Camilo Duran once again stole the spotlight as Celtic capped off their pre‑season programme with an exciting 2‑2 draw against Serie A giants AC Milan. The Colombian forward was directly involved in both of Celtic's goals, finding the back of the net himself and setting up a second‑half strike, before a rapid‑fire double from teenage Italian forward Francesco Camarda snatched a point away from the Scottish side.
The opening salvo came early in the first half when Duran, who has now scored in three consecutive pre‑season matches, capitalised on a defensive lapse from AC Milan’s centre‑back Strahinja Pavlovic. Pavlovic attempted a back‑pass that was poorly weighted, allowing Duran to intercept the ball, turn inside his own half and unleash a precise left‑footed shot that curled into the top corner.
The goal gave Celtic an early advantage and underscored Duran’s growing reputation as a clinical finisher. Celtic’s second goal was the product of another mistake deep in Milan’s defensive third. Luke McCowan, pressing aggressively, forced a mis‑control that saw the ball fall to Duran once more.
This time the Colombian sprinted past the on‑rushing goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani, collected the loose ball and laid it off to the experienced winger James Forrest. Forrest, with a powerful run down the right flank, cut inside and struck a thunderous shot that beat the keeper at the far post, extending Celtic’s lead to 2‑0.
The visitors appeared comfortable heading into the break, but the second half saw a flurry of substitutions from AC Milan that altered the tempo of the game. Just a minute after the restart, Camarda made his presence felt. The young striker was brought down inside the penalty area by Celtic defender Cameron Carter‑Vickers, prompting the referee to point to the spot.
Camarda stepped up and calmly slotted the penalty home, reducing the deficit to 2‑1 and injecting fresh belief into the Milan side. Only six minutes later, the Italian teenager completed his brace. A well‑timed cross from fellow substitute Samuel Chukwueze found Camarda’s head, and the youngster rose above the Celtic defence to direct a powerful header past the on‑coming goalkeeper, leveling the score at 2‑2. The rapid succession of goals highlighted Milan’s attacking potential and left Celtic with little time to respond.
Celtic also introduced Thomas Hatton off the bench, who made an energetic cameo. Hatton’s effort curled wide of the far post before forcing a late save from Torriani, demonstrating the depth of options available to manager Martin O’Neill in the attacking third.
In the post‑match interview, O’Neill reflected on the performance, saying, “Overall the pre‑season has been enjoyable. We executed several good moves during the game, but we lost concentration after the break.” He praised Duran, stating, “Camilo is a very talented player. If he stays injury‑free, he will be a huge asset for us.” O’Neill also lauded the contributions of the younger squad members, noting that Thomas Hatton’s willingness to take on senior players is a “dying art” that encourages healthy competition for places.
The match also marked a bittersweet moment for Celtic fans, as club legend Daizen Maeda completed his transfer to Premier League side Ipswich Town earlier in the day, ending his stint with the Glasgow club. Looking ahead, Celtic will launch their Scottish Premiership title defence on 3 August, hosting Dundee at Celtic Park. The fixture, scheduled for a 7.30 pm kick‑off, will be broadcast live on Sky Sports as part of a historic opening weekend that sees all six top‑flight games shown live for the first time. Fans can view the full list of Celtic’s league fixtures, including the eagerly anticipated Old Firm clash, on the club’s official website.
Beyond the on‑field action, Sky Sports is promoting its app for live streaming, encouraging viewers to download the platform for seamless access to matches and related content. The network also highlights additional football news sections covering Liverpool, Sunderland, and other clubs, as well as a promotional Super 6 competition offering a chance to win £250,000.
In summary, the 2‑2 draw against AC Milan provided a valuable test for Celtic’s squad ahead of the upcoming season. Duran’s goal and assist demonstrated his growing influence, while the young Italian duo’s quick response reminded Celtic of the fine margins that separate victory from a draw. The performance will give O’Neill plenty to assess as he finalises his lineup for the domestic campaign, with the hope that the momentum generated in pre‑season can be carried into competitive matches.