Sporting CP v Celtic: Team news, KO time and where to watch | OneFootball

After the pre-season opener in Dublin, Celtic moved to their pre-season training camp in Portugal and just like last season this includes a friendly match in the Algarve against Sporting CP (aka Sporting Lisbon)…

Midseason Friendly, Tolka Park, Dublin, 7 July 2026 Shelbourne vs Celtic. Celtic manager Martin O’Neill with his team during a hydration break. Photo IMAGO / Inpho Photography

That match will be played later today at Estadio Algarve in Almancil, with Martin O’Neill looking to get minutes into as many players’ legs as possible in testing warm-weather conditions.

Celtic Team News

New Celtic signing Camilo Duran missed training yesterday with a sickness bug so may have to sit this one out. Martin O’Neill will also be without the eight World Cup Celts who are having a well deserved holiday after their efforts for their national sides at the World Cup, so Celtic will be without Alistair Johnston, Anthony Ralston, Kieran Tierney, Auston Trusty, Benjamin Nygren, Sebastian Tounekti, Yang and Daizen Maeda.

Midseason Friendly, Tolka Park, Dublin 7 7 2026 Shelbourne vs Celtic Johnny Kenny and Liam Scales of Celtic Johnny Kenny and Liam Scales. Photo IMAGO

Johnny Kenny, who is the subject of transfer interest from Bolton and Millwall, will sit this one out as he is still not fully recovered from the knee injury he suffered in the closing stages of last season at Bolton.

Cameron-Carter-Vickers though is now back to full fitness and could feature. Arne Engels should play after Martin O’Neill revealed that he knew nothing of a Nottingham Forest big arriving for the clubs record signing.

Not much point doing a predicted team but we can expect multiple changes at the interval, so we’ll get the chance to see if there are any standouts from the Celtic B team.

Celtic Manager’s View

Martin O’Neill has been impressed both by his players and the Portuguese weather over the past week.

“The players have worked hard, the weather’s been fantastic and it really, genuinely couldn’t have been better,” the Celtic manager told Celtic TV, now known as CelticPlayer.

Midseason Friendly, Tolka Park, Dublin 7/7/2026 Shelbourne vs Celtic .Celtic manager Martin O’Neill. Photo IMAGO

“The players have done really well. We’re down to one session now but the double sessions have been great and hopefully, it’ll stand them in good stead for the rest of the season,” MON said as reported by the official Celtic FC website.

“There are things that we can definitely improve on – we should be able to do that for a start – and there are things that we did reasonably well last season as well too. So, it’s a matter of combining both, I think, as much as anything else.”

Martin O’Neill and the players at his disposal are all looking forward to this evening’s match against Sporting CP who like Celtic, have many players missing due to their World Cup participation.

Midseason Friendly, Tolka Park, Dublin 7/7/2026 Shelbourne vs Celtic Callum McGregor of Celtic. Photo IMAGO

“They’re a bit like us in that they’re going to be missing quite a number of World Cup players as well,” the Celtic manager said. “But they’re a very fine side and if this game was a European fixture maybe in a couple of months’ time, it would be amazing.

“They’ve got some players that they want to bring into the squad, a wee bit like ourselves, so from that viewpoint, it might be interesting. But we’ll go with a pretty strong side to begin with and as strong as we possibly can.

“And as we’re getting closer to the season, hopefully adding a few extra players to the squad, the intensity just seems to get stronger, which is the way it should be.”

Kick-off Time

Sporting CP v Celtic kicks off at 5.30pm (Celtic Park Time) this evening, Tuesday 14 July 2025.

Where to Watch

The Sporting CP v Celtic match can be watched via Celtic’s re-branded streaming service now called CelticPlayer, formerly Celtic TV. The game is available to all subscribers including those inside Britain and Ireland and also beyond those shores for international based supporters.

You can also watch tonight’s match on the new Celtic App. Here’s a club video explaining more about the new CelticPlayer service.

If you haven’t signed up for Celtic TV or more recently CelticPlayer you can do so now and start by watching the action from the Algarve this evening as Sporting CP take on Celtic. You can stream tonight’s game on your smart TV, laptop, tablet or mobile phone.

Liam Scales of Celtic Shelbourne FC v Celtic Preseason Friendly, , Tolka Park, Dublin, Ireland – 07 July 2026.

Photo Lorraine O’Sullivan Shutterstock/ IMAGO

Sporting CP v Celtic will be streamed via the club’s new streaming service CelticPlayer. Details on how to access the stream, prices and how to sign up are available from the club’s official website.

Enjoy the match.

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