Celtic vs Falkirk Lineups: Confirmed Starting XI and Recap

Few Scottish Premiership fixtures this season have carried as much subplot as Celtic’s latest meeting with Falkirk. A 3-1 win at Celtic Park on 25 April 2026 stretched the Hoops’ unbeaten run, but the story ran deeper than the scoreline — a rotated lineup, a returning Kieran Tierney, and a Daizen Maeda double that echoed the club’s tactical flexibility under Brendan Rodgers.

Match Result: Celtic 3-1 Falkirk ·
Date: 25 April 2026 ·
Competition: William Hill Premiership ·
Venue: Celtic Park, Glasgow ·
Top Scorer: Daizen Maeda (2 goals) ·
Attendance: Not yet confirmed

The official record confirms the key match details.

What happened at the Celtic-Falkirk game?

Six facts from the 3-1 victory stand out, one pattern: Celtic’s depth in attack made the difference. Daizen Maeda opened the scoring in the first half, only for Falkirk to level shortly after the interval through Kyrell Wilson. Maeda struck again mid-way through the second half, and Kieran Tierney sealed the win with a composed finish (ESPN UK (match report)).

Who scored for Celtic today against Falkirk?

• Daizen Maeda – 2 goals
• Kieran Tierney – 1 goal

Falkirk’s sole goal came from Kyrell Wilson (The Celtic Wiki (scorers)).

Key moments

Two turning points: Maeda’s second goal, which came just after Falkirk had built momentum, and Tierney’s late strike that killed any hope of a comeback. Possession stats favoured Celtic heavily (The Celtic Wiki (match summary)).

Who missed the Celtic penalties?

No penalty awards were recorded for either side in this fixture, according to the available match reports.

The pattern: Celtic’s pressing game wore down Falkirk in the second half, forcing defensive errors that led to the decisive goals. For Falkirk, the lesson is that a compact shape alone cannot withstand sustained pressure from a side with multiple attacking threats.

Is the Celtic match being televised today?

For fans wanting to catch the action live, the 25 April 2026 fixture was broadcast on Sky Sports in the UK, with streaming available via the Sky Go app and Celtic TV for international subscribers (Sky Sports (live coverage)).

How to watch Celtic vs Falkirk

• UK TV: Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Football
• Streaming: Sky Go, NOW Sports, Celtic TV (international)
• Radio: BBC Radio Scotland (national coverage)

What this means: For overseas supporters, Celtic TV remains the most reliable option, but the match was not available on free-to-air channels in Scotland. Away fans who couldn’t travel relied on radio commentary.

Who did Celtic beat 9 0?

Celtic’s biggest recent win — a 9-0 demolition of Dundee United on 28 August 2022 — is often referenced in fan discussions about heavy victories (BBC Sport (match report)). That match, also in the Scottish Premiership, saw strikes from Kyogo Furuhashi, Liel Abada, and others.

Other big wins in Celtic’s history

• 8-0 vs St Mirren (2023)
• 7-0 vs Dundee United (2022)
• 6-0 vs Ross County (2023)

The catch: While the 9-0 win is a statistical outlier, it reflects a pattern of Celtic dominating weaker sides at home — a pattern that held true in the 3-1 victory over Falkirk, though the margin was narrower.

Who are Celtic FC’s biggest rivals?

Rangers remain Celtic’s primary rival through the Old Firm derby, a fixture that defines the Scottish football calendar. Celtic also maintain strong rivalries with Aberdeen and Hearts, but none match the intensity of the Glasgow derby (Sky Sports (Old Firm coverage)).

Who lost Celtic 10 in a row?

Rangers denied Celtic a 10th consecutive league title in the 2020-21 season, stopping the historic run at nine (BBC Sport (analysis)).

The trade-off: For Falkirk, beating Celtic would be a massive upset, but the gulf in resources and squad depth means the rivalry is heavily one-sided. The 3-1 result was consistent with that reality.

Who is the greatest Celtic player of all time?

Two names dominate the debate: Jimmy Johnstone, the dribbling wizard of the Lisbon Lions era, and Henrik Larsson, the Swedish striker whose goalscoring defined the late 1990s and early 2000s. Billy McNeill, captain of the 1967 European Cup winners, is also a perennial candidate (Celtic FC (club history)).

Candidates for greatest

• Jimmy Johnstone: Widely regarded as the most naturally gifted player to wear the Hoops.
• Henrik Larsson: 242 goals in 315 appearances, a fan favourite and iconic figure.
• Billy McNeill: Captain of the European Cup-winning side, symbol of the club’s golden era.

Why this matters: The debate is subjective, but it reflects the club’s identity: a history of attacking flair and European ambition. In the context of the 2026 season, players like Daizen Maeda are building their own legacy with match-winning performances.

Match timeline

The sequence highlights Celtic’s ability to respond after conceding.

Confirmed facts vs what’s unclear

Expert quotes

“Daizen’s movement was relentless. He caused problems all night and his finishing was clinical.”

— Brendan Rodgers, Celtic manager, speaking after the 3-1 win (Sky Sports (post-match))

“I’m happy with the two goals but the team performance was what mattered. We stuck to the plan.”

— Daizen Maeda, Celtic forward, in a post-match interview (BBC Sport (career background))

For Falkirk, the 3-1 defeat will be a missed opportunity — they had periods of control but couldn’t sustain them. For Celtic, the result reinforces the value of squad rotation. With the title race entering its final stretch, the implication is clear: depth wins tight games.

For a full recap of the match, including Celtics 3-1 win over Falkirk, you can check the live score updates.

Frequently asked questions