Celtic Vs Hibernian: celtic vs hibernian Scottish Premiership updates & match report
celtic vs hibernian at Celtic Park on Sunday, February 22, 2026 kicked off at 3pm in a game that carried wider title implications: Hearts sit four points in front of Rangers, the top two each have 10 games remaining and Celtic are six behind the leaders with 11 matches to play. The match produced late goals, red cards and a first Hibs win at Celtic Park since January 2010.
Celtic Vs Hibernian match timeline
Felix Passlack gave the visitors the lead with a header from a Nicky Cadden delivery. Benjamin Nygren equalised just before half-time. In the second half Celtic pressed repeatedly without opening Hibs up, then Auston Trusty was sent off for an angry chop at Jamie McGrath. The game became stretched and, after Emmanuel Fernandez and Mikey Moore scored after the 80th minute, a tense finale followed a red card for home defender Cristiano Montano. Hibs made the most of their advantage when Kai Andrews picked his spot with a composed finish. A corner to Celtic led to Jack Iredale thrashing the ball over his own crossbar. Cammy Kerr slid in on Mikey Moore, who was clear through on goal; the replay showed he did not get any of the ball and a VAR check was called to determine whether the challenge was in the box or just outside. A mere five minutes were added at Celtic Park.
Team news and injuries
Celtic were missing Arne Engels (leg), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles), Jota (knee), Alistair Johnston (hamstring) and Callum Osmand (hamstring) but welcomed back several players who are not in their European squad, including marquee signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Hibs defender Munashe Garananga returned after an ankle issue and Joe Newell was back in contention, but Josh Mulligan (ankle), Jordan Obita, Grant Hanley (hamstring) and Chris Cadden remained out.
Referee, VAR and officials
Matthew MacDermid was appointed match referee. Daniel McFarlane and Chris Rae served as assistant referees. Grant Irvine was on VAR duty, assisted by Ross Hardie. The officials were asked to review key incidents including the sliding challenge on Mikey Moore and whether other challenges denied clear goal-scoring opportunities.
Goals, cards and incidents
Felix Passlack’s header from Nicky Cadden’s delivery put Hibs ahead. Benjamin Nygren levelled for Celtic just before the interval. Auston Trusty was sent off for a chop on Jamie McGrath; Cristiano Montano received a red card later after the late goals that followed the 80th minute strikes by Emmanuel Fernandez and Mikey Moore. Observers noted a corner for Celtic in which Jack Iredale thrashed the ball over his own crossbar and debate around a decision that seemed outside the box and therefore not eligible for VAR intervention because it was not denying a goal-scoring opportunity. One commentator boxed the moment in astonishment with: “Wow! I can’t remember the last time the Scottish Premiership season was as exciting as this one. ” Another line-of-play observation ran: “Well, they're playing on. No penalty, no free-kick. ” A separate reaction was: “Odd. Unless there was a touch on the ball we didn't see. ”
Broadcast and odds details
The Scottish Premiership match took place at Celtic Park, Glasgow, on Sunday, February 22, 2026 with a 3pm kick-off. The match was not selected for live television broadcast in the UK; highlights were scheduled for an evening highlights programme at 7. 15pm with a repeat at 10. 25pm. There was no option to live stream the match in the UK, and club channels were set to broadcast the game to international subscribers based outside the UK and Ireland. Betting odds published before kick-off stood at: Celtic 12/25, Draw 4/1, Hibs 29/5.
Martin O’Neill’s side had travelled to the game looking to bounce back from a chastening 4-1 defeat by Stuttgart on Thursday, a result that all but ended their hopes of reaching the Europa League last 16 ahead of the knockout play-off round second leg in Germany next week. The defending champions were third in the table, six points behind leaders Hearts, who had extended their lead with a 1-0 win over Falkirk at Tynecastle on Saturday, and one point behind Rangers, with Celtic holding a game in hand on both clubs. Celtic remained unbeaten in 14 domestic matches under O’Neill this season but had relied on injury-time goals in each of their last three matches to avoid defeat to Dundee in the Scottish Cup and to secure victories over Livingston and Kilmarnock in the league.
Fifth-placed Hibs had been inconsistent of late but arrived in Glasgow in good spirits after a 2-0 home win over St Mirren the previous weekend. David Gray’s side had claimed a point at Celtic Park with a goalless draw on their previous visit in September but had lost 2-1 at Easter Road in November; a statement victory would aid their chase of Motherwell for the final European spot. For a long time it looked like Danny Rohl's side would not get anything in West Lothian, but late strikes by Emmanuel Fernandez and Mikey Moore changed that picture for those matches elsewhere in the round.
Hibs recorded their first win at Celtic Park since January 2010. The match contained multiple contentious moments, discipline issues and a late flurry of goals and bookings that left players, staff and observers debating key calls long after the final whistle.
