A fresh start can often feel like a gamble, especially for a football club going through a busy period of player changes. But for Estrela da Amadora, their first warm-up match of the new season proved to be a winning bet. They faced Scottish giants Celtic, a team that has won their league four times in a row. Estrela pulled off a surprising 3-2 victory this morning, playing at the Benfica Campus in Seixal. Celtic was missing a couple of key Portuguese players, Paulo Bernardo, who hadn’t joined the team yet, and Jota, still recovering from an injury.
The match started tough for the Lisbon side, as Celtic quickly scored. Hatate found the net just seven minutes in, putting Estrela behind early. But Estrela, also known as the “tricolores” for their team colors, fought back. New signing Alan Godoy, a striker, leveled the score with a penalty kick in the 41st minute. Right before halftime, central defender Otávio headed in a goal, pushing Estrela into the lead. Celtic managed to equalize early in the second half through Adam Idah, scoring in the 53rd minute. However, another new forward, João Resende, sealed the deal for Estrela with a swift counter-attack in the 67th minute, securing the win.
This match showed off some of the new faces in the Estrela squad. Coach José Faria started with a strong lineup, including Renan Ribeiro in goal. The defense featured Otávio, Miguel Lopes, and Ni Rodrigues. In midfield, he chose Sidny Cabral, Amine, Paulo Moreira, and Guilherme Montóia. Up front, Marcus Abraham, Fábio Ronaldo, and Alan Godoy led the attack. Other players like Jorge Meireles and Jefferson Encada also got a chance to play in this opening test, giving the coach a good look at his options.
This victory offers a promising hint of what’s to come for Estrela da Amadora. It’s clear they are building a new team with purpose. Their next challenge is set for Wednesday, the 16th, when they face Belenenses. After that, they have more matches lined up against 1º Dezembro on the 19th, Lusitano de Évora on the 23rd, and V. Guimarães on the 26th. Each game will be another step in shaping this new squad for the season ahead.