Camilo Duran made a scoring debut for Celtic in their 4-1 defeat against Sporting Lisbon.
The only new signing of the summer came off the bench after 64 minutes as Martin O’Neill made a raft of changes.
Showing the same pressing as Daizen Maeda the Colombian striker pounced on hesitancy between the Sporting captain and goalkeeper to draw the hoops level with a shot from six yards out.
It was against the run of play that Celtic scored with the referee then stopping play for a water break.
From the restart Celtic collapsed losing three goals in the 72nd, 76th and 79th minutes as a work out turned into a damage limitation exercise.
In the 64th minute Celtic made the following substitutions: Doohan, Montgomery, Nawrocki, Hatton, Durán, Kennedy and McArdle replacing Sinisalo, Scales, Carter-Vickers, McGregor, Forrest, McCowan, Osmand.
CELTIC SQUAD DEPTH IS EXPOSED
The lack of depth in the Celtic squad is unlikely to have come as a surprise to O’Neill.
Ideally he would have more than 22 first team ready players with him in the Algarve to rotate without any noticeable drop in quality.
The Starting XI was all recognisable with Liam Scales out at left-back to allow Dane Murray to partner Cameron Carter-Vickers in central defence.
Sporting cut out a few decent early chances but had to wait until the 24th minute for the breakthrough when Geny Catamo placed the ball home after Celtic were opened up down the left.
? Camilo Durán
Sporting 1-1 Celtic
— Goals Xtra (@GoalsXtra) July 14, 2026
The Portuguese season starts a week after the SPFL.
If Celtic are short on signing targets there were plenty of decent looking options wearing green and white hoops in action tonight.
On Saturday Celtic are at home to Middlesbrough. While some World Cup players will be returning it will be too early for any of them to play.
CELTIC: Sinisalo, Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Murray, Scales, McGregor, Bernardo (Oxlade-Chamberlain), McCowan, Forrest, Osmand, Balikwisha (Engels 46)
Subs: Doohan, Gill, Duran, Nawrocki, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Engels, McArdle, Ure, Bonnar, Montgomery, Hatton, Dargie, Hatate, Turley, Obidiwe, Charlton, Haney, Kennedy
This is a normal start to the pre season run in for Celtic. Lack of signings, no encouragement from the Board, a couple of mediocre friendlies coming up with no concession for ST holders and we await the last minute frenzy.
Ah not to worry ourselves at all as the board members have been working on their sun tans while everything all around them crumbles due to lack of interest from them , neglect and sheer failures in the day to day running of a successful football club ! Complete dereliction of duty has just battered them right in the kissers with this performance and result . Beautiful sun kissed skin with big red bloodied noses …it’s not the nicest of looks ..is it ? Hell mend them !