Keep up to date with the score and all the updates as Celtic finally return to action against OGC Nice in their first pre-season friendly.
FT Nice 1-1 Celtic
Good run out in the park for the Bhoys. Did not look the sharpest but that will come with a few more games.
90+2′
Nice have one final chance but the Celtic defence stands strong.
90′
Celtic enjoy a decent phase in the final third but just can’t find the final ball.
87′
Hazard snuffs out a Nice attack there. It will be interesting to see whether he has a bigger role this season.
83′
Game has settled down a bit here.
73′
GOAL! Brilliant pressure from Klimala to rob the keeper and then put it into the empty net. 1-1.
71′
Terrible miss fromm Bolingoli. Has to be at least hitting the target their. Gifted a chance. Positive link up play leading up to it though.
66′
Nice come very close to a second goal but ultimately they put their effort over the bar. Shaky defending from The Bhoys again.
62′
Celtic make 10 changes. Let’s see how this team does.
61′
A penalty shout for Celtic as Forrest goes down in the box but the referee is not interested.
60′
An hour gone. Both sides have similar possession but Nice looking like the more direct and dangerous side in the final third. Celtic have had some good attacking moments in this half though.
56′
Christie has another shot on target but straight at the keeper.
53′
This defence is looking shaky whenever under pressure. Might be tiring since this is their first game in a long, long time. Might be time to bring in a few subs on.
48′
Christie has a golden chance to make it 1-1 but puts it wide. Big miss.
HT Nice 1-0 Celtic
42′
Nice looking very much the better side right now as the Bhoys have faded away after a great start. Hopefully we will come out of the break refreshed.
39′
GOAL! That was a brilliant goal from Nice to be honest as Dolberg dances past five Celtic defenders before slotting it past Bain. 1-0 to Nice.
37′
That was a dangerous attack from Nice but the Bhoys clear somehow.
35′
Christie has a punt from distance. Not even close though.
33′
Some good football there from Nice. Frimpong does well not to concede a corner.
30′
Half an hour gone. Things are still 0-0 although VAR did controversially rule out Edouard’s first.
25′
Another chance for Celtic but Edouard puts it wide from the volley. It is showing that it is his first game in months.
22′
Celtic go close again. But decent save from the Nice goalkeeper. Still 0-0.
20′
Nice have a corner and they come very close but a decent stop from Bain. The hosts put the rebound over the bar.
19′
A huge chance from Edouard from a cross. Straight to his head. Should have put that away but heads wide. Still 0-0.
17′
That was a decent attack from Nice down the left but nothing comes off it.
16′
The Bhoys with all the early pressure here. Great start to pre-season.
10′
Some great play between Edouard and Forrest there.
VAR
Edouard’s goal has been disallowed. It is still 0-0.
GOAL
Edouard scores! What a start! What a comeback! Let’s go.
Kick Off
We are back!
Celtic Starting XI
Scott Bain
Jeremie Frimpong
Christopher Jullien
Kristoffer Ajer
Greg Taylor
Scott Brown (c)
Callum McGregor
James Forrest
Ryan Christie
Mohamed Elyounoussi
Odsonne Edouard
The wait is finally over! Yes, it has been a long time but the Bhoys are finally back in action.
It has been more than four months without no football for Celtic fans, the longest in recent memory. But with the world slowly but surely returning to normalcy, the Hoops are also ready to kick start their campaign to capture a 10th straight Scottish league title.
They will be playing three glamour pre-season ties away in France in order to get back to match fitness and the first of them is against OGC Nice.
Neil Lennon has named a very strong starting XI with all the big guns featuring. Many fans would even argue that this is the strongest team that the club will have next season unless some players are in brought in the transfer window who can break into the first team.
It will be very interesting to see how Scott Bain performs in this game as it is his position in the starting XI which is the weakest at this point of time. The club are expected to bring in reinforcements between the sticks but a strong showing in the pre-season tournament could end up changing Neil Lennon’s mind.