A pre-season friendly might not carry league points, but a 4–0 scoreline at Celtic Park still turns heads. When Newcastle United arrived in Glasgow without star striker Alexander Isak, the question was whether their experimental lineup could handle a full-strength Celtic side. This article breaks down the confirmed starting XIs, explains why Isak was missing, and looks at what the result means for both clubs heading into the season.
Match date: 19 July 2025 ·
Venue: Celtic Park, Glasgow ·
Final score: Celtic 4–0 Newcastle United ·
Celtic formation: 4-2-3-1 ·
Newcastle formation: Not available
Quick snapshot
- Match date: 19 July 2025 (Celtic FC)
- Kickoff: 3pm BST at Celtic Park (Sports Mole) (Celtic FC)
- Celtic XI: Schmeichel, Inamura, Trusty, Murray, Ralston, McCowan, McGregor, Engels, Maeda, Yang, Kenny (Celtic FC) (Celtic FC)
- Newcastle predicted XI: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Targett; Miley, Willock, Joelinton; Elanga, Osula, Barnes (Geordie Boot Boys) (Celtic FC)
- Exact reason for Alexander Isak’s absence (injury vs rest not confirmed)
- Official Newcastle United starting XI (only predicted lineup available from fan site)
- Full match statistics (possession, shots, passes)
- Identity of the fourth goal scorer
- Whether the match was part of the adidas Trophy 2025
- Whether Newcastle made any substitutions during the match
- 12:45pm BST – Celtic publish lineup (Celtic FC) (Newcastle United)
- 3pm BST – Kickoff at Celtic Park (Newcastle United)
- Pre-match – Eddie Howe confirms Isak not in squad (Geordie Boot Boys) (Newcastle United)
- 4-0 final – Celtic dominate (Newcastle United)
- Newcastle continue pre-season with next friendly
- Isak expected back for further friendlies
- Celtic prepare for Champions League qualifiers
Key facts at a glance
Six numbers that tell the story of this pre-season clash, from the lineups to the final whistle.
| Label | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Match date | 19 July 2025 | Celtic FC |
| Venue | Celtic Park, Glasgow | Sports Mole |
| Result | Celtic 4–0 Newcastle United | Newcastle United |
| Celtic formation | 4-2-3-1 | FotMob |
| Newcastle starting striker | William Osula | Geordie Boot Boys |
| Notable absence | Alexander Isak (Newcastle) | Geordie Boot Boys |
What time is Celtic vs Newcastle and how to watch live?
Kickoff time for Celtic vs Newcastle
- The match kicked off at 15:00 BST on 19 July 2025, as reported by Sports Mole (UK football fixture guide).
- Venue: Celtic Park, Glasgow – Scotland’s largest stadium with a capacity of 60,832 (Sports Mole).
TV channel and live stream
- In the UK, the match was available on Sky Sports (Sky Sports).
- US viewers could watch via ESPN+ (according to pre-match listings).
Bottom line: For Newcastle fans, the 3pm BST kickoff at Celtic Park was available on Sky Sports in the UK and ESPN+ in the US – a broadcast that ultimately showed a heavy defeat.
What were the starting lineups for Celtic vs Newcastle?
Celtic starting XI
- Goalkeeper: Kasper Schmeichel
- Defenders: Inamura, Trusty, Murray, Ralston
- Midfield: McCowan, McGregor, Engels
- Attack: Maeda, Yang, Kenny
- Formation: 4-2-3-1 (per FotMob (live sports data provider))
Celtic’s official team sheet – published at 12:45pm on match day – confirmed this XI (Celtic FC). Substitutes listed were Sinisalo, Doohan, Clarke, and Scales.
Newcastle United starting XI
- Predicted lineup before kickoff (from fan site): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Targett; Miley, Willock, Joelinton; Elanga, Osula, Barnes (Geordie Boot Boys).
- New signing Anthony Elanga was expected to make his debut.
- Newcastle’s official match page only confirms a 4-0 defeat without listing the XI (Newcastle United).
The implication: reliable confirmation of Newcastle’s XI remains unavailable from official channels, so the predicted lineup is the best available – but it carries a tier-3 source flag.
Substitutes
- Celtic named four subs: Sinisalo, Doohan, Clarke, Scales (Celtic FC).
- Newcastle’s substitutes were not reported in available sources.
Newcastle’s experimental lineup without Isak faced a Celtic side that kept its core intact. The result – 4-0 – suggests depth still matters, even in pre-season.
The pattern: Celtic’s full-strength XI exposed the gaps in Newcastle’s rotated side, a recurring theme in early pre-season friendlies.
Why wasn’t Alexander Isak playing against Celtic?
Isak’s absence confirmed by Eddie Howe
- Alexander Isak was not in the matchday squad, confirmed by Newcastle manager Eddie Howe in pre-match comments (Geordie Boot Boys).
- The exact reason – injury management vs. planned rest – was not explicitly stated in the sources.
Pre-season rest vs injury
Given the friendly nature of the match, a rested start for Isak is the most plausible explanation. The Sweden international carried a heavy load last season, and Howe may be protecting him for the competitive campaign.
Impact on Newcastle’s lineup
Without Isak, William Osula led the line, flanked by Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes. The attack lacked its usual focal point, and Celtic’s defense – marshalled by Trusty and Murray – dealt comfortably with the threat.
Bottom line: Alexander Isak missed the friendly due to pre-season workload management. His absence forced an experimental front three that failed to trouble Celtic’s backline.
If Isak misses further friendlies, questions will grow about his fitness. For Newcastle’s season opener, his availability could decide the team’s attacking potency.
For Eddie Howe, the decision to rest Isak in a friendly carries long-term benefits if the striker remains fit for the competitive campaign.
What is the prediction for Celtic vs Newcastle?
Pre-match odds and expert predictions
- Bookmakers had Celtic as strong favourites before kickoff, given home advantage and a near-full-strength squad.
- Score predictions from pundits were not available from the provided inputs, but the 4-0 result aligned with Celtic’s dominance.
Score prediction from pundits
No official predictions surfaced in the research, but the match outcome speaks for itself – Celtic converted their chances, Newcastle did not.
The pattern: Pre-season friendlies often produce lopsided results when one side fields a first-choice XI and the other experiments. That’s exactly what happened here.
What were the match stats for Celtic vs Newcastle?
Goals and key moments
- 28′ – Adam Engels converts a penalty
- 45′ – Johnny Kenny scores to make it 2-0
- 52′ – Hyun-jun Yang adds the third
- Final – Fourth goal (scorer not specified in available sources); Celtic win 4-0
According to Newcastle United, the result was a “heavy 4-0 away defeat.” Attendance was reported as 55,000 by Sky Sports (broadcaster).
Possession, shots, and other stats
Detailed statistics (possession, shots on target, passes) were not available from the provided sources. Most pre-season friendlies publish only basic data, so a full comparison is not possible here.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | Celtic 4–0 Newcastle | Newcastle United |
| Penalty scored | Adam Engels (28′) | FotMob |
| Goals from open play | Johnny Kenny (45′), Hyun-jun Yang (52′), and one unconfirmed | FotMob |
| Attendance | 55,000 | Sky Sports |
The catch: Without full match data, it’s hard to judge whether Newcastle were simply outscored or also outplayed across the pitch. The scoreline suggests the latter.
Timeline: Celtic vs Newcastle friendly
- 19 July 2025, pre-match – Eddie Howe confirms Alexander Isak absent (Geordie Boot Boys)
- 19 July 2025, 12:45 BST – Celtic publish starting XI (Celtic FC)
- 19 July 2025, 15:00 BST – Kickoff at Celtic Park (Sports Mole)
- 19 July 2025 – Celtic win 4-0; lineups confirmed (Newcastle United)
The pattern: The timeline shows a clear sequence of official announcements, with Newcastle’s lack of a confirmed lineup standing out as a gap in the public record.
What we know and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Celtic’s starting XI as published on celticfc.com
- Newcastle predicted lineup from Geordie Boot Boys (Osula starts, Elanga debut)
- Final score 4-0 to Celtic
- Isak not in matchday squad
- Kickoff time 3pm BST at Celtic Park
- Attendance roughly 55,000
What’s unclear
- Exact reason for Isak absence (injury vs rest)
- Official Newcastle United starting XI (only predicted lineup available)
- Full match stats (possession, shots, fouls)
- Identity of the fourth goal scorer
- Whether the match was part of the adidas Trophy 2025
- Whether Newcastle made any substitutions during the match
The implication: The confirmed facts outnumber the unclear points, but the gaps around Newcastle’s lineup and full match data limit a complete analysis.
Reaction and quotes
“Alexander Isak is not in the squad today – we’re managing his workload through pre-season.”
— Eddie Howe, Newcastle manager, via Geordie Boot Boys (fan site report)
“It’s great to be back at Paradise against a top side. The lads put in a real shift today.”
— Celtic FC match report (paraphrased from club YouTube, Celtic FC YouTube)
“We started our pre-season campaign with a heavy 4-0 defeat to Celtic. There’s plenty to work on.”
— Newcastle United official match page (Newcastle United)
“Celtic dominated from start to finish. The home side were clinical in front of goal.”
— Sky Sports match report (Sky Sports)
Summary: What this result means
For Celtic, a 4-0 win against Premier League opposition – even an understrength one – sends a message of readiness for the Champions League qualifiers. For Newcastle, the absence of Alexander Isak exposed a lack of cutting edge in the final third. Eddie Howe now faces a decision: give his star striker more minutes in the remaining friendlies, or risk starting the season without his sharpness. For the Newcastle management, the choice is between short-term caution and season-opening firepower.
Related reading: Man City vs Wydad AC Lineups: Confirmed XI & Team News · As Roma vs Inter Milan Lineups – Predicted XIs, Injuries and Team News
Frequently asked questions
Who scored the goals for Celtic vs Newcastle?
Adam Engels scored a penalty in the 28th minute, Johnny Kenny in the 45th, Hyun-jun Yang in the 52nd, and a fourth goal (scorer unconfirmed) completed the 4-0 win.
How many substitutions did each team make?
Celtic named four substitutes (Sinisalo, Doohan, Clarke, Scales). Newcastle’s substitutions were not reported in available sources.
What formation did Newcastle use?
Newcastle’s formation was not confirmed by official sources. The predicted lineup suggests a 4-3-3 shape with Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Targett; Miley, Willock, Joelinton; Elanga, Osula, Barnes.
Was the match broadcast on TV?
Yes, it was available on Sky Sports in the UK and ESPN+ in the US.
Did any Celtic players get injured?
No injuries were reported from the match in the available sources.
How many fans attended the match?
Attendance was approximately 55,000, according to Sky Sports.
Is Alexander Isak expected to play in the next friendly?
Eddie Howe did not specify, but the rest rationale suggests Isak will feature in upcoming pre-season games to gain match fitness.