Hibernian 1-2 Celtic: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Hibernian 1-2 Celtic in the Premiership on Sunday, 30 November 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Celtic got off to a strong start at Easter Road, dominating possession and creating chances early on. The breakthrough came in the 27th minute when Daizen Maeda slotted home after a neat assist from Reo Hatate, and just a minute later Arne Engels doubled the lead with a fine strike, putting the visitors firmly in control. Hibernian struggled to respond before the break, with a couple of yellow cards disrupting their rhythm, including one for Jamie McGrath right after the second goal.

After the interval, Celtic made a change with Anthony Ralston replacing Callum Donovan, but Hibs fought back and earned a penalty in the 56th minute, which Martin Boyle converted to halve the deficit. The hosts pushed for an equaliser with a flurry of substitutions around the 79th minute, bringing on fresh legs like Joe Newell, Dan Barlaser and Thody Youan, while Celtic also rotated to see out the game. Despite some late pressure and yellow cards on both sides, including for Liam Scales and Kasper Schmeichel, Celtic held firm for a hard-fought 2-1 victory.

Celtic edged the possession battle with 60% compared to Hibs’ 40%, which helped them control the tempo and rack up 50 successful dribbles against Hibs’ 31, showing their attacking flair paid off in breaking down the defence. Corners were close at 4-3 in Hibs’ favour, but it was Celtic’s single assist that proved crucial for Maeda’s opener, while Hibs had none recorded despite their penalty goal. Both sides picked up three yellow cards each, with no reds, adding to a feisty encounter, and each used all five substitutions to manage fatigue and chase the result.

The penalties stat highlights Hibs’ one successful spot-kick that got them back in the game, while Celtic didn’t concede any. Those subs, like Hibs bringing on Josh Campbell for Jordan Obita at 67’ and a triple change at 79’ where Marvin Chaiwa, Josh Mulligan and Martin Boyle made way for Joe Newell, Dan Barlaser and Thody Youan respectively, injected energy but couldn’t overturn the deficit. For Celtic, changes such as Kieran Tierney replacing Marcelo Saracchi at 63’ helped shore things up, contributing to their ability to hold onto the lead.

The game’s turning point came in quick succession around the half-hour mark, with Daizen Maeda firing Celtic ahead in the 27th minute from Reo Hatate’s assist, followed immediately by Arne Engels’ goal just a minute later to make it 2-0. Hibs clawed one back in the 56th minute when Martin Boyle scored from the penalty spot after earning the spot-kick, giving the home fans hope despite Jordan Obita picking up a yellow in the process. Key substitutions also shifted momentum, like Celtic’s half-time switch where Anthony Ralston came on for Callum Donovan, and Hibs’ late triple change at 79’ bringing in Joe Newell for Marvin Chaiwa, Dan Barlaser for Josh Mulligan, and Thody Youan for Boyle to push for a leveller.

Yellow cards added tension, with Celtic’s Callum Donovan booked early at 16’, and later ones for Liam Scales at 54’ and Kasper Schmeichel at 56’, while Hibs saw Marvin Chaiwa cautioned at 35’. Celtic’s other changes, including Paulo Bernardo replacing Reo Hatate at 77’ and Sami Tounekti coming on for Yang Hyun-Jun at 86’, helped manage the closing stages effectively.

Hibernian lined up in a 3-4-1-2 shape, focusing on a solid back three to contain Celtic’s attacks while relying on wing-backs for width. Standout partnerships included the midfield duo providing support to the advanced playmaker, allowing for quick transitions when they regained possession.

Celtic deployed a 4-3-3 formation, with a strong emphasis on fluid midfield play to feed their front three. Key roles saw the wingers stretching the pitch, creating space for central partnerships that drove their early dominance.

Arne Engels earned Man of the Match honours for his crucial goal just a minute after Maeda’s opener, helping Celtic establish a commanding lead. His all-around performance in midfield, contributing to the team’s 60% possession and defensive solidity, stood out in a tightly contested match. Engels stayed on throughout, underlining his importance to the victory.

Recent Premiership matches:

• Loss: 1-2 vs Celtic (H)
• Loss: 0-2 vs Motherwell (A)
• Win: 2-0 vs Dundee (H)
• Win: 3-0 vs St. Mirren (A)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Livingston (A)

Recent Premiership matches:

• Win: 2-1 vs Hibernian (A)
• Win: 1-0 vs St. Mirren (A)
• Win: 4-0 vs Kilmarnock (H)
• Win: 4-0 vs Falkirk (H)
• Loss: 1-3 vs Hearts (A)

Hibernian will be disappointed with the narrow defeat but can take heart from their second-half fightback, which shows promise for building momentum. Their next fixture offers a chance to bounce back and climb the table with a positive result at home.

Celtic’s win keeps them in strong contention at the top, boosting confidence after holding off a spirited Hibs comeback. They’ll look to carry this form into their upcoming away clash, aiming to extend their impressive run.

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