Al-Ahli and Celtic Face Off for the Third-Place Playoff

The curtain rises on the third evening of the 2025 Como Cup, ahead of the final between Como and Ajax tomorrow, July 28. Contending for the podium of the inaugural edition of the international tournament on the shores of Lake Como are Al-Ahli and Celtic FC, two teams with an international profile, both coming off semifinal defeats: the Saudis were overcome by Como 1907, while Celtic FC were beaten by the Dutch side Ajax, who triumphed with a 5-1 victory.

The third-place play-off, scheduled for this evening at 8:30 pm CEST at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium, represents another opportunity for both teams to test themselves against a prestigious international opponent within a historically rich setting like Como.

Previous encounters

To date, there have been no official or friendly matches played between Celtic FC and Al-Ahli Saudi FC.

Al-Ahli

In their first year in the Roshn Saudi League, Al-Ahli finished the season in 5th place with 67 points and 69 goals scored, and triumphed in the AFC Champions League Elite thanks to a 2-0 victory over Kawasaki Frontale, with goals from Galeno and Kessié.

Led by coach Matthias Jaissle, the team plays an aggressive, vertical style of football, combining quality possession with rapid wing play. Key players include goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, defenders Roger Ibañez and Merih Demiral, midfielder Franck Kessié, and wingers Riyad Mahrez and Galeno — all seasoned professionals with international experience. Following their defeat to Como 1907 in the semi-final three days ago, Al-Ahli will be looking for redemption in the third-place play-off.

Celtic FC

Celtic arrive at this match following their 5-1 defeat to Dutch side Ajax, after a positive pre-season with wins over Newcastle and Sporting Lisbon. Brendan Rodgers relies on a mix of experienced players and young talents, led by captain Callum McGregor. Up front, standouts include Daizen Maeda, who has scored 97 goals for Celtic since 2021, and promising Shin Yamada. On the wings are Kieran Tierney and Hayato Inamura, while between the sticks is the experienced Kasper Schmeichel, Danish international and vice-captain of the Scots.

This will be the first-ever meeting between Celtic FC and Al-Ahli — an unprecedented fixture promising intensity, quality, and strong motivation. Neither side will want to leave Como without a podium finish, while the crowd at Sinigaglia eagerly awaits tomorrow’s grand final between Ajax and Como, which will mark the conclusion of the inaugural edition of the Como Cup.

Match details

• Date: Saturday, 26 July 2025
• Kick-off: 20:30 CEST
• Stadium: Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como (Italy)
• Referee: Tremolada

Broadcast info

• Italy: Como TV and Sky Sport (streaming on NOW)
• Bulgaria: A1 / Max Sport
• Turkey: Saran
• Balkans: Sportklub
• Israel: Charlton
• Malaysia & Brunei: Astro
• USA: CBS – Golazo
• South Korea & Southeast Asia: SpoTV
• Rest of the world: Check local listings