Scottish PremiershipWednesday, February 11, 2026Celtic Park CELTIC…2(Saracchi 15, Oxlade-Chamberlain 90 +1) LIVINGSTON…1(Muirhead (pen) 57) Martin O’Neill marked his 200th league game as Celtic manager with a 2-1 win over Livingston, although the Hoops had to wait until late in the match when a super strike from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain secured the three points. Early in proceedings Callum McGregor stung the palms of Jerome Prior with a powerfully-struck low effort from the edge of the box which the Livi keeper had to get down to quickly to prevent the goal. Soon after there were big chances for Daizen Maeda and Tomáš Čvančara, with both men seeing their efforts from close-range denied by Prior. Celtic should have had the lead within the first 10 minutes, but Livingston then fashioned a big chance of their own which saw Robbie Muirhead hit the post from close range. That chance, however, was not indicative of a game that was ebbing and flowing at that point, with almost all the pressure flowing in the direction of the Livingston penalty area. The Hoops continued to search for the opener, and Nygren forced another good save from Prior which was followed up by a goal-line clearance from a Daizen Maeda effort, a passage of play which drew rapturous applause from the Celtic support. The goal which Celtic deserved came in the 15th minute from the left foot of Marcelo Saracchi, the Uruguayan’s first goal in Celtic colours. A well-delivered ball from an Arne Engels corner was headed clear to the edge of the area where Saracchi was on hand to unleash a thunderous strike which flew past the keeper, making it 1-0 to Celtic. Just before the half-hour mark, Martin O’Neill was forced to make a change, as Arne Engels departed the pitch in some discomfort, with Reo Hatate taking his place. In injury time at the end of the half, Saracchi sent a teasing ball in to the box which just needed a touch from anyone in green and white to double Celtic’s lead, but the visitors’ defence were able to clear the danger.Celtic looked to pile the pressure on to the visitors at the start of the second half and Tomáš Čvančara was unlucky not to get on the end of a ball across the face of goal from Reo Hatate which looked certain to result in a goal. Ten minutes in to the half, Livingston were handed a lifeline when Reo Hatate fouled Robbie Muirhead in the box, with the fouled Livi man stepping up and converting from the spot to make it 1-1. Martin O’Neill responded to the equaliser by bringing Kieran Tierney and Junior Adamu on for Marcelo Saracchi and Tomáš Čvančara, as Celtic looked to reestablish their lead. Livingston defended resolutely and were able to keep Celtic at bay, despite Martin O’Neill’s men being in complete control of the possession. With the match entering the final 15 minutes, there were further changes for Celtic, with Daizen Maeda and Julián Araujo replaced by James Forrest and debutant Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. With a few minutes of the 90 remaining, Benjamin Nygren let fly with an effort from outside the area which rose over the bar and didn’t trouble the Livingston keeper, and it looked like time would run out for Celtic. However, in the first minute of injury-time, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made himself an instant hit with the Celtic faithful as he took control of the ball outside the box and curled a stunning finish in to the far corner with his right foot to put the Hoops 2-1 up. The celebrations were emphatic and the roar which accompanied the full-time whistle will be ringing in Oxlade-Chamberlain’s ears for some time to come after his sensational strike earned him a Man of the Match performance and secured a massive three points for Celtic.FixturesCeltic Vs. Livingston – Wed, Feb 11th 2026, 19:45
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