On a raucous night at Celtic Park, Kieran Tierney made an emotional and triumphant return to the green and white, leading Celtic FC to an emphatic 4-0 victory over Newcastle United in a pre-season friendly that was anything but friendly.
In what was billed as a test against Premier League opposition, Brendan Rodgers’ side put on a show of speed, cohesion, and pressing intensity. But the spotlight belonged to Tierney, whose return to Parkhead — even if temporarily — became the emotional and tactical fulcrum of a memorable night in Glasgow.
A Welcome Home Like No Other
Tierney, who came through the Celtic academy and left for Arsenal in 2019, was greeted with deafening applause as he emerged from the tunnel. Loaned back to Celtic amid uncertainty over his future in North London, the left-back showed no signs of rust — only passion, leadership, and the unmistakable verve that made him a fan favourite years ago.
“It’s hard to describe what this means to me,” Tierney told Celtic TV post-match. “This is my home. And to play again in front of these fans, with this badge on my chest — it’s special.”
From the first minute, Tierney was electric down the left flank. He combined with Luis Palma in triangles, overlapped at will, and delivered crosses that asked serious questions of Newcastle’s back line. His energy set the tone, and Celtic’s intensity followed suit.
Starting XIs and Tactical Approaches
Rodgers named a near full-strength lineup, reflective of a squad preparing for a title defense and UEFA Champions League group stage football.
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Celtic XI (4-3-3)
Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Nawrocki, Tierney; McGregor (c), Hatate, O’Riley; Palma, Kyogo, Maeda
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Newcastle XI (4-3-3)
Dubravka; Trippier, Lascelles, Botman, Targett; Tonali, Longstaff, Willock; Murphy, Isak, Gordon
Rodgers set his side up in a high-intensity 4-3-3, focusing on pressing Newcastle’s build-up phase and exploiting the wide spaces through Maeda and Palma. Tierney’s role was critical — part fullback, part midfield creator — as he inverted at times to allow McGregor more freedom.
Eddie Howe, meanwhile, rotated his side and looked to experiment with ball retention in deep areas. It backfired quickly.
First Half Celtic’s Press Strangles the Magpies
From the whistle, Celtic suffocated Newcastle’s rhythm. In just the 7th minute, Daizen Maeda robbed Trippier near the corner flag and squared the ball for Kyogo Furuhashi, who tapped home past Dubravka — only to be ruled offside. But the warning shot had been fired.
In the 14th minute, the opener came. Tierney burst down the left, exchanged passes with Hatate, and whipped in a low cross that deflected off Botman into the path of Matt O’Riley, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
1-0 to Celtic, and Parkhead was roaring.
The Scottish champions doubled their lead just eight minutes later. This time, it was Callum McGregor who intercepted Tonali’s pass in midfield, sparking a counter that ended with Luis Palma curling a beauty into the far corner from just outside the box.
Newcastle, disjointed and flat-footed, had no answers. The Premier League side was pinned in their own half for much of the first period. Hart remained untested, while Carter-Vickers marshaled Isak with authority.
Second Half Tierney’s Spark and Celtic’s Flourish
Rodgers made a few tweaks at the break — most notably pushing Hatate higher up the pitch and instructing McGregor to sit deeper, orchestrating play. The result was even more control for Celtic.
In the 53rd minute, Tierney had his crowning moment. Receiving the ball near the halfway line, he surged forward, nutmegged Longstaff, then played a clever one-two with Maeda before arriving at the edge of the box. He didn’t hesitate — his left-footed strike curled into the top corner, leaving Dubravka motionless.
The crowd erupted. Tierney ran to the corner flag, arms wide, mobbed by his teammates. It was the kind of goal and moment that will linger in Celtic lore.
“He’s more than a player — he’s part of the soul of this club,” said Rodgers after the match. “You could see what it meant to him, and to all of us.”
Celtic weren’t done yet. In the 69th minute, they made it 4-0. A quick counter led by Palma resulted in Kyogo again finding space behind Botman. This time, he timed his run to perfection, rounded the keeper, and rolled the ball into the empty net.
Newcastle’s Struggles and a Night to Forget
For Eddie Howe, this was a performance far below expectations. His side looked jaded, lacking sharpness, and failed to manage Celtic’s tempo. Isak and Gordon were isolated, while the midfield trio of Tonali, Willock, and Longstaff were repeatedly overrun.
“We didn’t match their intensity. That’s the bottom line,” admitted Howe post-match. “Pre-season is about learning, and we’ve learned a lot tonight.”
Only Anthony Gordon showed flashes of intent, but even he struggled to make an impact against Johnston’s resolute defending.
Standout Performers
- Kieran Tierney (Celtic): A dream return. One goal, one assist, countless overlaps, and a thunderous reception. Tierney was the heartbeat of Celtic’s dominant display.
- Matt O’Riley (Celtic): The Danish midfielder’s intelligence and movement gave Celtic an edge between the lines. Opened the scoring and orchestrated transitions effectively.
- Luis Palma (Celtic): A goal and an assist. Palma’s directness and combination play with Tierney wreaked havoc on Newcastle’s right side.
- Callum McGregor (Celtic): Controlled the tempo. Silky as ever in possession and tactically disciplined.
Tactical Observations
- Tierney’s Inverted Runs: His occasional movement into midfield allowed Hatate to advance and created numerical superiority, key to Celtic’s dominance.
- Pressing Triggers: Celtic pressed Newcastle every time the ball was played laterally across the back four — often forcing errant passes or panicked clearances.
- Verticality Over Possession: Rodgers emphasized progression through the thirds rather than sterile build-up — a shift from past pre-seasons.
- Full-Back Overloads: With Tierney on the left and Johnston occasionally inverting on the right, Celtic stretched Newcastle’s midfield and opened wide passing lanes.
Fan Reactions Euphoria and Belief
Celtic fans, both at Parkhead and across social media, were ecstatic. The return of Tierney — combined with a statement performance — reignited belief heading into the new campaign.
On X, the hashtag #TierneyReturns trended throughout the night. One fan wrote:
“Not just a win — it felt like we got a piece of our heart back. Tierney was everything tonight.”
Others praised Rodgers for blending experience with youthful energy. The inclusion of players like Nawrocki, Palma, and Maeda alongside veterans shows promise for the season ahead.
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