Camilo Duran once again stole the spotlight as Celtic closed out their pre‑season programme with an exciting 2‑2 draw against Serie A giants AC Milan. The Colombian forward was directly involved in both Celtic’s opening goals, scoring one himself and laying the pass for the other, before a rapid double from teenage Italian striker Francesco Camarda turned the match into a draw. The first half belonged to Celtic. Duran opened his account for the third consecutive friendly, finding the net after a surprising mis‑cue from Celtic defender Strahinja Pavlovic.
Pavlovic’s errant back‑pass fell to Duran, who calmly slotted a left‑footed strike into the far corner, giving the visitors an early lead and setting the tone for the rest of the half. The momentum continued when Luke McCowan pressed high on the Milan back‑line, forcing a defensive lapse. Duran pounced on the loose ball, beat goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani and then supplied a precise cut‑back for James Forrest, who thundered home with a powerful finish. By the time the referee blew for halftime, Celtic were comfortably ahead, having capitalised on two defensive errors from the Italians.
The second half saw Milan make a flurry of changes, injecting fresh legs and a more attacking mindset. The adjustment paid immediate dividends.
Just a minute after the restart, Milan were awarded a penalty when centre‑back Cameron Carter‑Vickers was judged to have brought Camarda down inside the box. The young striker stepped up and calmly dispatched the spot‑kick, reducing the deficit. Six minutes later, Camarda completed his brace, this time with a well‑timed header from a pinpoint cross delivered by fellow substitute Samuel Chukwueze on the right flank.
The goal restored parity and shifted the momentum in Milan’s favour. Celtic’s bench also featured some notable contributions. Thomas Hatton, who entered the game as a substitute, tried to reignite the Celtic attack with a curling effort that narrowly missed the target before forcing a late save from Torriani.
Despite these efforts, Celtic could not find a third goal, and the match ended in a 2‑2 stalemate. In post‑match comments, Celtic manager Martin O'Neill praised the overall quality of the pre‑season fixtures, noting that his side had demonstrated good football but slipped in concentration after the break. He singled out Duran as a “really good player,” emphasizing that if the Colombian can stay injury‑free, he will be a valuable asset for the upcoming campaign.
O'Neill also highlighted the importance of giving younger squad members a chance to impress, commending Thomas Hatton for his willingness to take on opponents – a skill he described as a “dying art.” The friendly also marked a bittersweet moment for Celtic fans, as cult favourite Daizen Maeda completed his transfer to Premier League side Ipswich Town earlier in the day, meaning the club had to say goodbye to one of its most beloved recent signings. Looking ahead, Celtic’s focus now turns to the start of the Scottish Premiership. The team will kick off their title‑defence at home against Dundee on August 3, with the match slated for a 7.30 pm kickoff and broadcast live on Sky Sports.
This opening fixture is part of a historic weekend in which all six top‑flight games will be shown live on the network for the first time. Fans can view the full schedule of Celtic’s league matches, including the date of the season’s first Old Firm encounter, by following the club’s official channels. Beyond the on‑field action, the pre‑season also featured promotional content from Sky Sports, encouraging viewers to download the Sky Sports app for live streaming and to watch additional football coverage, including updates on Liverpool and Sunderland transfers.
The article also included a reminder to use the Chrome browser for an optimal video‑player experience and a call‑to‑action for a Super 6 competition offering a £250,000 prize. Overall, the 2‑2 draw against AC Milan provided Celtic with a useful test of their attacking options and defensive resilience ahead of a demanding season. While the result was not a win, the performances of Duran, Forrest, and the young substitutes offered encouraging signs that the squad possesses depth and talent capable of competing at the highest level in Scottish football.