With the air thick from championship celebrations and the tributes to Lisbon Lions amplifying the sense of legacy, Celtic’s 2025/26 season curtain-raiser felt poised for a memorable beginning.
The Green Brigade’s wonderful tribute to Lisbon Lion John Clark
The Green Brigade’s wonderful tribute to Lisbon Lion John Fallon
Captain Callum McGregor headed on to the fabled Parkhead turf with the trophy in tow alongside the returning Kieran Tierney, and the green half of Glasgow began to expect once again. Yet, by the final whistle, the only echo that mattered was the stifled sighs of 58,000 who witnessed a narrow, unconvincing 1-0 win over St. Mirren.
St Mirren players form a guard of honour as Celtic captain Callum McGregor walks on to the pitch carrying the Scottish Premiership trophy. Celtic v St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, , Celtic Park, 3 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace, IMAGO / Shutterstock (The Celtic Star)
Celtic Claim Nervy Opening Day Win
For Brendan Rodgers and the Celtic faithful, it was a hard lesson in football’s enduring volatility—a match dominated on paper, defined by toil, and ultimately snatched by the fates via Luke McCowan’s 87th-minute deflected winner. The Bhoys rattled the woodwork four times throughout the course of the contest, and they very nearly missed out on all three points; they would have done had it not been for their substitute’s deflected late strike.
Luke McCowan of Celtic shoots to give Celtic a 1-0 lead. Celtic v St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 3 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace, IMAGO / Shutterstock (The Celtic Star)
Celtic’s possession figure—an imposing 76%—paints a picture of control, but the canvas underneath was smeared with frustration, blocked lanes, wayward finishing, and a St. Mirren defense running on collective willpower. If the defending champions expected to begin their latest title pursuit with a declaration of dominance, instead, they offered a hesitant question mark. Even so, online sports betting sites still make the reigning champions the team to beat next season.
Luke McCowan of Celtic celebrates with teammates Callum McGregor & Johnny Kenny after scoring to give Celtic a 1-0 lead. Celtic v St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 03 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace. IMAGO / Shutterstock (The Celtic Star)
If you are someone who likes to bet on sports at Bovada, you’ll have already noticed that Celtic are an overwhelming 2/7 favourite to claim a fifth straight title. Their season opener may well have been somewhat lacklustre, but ultimately, the three points are all that matter. But how did the first game of Celtic’s 2025/26 season square up to their last four? Let’s take a look and arm you with all the knowledge you’ll need to bet on sports going forward.
2024/25: Celtic 4–0 Kilmarnock
Twelve months ago, the opening chapter couldn’t have been any different. Celtic welcomed Kilmarnock to Parkhead, and they cut through the Killies with surgical precision. Four goals, four different scorers, a clean sheet, and—critically—an undeniable aura of intent. Job done.
The display was one of clinical execution across all departments. From Reo Hatate’s poised opener to Anthony Ralston’s late insurance strike, the attacking lines ran at full voltage. Comparison with the St. Mirren grind is instructive: where last year’s pace, movement, and combinations found space, this year’s side moved in static patterns, often stuck in neutral despite all the horsepower. The Bhoys duly claimed the title at the end of the campaign, but it remains to be seen whether they will follow in those footsteps this term.
2023/24: Celtic 4–2 Ross County
Sometimes opening days are about resilience. The 2023/24 edition saw Celtic trade blows with Ross County in a six-goal seesaw. It looked like it would be an easy day’s work when the champions raced into a three-goal lead thanks to a David Turnbull brace and Kyōgo Furuhashi’s first-half strike. The visitors struck back in the second half through Jordan White on the hour mark, before Celtic’s three-goal lead was restored thanks to Matt O’Riley.
James Brown’s late consolation did little to dispel a raucous Celtic Park, with the Hoops demonstrating the sort of mental toughness and attacking verve that signposts champions-in-waiting. Watching the more recent St. Mirren match, such volatility and belief were sorely absent. Rodgers’ Celtic were methodical but flat, controlled without conviction; the fearlessness of old replaced by conservatism when it mattered most.
2022/23: Celtic 2–0 Aberdeen
Measured, professional, assured. The 2022/23 campaign began with a quietly authoritative 2-0 win over Aberdeen. Stephen Welsh got his side off to a perfect start with his well-taken third-minute opener. The Bhoys were made to wait for their second, but it duly came when Portuguese winger Jota struck 15 minutes from time.
The real triumph was in the balance of the performance: not wide open, never rushed, effort and execution aligned. Pundits lauded the harmonious structure and calm, a stark contrast to this year’s opener. Admittedly, both games saw Celtic record clean sheets, but where the Celtic of three years ago threatened to overwhelm and break lines, Rodgers’ current eleven seemed content with tedious control, starved of the final incisive touch needed to rattle the net and the nerves of their rivals.
2021/22: Hearts 2–1 Celtic
Not all openers set the tone for dominance. In 2021, Celtic trudged from Tynecastle after a sobering 2-1 defeat to Hearts, undone by an unorganised display in defense and a lack of bite up top. The defeat was the Hoops’ first opening day loss in 24 years, and truth be told, it was the correct result.
Gary Mackay-Steven opened the scoring early on, and Hearts would hold their lead until the second half when Anthony Ralston equalised spectacularly. But unfortunately for the travelling supporters, it was the hosts who would have the last laugh. John Souttar’s bullet header 90 seconds from full time was enough to secure all three points for Hearts, and things would get worse for Celtic before they got better.
The Glasgow outfit lost three of their opening six games, including a 1-0 defeat away to Rangers at Ibrox. But from September onwards, Celtic wouldn’t lose again, winning the title by four points.
