the UEFA Europa League as Celtic hosted Portuguese outfit, Sporting Club Braga to give them their full title.  The deadlock was broken midway through the first half by a long range effort which seemed to decieve goalkeeper Schmeichel.

In the second half Celtic had an equalising goal controversially dissallowed which the Video Assistant Referee could have asked the match referee to review but this didn't happen. 

Late in the game Braga sealed victory with a scappy goal and Celtic were unable to muster a reply.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:  

• 2nd time attending this fixture both in UEFA competition at Celtic Park
• Overall the 3rd time seeing SC Braga all in UEFA competitions
• Over the years I've seen six clubs from Portugal in European competitions
•  This was my 10th tie I've seen at Celtic Park between Celtic and Portuguese clubs

FLASH BACK - Match 656 - 3rd November 1993

Season:  1993/94  

UEFA Cup Second Round Second Leg 

Venue:  ESTADIO J. ALAVALADE

** SPORTING LISBON 2 - 0 CELTIC **

Scorers: Cadete(2)

On a very wet night in Lisbon (more like Glasgow weather) Celtic crashed out of Europe as Bobby Robson side comfortably over turned the one nil defeat of the first leg in Glasgow.  A goal in each half from Jorge Cadete made the aggregate score 2:1.  Celtic had there chances but failed to make any count when it mattered in what was Lou Macari's first match as Celtic manager.

I travelled over with Passport Travel who were based in Clydebank on a one day charter flight from Glasgow returning into Edinburgh in the early hours.  The highlight of the day was a stop off at Estádio Nacional near Lisbon were Celtic won the European Cup in 1967.  Sadly there where no heroics from this Celtic side.



Match 1479 - Tuesday, 18th September 2012

Season:  2012/13

Group Stage - Match Day 1

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC     0     BENFICA     0

Celtic make a return to the group stage of the Champions League infront of a packed Celtic Park.  There are very few chances created on the night however Benfica should have had a penalty in the first half when Forster impeded a Benfica forward.



Euro 2004 - MATCH 1117 - Sunday, 4th July

UEFA EURO 2004 - FINAL
Venue:  Estádio da Luz

PORTUGAL   0     GREECE    1
Scorer: Angelos Charisteas (57)

Greece pulled off one of the biggest shocks in football history to beat hosts Portugal in the Euro 2004 final.

Angelos Charisteas scored from the Greeks' first corner after 57 minutes, heading in an Angelis Basinas cross.  Portugal had a number of household names in their line up like Figo, Deco and the emerging Ronaldo against some very big names in the Greek side although none of them were well known.

The venue for the final was the impressive Estádio da Luz one the finest football arenas I have visited.  It is home to Portugese giants, Benfica.

The most memorable aspect of the match was the exceptional support of the vastly out numbered Greek fans.  Midway through the first half they started singing a song which got louder and louder and was still going strong when the half time whistle blew.  They created a wall of noise in their little corner of the stadium.  It was the greatest show of fan support that I have witnessed.

 

 

Portugal: Ricardo, Miguel (Paulo Ferreira 43), Andrade, Ricardo Carvalho, Nuno Valente, Maniche, Costinha (Rui Costa 60), Ronaldo, Deco, Figo, Pauleta (Nuno Gomes 74).
Subs not used: Moreira, Quim, Couto, Beto, Petit, Postiga, Rui Jorge, Simao, Tiago.
Booked: Costinha, Nuno Valente.  

Greece: Nikopolidis, Seitaridis, Kapsis, Dellas, Fissas, Zagorakis, Katsouranis, Basinas, Giannakopoulos (Venetidis 76), Vryzas (Papadopoulos 81), Charisteas.
Subs not used: Chalkias, Katergiannakis, Dabizas, Georgiadis, Goumas, Kafes, Lakis, Tsiartas.
Booked: Basinas, Seitaridis, Fissas, Papadopoulos.  

Attendance: 62,865. Referee: Markus Merk (Germany).