Celtic starting XI to face Auchinleck Talbot in Scottish Cup tie | OneFootball

Celtic kick off their Scottish Cup campaign this afternoon (Sunday) with a trip to Rugby Park, but it will be Auchinleck Talbot who will host the Hoops.

The junior side had to move the tie from their Beechwood Park ground for what will be the first ever competitive meeting between the sides.

Martin O’Neill’s side is much-changed from the one which beat Falkirk 1-0 in midweek, with only captain Callum McGregor starting the game.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha makes his first appearance since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, while Stephen Welsh also starts after being recalled from his loan spell with Motherwell – one of six Youth Academy graduates in the starting XI.

Kick-off at Rugby Park is 5.30pm and you can follow the build-up and all the action on the club website’s Match Centre.

MATCH CENTRE

CELTIC: Sinisalo, Ralston, Welsh, Murray, Donovan, McGregor, McCowan, Bernardo, Forrest, Kenny, Balikwisha.Subs: Schmeichel, Scales, Nygren, Yang, Yamada, Tounekti, Maeda, Hatate, Haney

Fixtures

Auchinleck Talbot Vs. Celtic - Sun, Jan 18th 2026, 17:30