Camilo Duran once again stole the spotlight as Celtic wrapped up their pre‑season itinerary with a lively 2‑2 draw against Serie A giants AC Milan. The Colombian forward was directly involved in both Celtic’s opening goals, finding the net himself and then setting up a teammate, before a rapid double from teenage Italian striker Francesco Camarda turned the match into a tie.
From the first whistle, Celtic looked intent on imposing their style. The breakthrough came early when a mis‑controlled back‑pass by AC Milan defender Strahinja Pavlović slipped straight to Duran, who calmly slotted a left‑footed finish into the far corner. It was Duran’s third goal in as many pre‑season fixtures, underlining his growing importance to Martin O’Neill’s attacking plans.
The second Celtic strike was born out of another defensive lapse on the Milan side. Luke McCowan applied relentless pressure on the ball, forcing an error that saw the Milan keeper Lorenzo Torriani scramble for a loose pass. Duran pounced on the second‑ball, beat Torriani to the touchline and then delivered a precise cut‑back for James Forrest, whose powerful strike left the goalkeeper with no chance.
By the time the halftime whistle blew, Celtic were comfortably ahead, enjoying a two‑goal cushion. The second half, however, brought a dramatic shift in momentum.
After a flurry of substitutions, AC Milan emerged with renewed vigor. Just a minute after the restart, Camarda, who had been introduced as a substitute, earned a penalty when Cameron Carter‑Vickers was judged to have impeded him inside the box. The young striker stepped up and coolly dispatched the spot‑kick, reducing the deficit.
Six minutes later, Camarda completed his brace. A well‑timed cross from fellow substitute Samuel Chukwueze found the Italian forward’s head, and he nodded the ball home with clinical accuracy, leveling the score at 2‑2. The rapid response left Celtic re‑eling and highlighted the depth of talent in the Milan squad. Celtic’s bench also contributed to the spectacle.
Thomas Hatton, a promising youngster, made an energetic cameo, curling a shot that narrowly missed the target before forcing a late save from Torriani. His performance, though brief, demonstrated the kind of vigor O’Neill hopes to see from the next generation of Celtic players. In post‑match interviews, O’Neill praised the overall quality of the pre‑season campaign but admitted the team lost focus after the break.
“In terms of pre‑season, I really enjoyed it. I thought we did some really good things in the game. We just lost our concentration after half‑time,” he said.
He singled out Duran for special commendation, noting that if the forward can stay injury‑free, he will be a valuable asset for the upcoming season. O’Neill also emphasized the importance of giving younger players a chance, remarking, “It would be nice to see some more of the young players, they’ve been with us in pre‑season. Tom Hatton did well to take players on, which is a dying art.
It’s really encouraging and there is a battle on to get into the side.” 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 that day. While his departure was celebrated, it underscored the transitional phase the club is navigating. Looking ahead, Celtic’s focus now turns to the start of the Scottish Premiership campaign. The team will host Dundee on August 3 in a kickoff slated for 7.30 pm, broadcast live on Sky Sports.
This opening fixture caps a historic weekend for Scottish football, with all six top‑flight matches scheduled for live television for the first time. Fans can follow Celtic’s full league schedule, including the eagerly anticipated Old Firm clash, via the club’s official channels.
Beyond the immediate footballing narrative, the pre‑season encounter offered a glimpse into tactical experiments. O’Neill experimented with a high‑pressing approach, using McCowan’s pressure to force errors, while also testing the versatility of midfielders like Hatton and the impact of wide players such as Chukwueze. The balanced blend of experienced heads and youthful exuberance will be crucial as Celtic aims to defend their Scottish Premiership title.
In summary, the 2‑2 draw against AC Milan provided both a showcase of individual brilliance—particularly from Camilo Duran and Francesco Camarda—and a valuable learning experience for the squad. The match highlighted areas for improvement, especially maintaining concentration throughout the full 90 minutes, while also affirming the depth of talent available to O’Neill. As the season approaches, Celtic will look to build on the positives, tighten up defensively, and translate pre‑season promise into league success.