MATCH 1894 - Tuesday 25 October 2022

SEASON 2022/23

Group Stage

CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  1  SHAKHTAR DONETSK  1

Scorers:  Giakoumakis;  Mudryk    

Celtic finally get a Champions League point at home with a 1-1 draw with Shakhtar after two defeats. A goal in each half with Celtic opening the scoring through the Greek striker and an outstanding solo goal from No. 10 Mykhaylo Mudryk.  The result is not good enough to keep Celtic in Europe.

Personal note:

• My 190th UEFA tie overall - 158 involving Celtic.
• 3rd time Shakhtar have visited Celtic Park.  
• Overall the 5th time seeing a team from Ukraine - the other two ocassions were Dynamo Kiev v Celtic (1986) and the national side v Sweden in the Euro's.

MATCH 1893 - Wednesday 19 October 2022

SEASON 2022/23

SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP Quarter Final

Venue:  FIR PARK

MOTHERWELL  0  CELTIC  4

Scorers:Abada(2), Hatate, Kyogo

Celtic sale through to the quarter final of the League Cup with a good confident performance against their North Lanarkshire opponents.

The match has ridiculously early kick off time of 6:15pm in order to accommodate Premier Sports TV coverage but the Celtic faithful still make it on time:

Personal note:

• 3rd Motherwell game of the season
• 6th time seeing this fixture in the League Cup
• My 120th Celtic match in this cup competition 

MATCH 1892 - Tuesday 18 October 2022

SEASON 2022/23

ENGLISH LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

Venue:  EWOOD PARK

BLACKBURN ROVERS  2  SUNDERLAND  0

Scorers: Brereton, Wharton

My son, Daniel's birthday trip to Sunderland. So not a great outcome for him but a good trip nevertheless.

Travel schedule: Train: Airdrie-Glasgow-Preston-Blackburn.

Return - Train: Blackburn-Manchester.  Bus: Manchester-Glasgow. Train: Glasgow-Airdrie.

Sunderland now managed by Tony Mowbray who left Blackburn in the summer.  He was replaced by Jon Dahl Tomasson.  An excellent first half goal was added to shortly after the restart. The result meant Rovers went to the top of the league.

Personal stuff:

• 2nd match between these sides, both at Ewood Park and both ending on home wins.
• 10th visit to Ewood Park.  Opponents were Celtic, Manchester United(3), Chelsea, Manchester City, Fulham, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland(2).
• 16th Blackburn Rovers match and 48th Sunderland.

MATCH 1891 - Saturday 15 October 2022

SEASON 2022/23

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  6  HIBERNIAN  1

Scorers: Forrest(3), Giakoumakis(2), Maeda;  Youan

James Forrest hat-trick to notch up 100 goals for Celtic

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou made several changes and it paid dividends as James Forrest making a rare starting appearance scored a hat-trick to help the Celts bounce back from their midweek European disappointment.

Hibs now managed by ex-Sunderland manager Lee Johnson were not able to cope with the forward play of Giakoumakis, Forrest and Hasabanovic who were well support by Argentinian full back Bernabei and Aaron Mooy.

Full time and a lovely day:

Personal stuff:

• My 118th match attended between the sides - 102 in the league.
• The 2nd time seeing Celtic score 6 against Hibs - the other time was December 2003 (6-0)
• James Forrest scored his 100th Celtic goal of these I've witnessed 67 of them.

MATCH 1890 - Thursday 13 October 2022

 SEASON 2022/23

Group Stage

MANCHESTER UNITED  1  OMONOIA NICOSIA  0

Scorer:  McTominey

Another trip to Old Trafford for a European tie.  This time in the UEFA Europa League and against Neil Lennon's Cypriot side Omonoia FC.

Pre match the fantastic fans of Omonoia gather in the centre of Manchester -

Arriving at stadium and going to my seat in the Alex Ferguson stand tier 2.

The teams enter the field and the scene is set:

Post match:

Personal note:

• 16th European tie involving Manchester United - 14 home and 2 away both at Celtic Park
• 1st time seeing a club side from Cyprus
• 54th match at Old Trafford - 15 European ties including Celtic v Rapid, 1984.

MATCH 1889 - Tuesday 11 October 2022

 SEASON 2022/23

Group Stage

Second Champions League tie at home and second defeat after a promising opening from Celtic.  This was Leipzig's second visit to Celtic Park and unfortunately Celtic couldn't reach the heights of the first encounter.

Two second half goals were the difference which seen the points go to Germany.

   

Personal note:  

• 2nd time seeing Leipzig
• 16th tie attended between Celtic and German opponents 
• 157th Celtic match in Europe that I've attended

MATCH 1888 - Saturday 1 October 2022

 SEASON 2022/23

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  2  MOTHERWELL  1

Venue: Kyogo, Hatate;  OG

Celtic make life difficult for themselves missing a series of very good chances, scoring an own goal and getting an avoidable red card.  Another two goals from Japan, first Kyogo opening the scoring and the winner from Hatate.

Personal note:

• Thankfully match no. 1888 includes Celtic.
• My 118th match between these clubs with 105 in league.
• 10th match of the season - 9 involving Celtic, the other a Euro tie at Motherwell.

MATCH 1887 - Tuesday 6 September 2022

 

Group Stage

CELTIC  0  REAL MADRID  3

Scorers:  Vinicius Jr, Modric, Hazard

14 times European Champions, Real Madrid visit Celtic Park for the first time in the Champions League era.  Despite a fine Celtic performance for the first 50 minutes they are unable to take one of their chances and Real calmly take the lead through their Brazilian star Vinicius Jr early in the second half.  Modric quickly adds a second to take full control of the match.

The match is played in a tremendous atmosphere throughout the 90 minutes. Several Real players recording their admiration in their post-match tweets.  

Managers: Ange Postecoglou and Carlo Ancelotti with another Celtic Park visit.

A few pre-match photos:

Personal note:

• 2nd time seeing Real Madrid
• Real Madrid are the 8th Spainish club I've seen Celtic play in European competitions.
• My 2nd UEFA match of the season and 187th overall

Minor Match 66 - Tuesday 6 September 2022

SEASON 2022/23

UEFA YOUTH LEAGUE 

Venue:  EXCELSIOR STADIUM

CELTIC B  0  REAL MADRID YOUTHS  6

Scorers:  Fortuny, Youssef, Herrero, Paz(2), Palacios

Line ups:

Real Madrid'sYouth team visit Airdrie and put on a show in the rain against a young Celtic B side.  The game started in monsoon conditions but is far from a leveller as Real race into a 2 goal lead before Celtic are reduced to 10 men midway from the first half.  McPherson sent off for a professional foul. A further two goals are scored before the break, followed by another brace in the second which is at least played in better weather conditions.

The stand out players for Real are captain Angel and Paz.

Match - Goals link

MATCH 1886 - Saturday 3 September 2022

SEASON  2022/23

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  4  RANGERS*  0

Scorers: Abada(2), Jota, Turnbull

Another big derby win for Celtic.  As the two sides get ready to take part in this season's Champions League group stage it was Celtic that showed their quality in the final third, capitalising on a number of mistakes from the visitors.

Match Report: LINK

Personal Notes:

• 17th time attending this relatively new Scottish fixture since the new Rangers club was formed. 
• 18th time seeing Rangers2012
• 8th match of the season