Sporting, Newcastle and tonight it’s Ajax’s turn | OneFootball

Celtic are in Italy for tonight’s crucial pre-season clash against Ajax in the picturesque town of Como, as the Scottish champions prepare for the next stage of their summer schedule.

Celtic player Kieran Tierney iin action during the pre-season friendly match between Celtic and Newcastle United at Celtic Park on July 19, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

The match forms part of the Como Cup, a four-team tournament involving Celtic, Ajax, Serie A side Como, and Saudi champions Al-Ahli.

Brendan Rodgers’ side are coming off a pair of encouraging performances against Sporting Lisbon and Newcastle United, and will be looking to maintain momentum as they prepare for the Premiership opener against St Mirren on Flag Day, just over a week away.

A win against Dutch giants Ajax tonight would see Celtic advance to Sunday’s final, setting up a much-anticipated reunion with some familiar faces in the Como squad.

Luke McCowan of Celtic in action during the pre-season friendly match between Celtic and Newcastle United at Celtic Park on July 19, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

The Italian side, managed by former legendary midfielder Cesc Fabregas, booked their place in the final after a 3-1 comeback victory over Al-Ahli at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Wednesday night.

Al-Ahli had taken an early lead through Allan Saint-Maximin, but Como responded with goals from Gabriel Strefezza — who earned man-of-the-match honours — an own goal from Merih Demiral, and a late strike by Iván Azón to seal the win. Notably, former Celtic loanee Alex Valle featured for an hour and contributed an assist, while new signing Nicolas Kühn, a £17 million summer arrival from Celtic, impressed in his debut, showcasing his trademark ball carrying abilities during a lively first-half display.

https://youtu.be/_o3pS-gtCl8

Como’s official club website Como…

Defeats Asian Champions Al-Ahli on Opening Day of the Como Cup – Como 1907 praised Kühn’s performance, stating –

“There were also notable debuts: former Celtic winger Nicolas Kühn started and impressed with his dribbling skills in the first half.”

Should Celtic overcome Ajax tonight, the final will offer an intriguing subplot – Kühn potentially going head-to-head with Kieran Tierney in a clash of contrasting narratives. Kühn departed Celtic, seemingly eager for a move to Italy, while Tierney, who has reportedly longed for a Celtic return, could square off directly against the German winger in a battle of former teammates.

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel reacts during the pre-season friendly match between Celtic and Newcastle United at Celtic Park on July 19, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Fans will also be keeping an eye on Alex Valle, who initially joined Celtic on loan from Barcelona last season before switching to Como in January, and the former Celtic loanee has since made the switch from Catalunya a permanent arrangement.

But before any of those reunions can happen, Celtic must first navigate tonight’s test against Ajax — a club with its own historical European pedigree. The Dutch side will provide a really stern examination of Rodgers’ squad, but the signs from pre-season so far suggest Celtic are growing in sharpness and confidence, and arrive ahead of tonight’s game having scored six goals without reply against Sporting in the Algarve and against Newcastle United on Saturday at Celtic Park.

With just ten days until the competitive campaign kicks off, tonight’s fixture is more than just a friendly — it’s a chance to fine-tune, to test depth, potentially book an intriguing final against Como, and against some very familiar faces.

Niall J