🟢 Celtic Enter a Crucial Phase: Europe Beckons, Domestic Battle Tightens, and Another Pause Looms
As the early chapters of the 2025/26 season unfold, Celtic are now staring down a pivotal run of fixtures that could define the rhythm and results of their campaign — both at home and abroad. Brendan Rodgers’ side has so far shown moments of real quality, flashes of resilience, and signs of cohesion, but consistency remains the key ingredient yet to be fully unlocked.
With both domestic and continental challenges fast approaching, the coming fortnight will place huge demands on the squad. It’s a period where momentum must be built, composure must be kept, and Celtic’s ambitions for the season — on both fronts — must begin to take real shape.
The fixture list offers no favours: a cauldron of noise and pressure in Belgrade, the ever-unforgiving expectations of Celtic Park, a double-header in Europe, and a title race that’s already heating up. All of this before yet another early-season interruption, with international duty once again breaking the flow of the campaign.
Let’s take a closer look at what lies ahead for the Bhoys.
🇪🇺 A Fierce European Test First Up: Red Star Belgrade vs Celtic
Date: Wednesday, September 25
Competition: UEFA Europa League Group Stage – Matchday 1
Venue: Rajko Mitić Stadium, Belgrade
There are few places more hostile in European football than the Rajko Mitić Stadium — better known to locals as the Marakana. With flares, flags, chants, and ceaseless pressure from the stands, Red Star Belgrade make their home ground a fortress, and Celtic will have to weather a storm both on and off the pitch.
Red Star, a club rich in European history and fiercely dominant in the Serbian SuperLiga, will not roll out a welcome mat for the Scottish champions. Known for their physicality and high-energy pressing at home, they will look to rattle Celtic early.
For Brendan Rodgers, this is an early acid test of his side’s tactical maturity. Can they keep their shape under pressure? Will the midfield hold their nerve? Can the backline deal with the aerial threat and set pieces?
The atmosphere in Belgrade demands leadership, composure, and resilience — traits Rodgers will hope are ingrained by now. A draw would be a very respectable result. A win? A statement.
🏴 Back to Home Turf: Hibernian Make the Trip to Parkhead
Date: Saturday, September 28
Competition: Scottish Premiership
Venue: Celtic Park
Just three days after returning from Serbia, Celtic return to the comforts — and expectations — of Celtic Park, as Hibernian come calling. This won’t be a fixture to take lightly. Hibs, while inconsistent in the past, have caused problems for the Hoops over the years and bring with them a degree of unpredictability and attacking flair.
More importantly, this match is vital because of how finely balanced the Premiership title race already is. Celtic and Hearts currently sit neck-and-neck at the top of the table, and neither side can afford to blink.
With Europe taking a toll physically, this fixture becomes a test of rotation and recovery. Will Rodgers make wholesale changes, or does he stick with the spine of the team to keep rhythm?
At home, Celtic are expected to dominate possession and create chances — but Hibs will look to frustrate and strike on the counter. A fast start, intelligent midfield control, and clinical finishing will be essential to secure three points that could carry significant weight come May.
🇵🇹 Braga Bring European Class to Glasgow
Date: Thursday, October 2
Competition: UEFA Europa League Group Stage – Matchday 2
Venue: Celtic Park
Kick-off: 17:45 (note the earlier time)
The European nights keep coming, and less than a week after the trip to Serbia, Celtic welcome Portuguese side Braga to Glasgow. The fixture promises technical quality, tactical intrigue, and no shortage of drama.
Braga are a side familiar with European competition. They’re typically aggressive in attack, quick in transition, and tactically fluid. For Celtic, this is likely to be a very different kind of challenge than Red Star. Instead of facing raw power and pressure, they’ll contend with intelligence, movement, and midfield intricacy.
The early kick-off time means preparation will need to be especially focused, with matchday routines and training altered to suit the schedule. For fans, it’s another European home night to savour — and a chance for the players to make Celtic Park a fortress on the continental stage once again.
A victory here would go a long way toward qualifying from the group. With a potential six points from two games on offer, this is a golden opportunity for Rodgers and company.
🟢 Final Push Before the Break: Motherwell Visit Parkhead
Date: Sunday, October 5
Competition: Scottish Premiership
Venue: Celtic Park
As the squad begins to feel the weight of back-to-back big matches, Celtic’s final hurdle before the October international break comes in the form of Motherwell.
In theory, this is a fixture the Hoops should be winning. But it’s also the kind of match that becomes dangerous when legs are tired and minds are looking ahead to rest. Motherwell, while not title contenders, have had moments of resilience and are more than capable of springing a surprise if Celtic are off their game.
Rodgers will be tested here — not in terms of tactics alone, but in managing energy, focus, and squad rotation. He’ll need to balance resting key players with ensuring the team remains strong enough to deliver the performance required.
There’s also the psychological side: ending this intense period with a win sends the team into the break on a high. Dropping points here, however, would undo some of the progress made.
🌍 Another International Break — But the Last of Its Kind
After the Motherwell match, the 2025/26 season pauses once more for international fixtures. It’s the second break in less than two months, a situation that has drawn criticism from managers across Europe for disrupting club momentum.
But there is change on the horizon. From next season, the October international window will be scrapped altogether, with the September break extended to allow national teams to complete their commitments. The idea is to give clubs a clearer run of games and reduce fixture pile-up later in the season.
For Celtic, this may come too late. In the meantime, Rodgers must again contend with the disruption — players flying out across the world, the risk of injuries, and the loss of cohesion just as the team may be finding their groove.
🔁 Post-Break Restart: A Chance to Build Consistency
Celtic will return to action on Saturday, October 19, with an away trip to Dundee. It will be a lunchtime kick-off, setting the tone for the next phase of the campaign.
This period — post-international break — will be critical. With a more settled run of matches, fewer interruptions, and more data on how his squad is performing, Rodgers will look to inject consistency, fluency, and identity into his team.
The challenges don’t disappear, but they become more manageable with rhythm. Europa League group matches will continue, the domestic cup competitions will come into view, and the title race will only intensify.
But with the right management, momentum is achievable — and that could be the difference between a promising campaign and a truly special one.
🧠 Key Themes and Challenges Ahead
As we look ahead, several themes emerge for Celtic in this crucial period:
⚖️ Squad Rotation & Depth
With matches every 3–4 days, Rodgers must use his full squad. Younger players, fringe players, and returning injuries will all play a role. Depth isn’t just useful now — it’s essential.
🧱 Building a Defensive Foundation
European success depends on defensive stability, especially away from home. The back line must be organized, confident under pressure, and quick to recover.
🎯 Finishing Matters
In close matches — and there will be plenty — it’s all about converting chances. Celtic’s forwards must be clinical.
🧠 Mental Resilience
Hostile crowds, fixture congestion, travel, rotation — this is a period that tests mental strength as much as footballing ability.
🗓️ Celtic Fixture Summary (Sept–Oct 2025)
Date Fixture Competition Venue Note
Sept 25 (Wed) Red Star Belgrade vs Celtic Europa League Away Group stage opener
Sept 28 (Sat) Celtic vs Hibernian Scottish Premiership Home Domestic pressure
Oct 2 (Thurs) Celtic vs Braga Europa League Home Early KO: 17:45
Oct 5 (Sun) Celtic vs Motherwell Scottish Premiership Home Final match before break
Oct 6–18 International Break — — Another disruption
Oct 19 (Sat) Dundee vs Celtic Scottish Premiership Away Lunchtime KO