Two decorated European football clubs, Celtic FC and Juventus FC are set to collide in a fascinating encounter at Celtic Park.
Established in 1887, Celtic FC is a Scottish footballing giant with a rich history of domestic success. Celtic's influence extends beyond Scotland, highlighted by their 1967 European Cup triumph in which they famously defeated Inter Milan 2-1 in the final.
Celtic has been a regular participant in the UEFA Champions League in recent years, but their journey typically ends in the group stages. Their last appearance in the knockout stages came in the 2012/13 season, after they had stunned FC Barcelona with a 2-1 victory at Celtic Park. They progressed from their group at Benfica’s expense, but their European adventure ended in the round of 16 with a crushing 5-0 aggregate defeat to Juventus.
Juventus, based in the city of Turin, is another iconic European football club known for its domestic dominance. The "Bianconeri" have clinched more Serie A titles than any other Italian club and have a storied European history. Juventus won the UEFA Champions League on two occasions, most recently in the 1995/96 season when they defeated Ajax in the final. The club's tradition of success, both domestically and in Europe, has made them one of Italy's most illustrious football institutions.
Celtic FC vs Juventus FC Head to Head
As noted above, Celtic and Juventus most recently met in the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League round of 16. The Italian giants ran out comfortable 5-0 winners to secure their quarter-final spot.
The two teams played out two memorable matches in the 2001/02 Champions League group stage. Chris Sutton and Henrik Larsson were on the scoresheet in a thrilling 4-3 Celtic win in Glasgow, exacting revenge for the controversial 3-2 defeat they suffered in Turin just weeks earlier.
The first ever meeting between Celtic and Juventus took place in the 1981/82 European Cup first round. The Bhoys won the first leg 1-0 in front of 60,000 Scottish fans, but were eliminated after losing 2-0 in Turin.
Celtic FC vs Juventus FC Connections
Italian forward Paolo Di Canio spent three years at Juventus early in his career, but struggled to cement his place in a star-studded starting XI. After spells at Napoli and AC Milan, Di Canio joined Celtic in 1996. He spent one year at Celtic Park and demanded a large wage rise. The club refused his demands and Di Canio duly left to join Sheffield Wednesday.
Another player to have represented both Celtic and Juventus, albeit briefly, was Olivier Kapo. Vying with Pavel Nedved for a spot in the Juventus team, the Ivorian-born midfielder also struggled for playing time in Turin. He later signed for Celtic in 2010, but only made two Scottish Premiership appearances in a disappointing chapter of his career.
Timothy Weah is the most recent player to wear the colours of both these storied clubs. The US international joined Celtic on a six-month loan from PSG in 2019. Weah signed a five-year deal at Juventus in 2023, joining from Lille in a €10.3m transfer.
