Celtic 2-1 Sporting Braga – Our first game against Braga at Paradise | OneFootball

Celtic’s first and only victory over tonight’s opponents, Sporting Braga…

Celtic v Sporting Braga, 2010. Photo The Celtic Wiki

This evening in the early kick-off, Celtic host Sporting Braga of Portugal, a side we have only ever faced competitively on two previous occasions, which were in Champions League play off matches back in the summer of 2010 under the leadership of Neil Lennon.

Braga were a decent side who finished as runners up in the Portuguese top flight the previous season, whilst Celtic were very much a team in transition after Neil Lennon was appointed manager on a full time basis after taking the reigns due to the disastrous Tony Mowbray spell in charge.

Celtic v Sporting Braga, 2010. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Unfortunately we crashed out 4-2 on aggregate after a crushing 3-0 loss in Portugal proved too much of a hurdle to overcome. Despite winning back some pride at Celtic Park by earning a 2- 1 victory in what was Neil Lennon’s first match in charge at Celtic Park after he was officially appointed as permanent Celtic manager , we failed to qualify for the group stage of Europe’s elite competition.

One of the main reasons for that was that we were very much a side gelling together under a new manager, with the likes of the retuning Charlie Mulgrew, Cha Du Ri, Joe Ledley, Gary Hooper and Efrian Juarez all just in the door, so it was always going to be a difficult task in overcoming the Portuguese side.

Celtic v Sporting Braga, 2010. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Two of those new signings Gary Hooper and Efrain Juarez scored second half goals, but it was all little too late after the Portuguese side had silenced the huge Celtic Park crowd by opening the scoring which all but ended the tie in the 20th minute of the game.

Neil Lennon was slowly building a team, and the Likes of Mulgrew, Hooper, and Ledley, would go on to be key players in that side, but the Sporting Braga tie arrived too soon.

Celtic v Sporting Braga, 2010. Photo The Celtic Wiki

The Celtic team and substitutes that night were as follows:

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Continue reading on the next page – Hopefully meeting is a good start rather than token gesture…

Hopefully meeting is a good start rather than token gesture

No confidence banner at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Hopefully this meeting is a positive start, but it could be no more than a token gesture…

Celtic Chief Executive Michael Nicholson sits in the directors box with Celtic s Chief Financial Officer Christopher McKay to his right. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 27 September 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO Shutterstock

Celtic football club has at long last held out an olive branch of sorts to fan organisations by offering an invitation to attend a meeting scheduled for this coming Monday, 6 October, with discussions to be held over ‘ongoing concerns’ about the running of the club.

In conjunction with the Celtic Fans Collective, supporter organisations have gladly accepted the invitation which will include the likes of Michael Nicolson and Chris McKay representing the club as those representing the supporters groups aim to air their concerns over the way the club is being run, specifically around the lack of ambition, the failure to back the manager, the continual Champions League play-off calamities, the state of the stadium and the manager’s contract plus no doubt many other matters.

The news was greeted with great optimism amongst supporter groups with the planned 29 minutes silence at this evenings clash with Braga being postponed as a result. Niall J has pointed out something that Brendan Rodgers said to The Celtic Star at his media conference last week about the importance of communication, even if the message is harsh, and he worries that this was a heads up about what to come.

Clearly from his responses at his last two media conferences Brendan has been well aware that these talks were coming. It’s going to be a crucial week for Celtic supporters and with the unity the Celtic Fans collective provides we have a strong and intelligence group who will certainly hold those running the club to account.

We can all agree that last night’s developments and the club’s offer of a meeting  is a welcome move, but it’s only a small step, and the club need to genuinely listen to the supporters concerns in fine detail and take on board our valid concerns.

Personally I, like plenty of other Celtic supporters, have reasonable doubts over whether the board share the same ambition as the supporters, and reckon that this meeting is merely token gesture to appease the supporters amid talks of widespread boycotts. If that is the case it certainly won’t wash and the protests will escalate.

This meeting is a start, but it’s far from over. We do have to hear what the club has to say and review it all collective before any further action if required is agreed upon. The collective power of the Celtic support has never been stronger than it is at the moment and together we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Continue reading this from Niall J on the next page…Celtic Fans Collective and a ‘harsh’ heads-up from Brendan Rodgers…

Celtic Fans Collective and a ‘harsh’ heads-up from Brendan Rodgers…

Celtic fan protest. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The past month has seen Celtic supporters unite like rarely before. In just four weeks, more than 400 groups have come together under the umbrella of the Celtic Fans Collective, creating an organised, clear and consistent voice for fans, and forcing long-overdue dialogue with the board.

Celtic Fans Collective, Founded September 2025.

The unity, resolve and hard work shown by the Collective deserves enormous credit. The organisation has been first class, and the communication with the wider support has been clear, inclusive and respectful.

Celtic fan protest at Rugby Park Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Each protest has been carefully planned and carried out with purpose. The delayed entry at Rugby Park sent a strong symbolic message and was widely praised. The placard protest at Firhill, aligned with banners that highlighted European failures, was powerful, effective and impossible to ignore. Even the silence, while drawing mixed views among the fanbase, has now been shown to have had a clear impact.

Celtic fan protest. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Crucially, the decision to pause it once the board opened communication was the right one. It not only provided the Collective with an opportunity to move forward from a challenging tactic but also showed maturity and good faith in recognising that engagement from the club must be met in kind.

Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

It is also right to highlight the role of fan media in amplifying the campaign. By breaking into mainstream coverage through outlets like Sky Sports and the BBC, they ensured the message reached far beyond the usual supporter channels. Every single fan who took part in any of the protests, even those who may not have been fully convinced of each method, deserves credit. They acted in the name of unity, and that unity has proven to be the campaign’s greatest strength.

Your Silence is Deafening banner in the North Curve. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 27 September 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO Shutterstock

Celtic’s decision to engage after 28 days of silence, and after three highly visible protests, shows that the Collective’s strategy is working. Whether the club’s move has been prompted by falling ticket sales, merchandise concerns, or simply the weight of supporter pressure, the fact remains that they are now talking. Communication is the only way to resolve a standoff like this, and it should always be met with a willingness to engage.

Brendan Rodgers also deserves recognition. Asked about communication by The Celtic Star at his press conference prior to the Hibs game, his words were measured. “In the modern life, the modern world, communication is absolutely vital. It can stabilise lots of things in life having that clarity and sometimes you have to be harsh, to be clear, but you’re better being harsh and communicating than not saying anything.”

Rodgers has tread the line carefully, calling for dialogue without undermining the Collective. Not every manager would have navigated that balance so well, but this manager chooses his words carefully and his use of the word ‘harsh’ should perhaps be a sign of tough conversations that lie ahead. Others within the club, by contrast, have done damage, particularly those behind hostile and cowardly briefings to the press. Such behaviour should not be tolerated or excused, and those responsible should be removed entirely rather than quietly shifted out of sight.

Celtic supporters shows their support at full-time following the team’s victory in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Semi Final match between St Johnstone and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

This is, of course, only the beginning. Celtic’s true intentions will become clearer after Monday’s meeting, but there is no guarantee of meaningful change. What is certain is that the unity, organisation and communication of the fans has brought the club to this stage.

That is already a major achievement, and one that must be built upon. The Steering Group and wider Collective will learn from these past weeks, take confidence from what they have accomplished, and apply it to the next stages of the campaign as the movement settles and grows stronger.

For now, Celtic supporters can take pride in the fact that their resolve has made the board listen. It is not the end of the campaign. But, perhaps, it is the beginning of something significant. Fingers crossed.

Niall J

Danny McGrain, David Potter & Willie Fernie – what a combination!

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Out now, order your copy at Celticstarbooks.com

We’re certainly Putting on the Style with the new promotion from Celtic Star Books. David Potter’s final book – Celtic in the Eighties – has been selling wonderfully well since its launch on 5 September. It is by far our fastest-ever seller.

Order one of the last remaining copies of Celtic in the Eighties and Danny McGrain will sign it for you PLUS you’ll receive a copy of David Potter’s wonderful book on Willie Fernie as a free gift.

Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star

Danny McGrain has signed the final remaining batch of Celtic in the Eighties. Ordering is simple, just place your order for Celtic in the Eighties at celticstarbooks.com/shop and we’ll do the rest, ensuring your copy is signed by Danny and a complimentary Willie Fernie book dispatched by the next working day, whilst stocks last.

Celtic 3-0 St Mirren, Scottish Premier League, Celtic Park, 15 May 1982.Celtic captain Danny McGrain collects the championship trophy as Roy Aitken looks on. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Danny McGrain signing copies of Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Photo: Celtic Star Books

Please note that stocks are now running very low indeed and the book will NOT be reprinted. Click on the image below to order. Please note that postage will only be charged on ONE book.

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Out now on Celtic Star Books. Click on image above to order.

More Stories / Latest News

Celtic 2-1 Sporting Braga – Our first game against Braga at Paradise

Oct 2 2025, 12:54

Hopefully meeting is a good start rather than token gesture

Oct 2 2025, 12:13

Celtic Fans Collective and a ‘harsh’ heads-up from Brendan Rodgers

Oct 2 2025, 11:36