The first games of the new Brendan Rodgers era at Celtic will be a pre-season friendly double header against Portimonense, according to reports in Portugal.
The Algarve-based Primeira Liga side are managed by former Hearts boss Paul Sergio and fixtures against the Scottish treble champions have been advertised for later this month, with Rodgers taking his squad to Portugal for a warm weather training camp ahead of their journey to the Far East for further friendlies.
Portimonense finished just outside of the relegation zone in Portugal’s top flight last season and Celtic’s games against them have been advertised on the soccerway website as taking place in state-of-the-art training complex The Campus in the Algarve resort of Quinta Do Lago. The first match is pencilled in for Wednesday, July 12 with a 5pm kick off with the second on Saturday, July 15 with an 11am start (both UK time). The Campus facility is popular with many top clubs including Paris-Saint Germain who are regular visitors.
According to its website, The Campus is described as a “state-of-the-art performance and innovation environment enjoyed by athletes, teams and sports enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. For international teams and professional athletes, The Campus has the ideal facilities and conditions for warm weather training, rehabilitation and pre-season preparation. In Quinta do Lago’s five-star luxury resort, The Campus offers the most complete leisure and lifestyle experience in the Algarve."
It goes on: “With a stadium quality pitch, high performance gym, recovery pools, changing rooms, studios, bike shed, aquatic centre and tennis courts The Campus is a private and secure facility in the resort’s natural setting, professional teams and athletes are able to train, work, rehabilitate and relax in a private and exclusive environment.”
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