GLASGOW (Azat TV) – Hibernian FC secured a monumental 2-1 victory over Celtic FC at Celtic Park on Sunday, February 22, 2026, delivering a significant blow to Celtic’s Scottish Premiership title aspirations. The defeat marked manager Martin O’Neill’s first domestic loss across both of his spells in Glasgow’s East End this season and left Celtic six points adrift of league leaders Heart of Midlothian FC.
The match, a pivotal encounter in Matchday 28 of the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership, saw Hibernian exploit a crucial red card incident and capitalize on key moments, securing their first win at Celtic Park since 2010. The result intensifies the pressure on the home side as their eternal rivals Rangers FC also extended their lead at the top of the table.
Hibernian’s Decisive Victory at Celtic Park
The visitors opened the scoring in the 24th minute when Felix Passlack calmly finished inside the box following a precise delivery from Nicky Cadden. Celtic, initially struggling to find clear attacking paths, eventually equalized in the dying moments of the first half. Swedish forward Benjamin Nygren, who has been in strong form, netted his 18th goal of the season and 14th in the Premiership with a diving header from Kieran Tierney’s deflected cross, sending the home crowd into celebration just before halftime.
The second half saw Celtic push with determination, making substitutions in the 60th minute with Daizen Maeda and Hatate coming on for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was making his first start for Celtic, and Cvancara. Despite creating chances, including a header from Nygren that went just wide, Celtic struggled to break Hibernian’s reinforced defensive shape.
Red Card and VAR Drama Shift Momentum
A dramatic turning point occurred in the 73rd minute when Celtic defender Auston Trusty received a straight red card after a VAR review for violent conduct, specifically punching Hibernian midfielder Jamie McGrath in the arm at a corner. This left Celtic with ten players and completely shifted the match dynamics, allowing Hibernian to seize control.
With a numerical advantage, Hibernian pressed their advantage. In the 87th minute, substitute Kai Andrews secured the dramatic winner. Andrews, a Coventry City loanee, combined effectively with fellow substitute Arne Suto before calmly dispatching the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the area, sending the visiting fans into celebration and sealing a historic away victory.
Impact on the Scottish Premiership Title Race
The 2-1 defeat is a significant setback for Martin O’Neill’s Celtic side in the Scottish Premiership title race. Coming into the match third in the table with 54 points, they now trail league leaders Hearts by six points. This loss follows a demanding period for Celtic, including a recent 1-4 defeat to Stuttgart in the Europa League, adding to the pressure on the team. The upcoming schedule includes a testing run of four consecutive away fixtures, including the crucial Old Firm game against Rangers FC at Ibrox.
For Hibernian, currently fifth with 42 points, this victory solidifies their position in the Championship Group and bolsters their hopes for European qualification. David Gray’s side has shown consistency this season, and securing three points at a formidable venue like Celtic Park represents a strong statement to their competitors.
Player Performances and Controversies
Benjamin Nygren once again proved to be Celtic’s main offensive threat, scoring his 18th goal of the season. However, striker Tomas Cvancara experienced frustration, jostling with Hibs defender Rocky Bushiri and having several penalty appeals waved away by referee Grant Irvine. Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, despite recent errors in other matches, remained O’Neill’s preferred No. 1, making a routine save shortly after Hibs’ first goal, though his role in Andrews’ winner was debated.
The match was also marked by VAR controversy, with Celtic being denied a penalty appeal for a shirt pull on Liam Scales shortly after Trusty’s red card. These game-defining calls added to Celtic’s woes on a challenging afternoon.
The unexpected nature of Hibernian’s victory, particularly given Celtic’s numerical disadvantage following the red card, underscores the competitive intensity of the Scottish Premiership and highlights the significant pressure now facing Celtic as they navigate a challenging period in both domestic and European competitions.