Sporting CP vs Celtic - Friendlies Clubs

The Friendlies Clubs returns to the home ground on July 14, 2026, where Sporting CP and Celtic will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. That coronation came from City's £116m summer signing Elliot Anderson - and has been hotly debated in the build-up to the Manchester derby Super Sunday showdown at Old Trafford, which you can watch live on Sky Sports.

There is little to choose between Sporting CP and Celtic on paper, and the Friendlies Clubs encounter should reflect that balance. Sporting CP's recent form is difficult to quantify, but the occasion itself should bring the best out of them. The visitors will back themselves to cause problems and will not make the trip expecting an easy afternoon. Those who followed Morocco's recent World Cup campaign will recognise the name Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Wing play is likely to be central to the contest. Sporting CP will look to stretch the pitch and isolate their wide attackers, while Celtic must find a way to compress the space and choke the supply lines. The Germany club were said to be looking for an out-and-out striker to allow Harry Kane to play a deeper role, and made an approach for Sesko in 2024.

Individual moments of quality could tip the balance. Both sides possess players capable of producing something out of nothing, and a single flash of brilliance may be all that separates them. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. Iraola is on record as an admirer of the former Borussia Dortmund coach who honed his ideas in the Red Bull school where looking forward and pressing high up the pitch are viewed as non-negotiables.

Without the market to lean on, the contest feels genuinely open — and the outcome may come down to which side handles the occasion better. A share of the spoils looks the most probable outcome, with neither side holding a decisive edge — a 1-1 draw feels like a fitting result. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the Friendlies Clubs standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. Fulham's Antonee Robinson could be one of those, who would likely be a cheaper alternative to Hall, who has just enjoyed a breakout season with the Magpies.