St Mirren handed opening day trip to champions Celtic amid tough start
St Mirren were today handed a daunting trip to champions Celtic on the opening day of the new Premiership season.
After ending the 2024-25 campaign in Glasgow's east end, the Buddies will return to Celtic Park to begin their 2025-26 adventure on Sunday, August 3.
There will be a sense of occasion as the Hoops unfurl the champions' flag before the match which is to be shown live on Sky Sports.
Saints drew 1-1 when the sides last met as Jonah Ayunga's opener was cancelled out in injury time by James Forrest.
The first home game of the season will be on Saturday, August 9, when Jens Berthel Askou's Motherwell visit the SMiSA Stadium. Stephen Robinson's men face three of last season's top six in the opening month of the new term.
Russell Martin's Rangers arrive at Greenhill Road on the weekend of Saturday, August 23 with a trip to Hibernian the following weekend.
No winter break is planned and, as it stands, there will also be no games in the Premiership on Boxing Day and January 2, 2026.
There are five midweek league games planned pre-split at this stage with Saints hosting Hearts on both Wednesday, October 29 and Wednesday, February 4.
A trip to Pittodrie to face Aberdeen has been scheduled for Wednesday, December 3. Saints go to Ibrox to face Rangers on Tuesday, December 30 and visit Kilmarnock on Wednesday, February 11. The final pre-split fixture for Robbo will be a replica of the opening day as they travel to Celtic Park on Saturday, April 11.
On the opening weekend, there will only be one 3pm game taking place on the Saturday due to TV coverage and European commitments, with Killie hosting Premiership new boys Livingston.
Saints' clash with Celtic will be the fifth game played despite Brendan Rodgers' side being champions.
Robbo's men are back in pre-season training and face League Two Dumbarton in a friendly next Saturday, June 28, before jetting to Murcia for a Spanish training camp.
Meanwhile, former Buddies loan keeper Zach Hemming yesterday completed a move to Sky Bet League Two side Chesterfield from Middlesbrough.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
27 minutes ago
- The National
Brendan Rodgers names Celtic starting XI for Al Ahli clash
The Scottish Premiership champions round off their pre-season preparations with a match against the Saudi Arabian giants in the Como Cup. Celtic lost 5-1 to Ajax in their tournament opener on Thursday evening. Although Yang Hyun-jun drew them level in the first half after Steven Berghuis opened the scoring, goals from Davy Klaassen, Berghuis again, Aaron Bouwman and Rayane Bounida helped the Dutch giants to an emphatic victory. Read more: From the midweek clash, Rodgers has made 11 alterations to his lineup for tonight. Viljami Sinisalo comes in between the sticks, as Cameron Carter-Vickers captains the team in defence. There is also a first pre-season appearance for Alistair Johnston, as new signing Shin Yamada makes the bench. Tonight's game rounds off Celtic's pre-season preparations. They have won four of their friendlies so far, losing the other two. They return to domestic action next weekend when St Mirren visit Parkhead for flag day. Celtic XI to face Al Ahli: Sinisalo, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Inamura, Bernardo, McCowan, Engels, Forrest, Tilio, Kenny. Subs: Schmeichel, Doohan, Rice, Scales, Nygren, Idah, Yang, Yamada, Osmand, Summers, Maeda, Hatate, McGregor, Murray, Donovan, Ralston, Welsh, Tierney.
The National
28 minutes ago
- The National
Star-studded Al Ahli XI to play Celtic in Como Cup revealed
The sides meet in the Como Cup, as Brendan Rodgers' men finish their pre-season preparations. Celtic were beaten 5-1 by Ajax in their tournament opener on Thursday, as Al Ahli lost 3-1 to Como. They finished fifth in the Saudi Pro League last season and are the current holders of the AFC Champions League. Read more: Jaissle has named his team for tonight's match, and it features several big stars, such as England international striker Ivan Toney and ex-Manchester City hero Riyad Mahrez. Former Juventus defender Merih Demiral starts at the back, too, with Franck Kessie captaining the side in midfield. Allain Saint-Maximin, previously a key man at Newcastle United, is among the substitutes. Al Ahli starting XI: Mendy, Rayan, Demiral, Ibanez, Dams, Eid, Kessie, Fahad, Mahrez, Galeno, Toney. Subs: Al-sanbi, Abdo, Bakor, Al-Hurayji, Sumayhan, Al-Buraikan, Yaseen, Majrashi, Balaboid, Ziyad jr, Ramiz, Khaibari, Ayman, Saint-Maximin.
The Herald Scotland
28 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Brendan Rodgers names Celtic starting XI for Al Ahli clash
Celtic lost 5-1 to Ajax in their tournament opener on Thursday evening. Although Yang Hyun-jun drew them level in the first half after Steven Berghuis opened the scoring, goals from Davy Klaassen, Berghuis again, Aaron Bouwman and Rayane Bounida helped the Dutch giants to an emphatic victory. Read more: From the midweek clash, Rodgers has made 11 alterations to his lineup for tonight. Viljami Sinisalo comes in between the sticks, as Cameron Carter-Vickers captains the team in defence. There is also a first pre-season appearance for Alistair Johnston, as new signing Shin Yamada makes the bench. Tonight's game rounds off Celtic's pre-season preparations. They have won four of their friendlies so far, losing the other two. They return to domestic action next weekend when St Mirren visit Parkhead for flag day. Celtic XI to face Al Ahli: Sinisalo, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Inamura, Bernardo, McCowan, Engels, Forrest, Tilio, Kenny. Subs: Schmeichel, Doohan, Rice, Scales, Nygren, Idah, Yang, Yamada, Osmand, Summers, Maeda, Hatate, McGregor, Murray, Donovan, Ralston, Welsh, Tierney.
