Motherwell v Celtic – A tough challenge but Hoops can prevail at Fir Park

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The Celtic Star

·30 December 2025

Motherwell v Celtic – A tough challenge but Hoops can prevail at Fir Park

Picking up three points tonight at For park is absolutely vital for Wilfried Nancy and his Celtic team but that’s easier said than done…

Fir Park, photo by Vagelis Georgariou

This evening sees us end 2025 with an away trip to Fir Park to take on Motherwell, and to say it’s going to be difficult is an understatement, due to a combination of our patchy form, and the Steelmen’s terrific form this campaign.

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We have seen for ourselves how impressive Jens Berthel Askou men were back in October with only a last gasp Daizen Maeda strike earning us all three points, on a day that the Fir Park side impressed with their overall play.

The Celtic team comes together at the final whistle during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Motherwell FC at Celtic Park, on 5th October 2025. (Picture by Mark Runnacles Shutterstock)

The Steelmen knocked the ball around with great confidence that afternoon. They weren’t afraid to attack, and looked every inch like a quality side as they more than matched the Scottish Champions for most of the game.

At home they will prove to be even more dangerous. Under the lights on a tight pitch, backed by their own supporters, they will be out to test the resolve of our patchy backline which was once again brutally exposed at Livingston on Saturday.

When it comes to scoring goals, Motherwell are competent, indeed only Hearts, ourselves, and Hibs have scored more goals than the Fir Park side this season. Whilst defensively they are just as slick, boasting one of the best defensive records in the league.

Of course one of the main reasons for their success at the back is the form of on loan Celt Stephen Welsh, but unfortunately for Well, he can’t play tonight. We mentioned yesterday that re-calling Welsh early from his season-long loan at Motherwell would provide a quick-fix to the right hand side of Celtic’s back three but that isn’t going ti happen and instead Welsh will see out the campaign at Fir Park and perhaps that move will become permanent in the summer.

This also hints that Wilfried Nancy has his own signing in mind for this problem position, which Cameron Carter-Vickers will compete for when he returns from his Achilles injury in the spring.

With Hearts not playing tonight we have the chance to go joint top with a win, giving us a much needed boost heading into 2026, and there’s also the small matter of a Glasgow Derby pending on Saturday afternoon at Celtic Park.

Heading into the clash with theRangers at Celtic Park on the back of three wins and sitting top of the standings would give us great hope and confidence at a time when it’s been in short supply since the arrival of the Frenchman with his new style of play.

It may have taken the team four punishing games to find their feet and their way to a win but with Aberdeen and Livingston beaten if we can add Motherwell to the list and then theRangers at the weekend then Wilfball will be up and running and Celtic can move into 2026 with great confidence.

It will be a tough challenge tonight, but as always I’ve every faith that we will prevail on the night. We are after all, Glasgow Celtic. Enjoy the game folks. Here’s a reminder of the earlier game at Celtic Park back in October which Celtic won 3-2….

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John Hartson, at the Celtic Star Books launch at the Kerrydale Suite at Celtic Park for Matt Corr’s Majic, Stan and the King of Japan. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

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