St Johnstone’s opening Premiership trip to Celtic Park has been pushed back after the Glasgow side asked for extra time to focus on their Champions League play-off. The Perth club confirmed the postponement on July 25, marking the first major fixture change of the new campaign.

What happened in Perth?

The Scottish Professional Football League announced multiple postponements for the third round of Premiership fixtures on July 25, including the St Johnstone vs Celtic tie scheduled for August 22/23. Celtic requested the delay to prioritise their Champions League preparations, with their first qualifier still awaiting an opponent after their exit from the Europa League.

The SPFL’s update stressed that clubs in UEFA play-offs can postpone league matches without needing their rivals’ approval. This policy, approved in April 2025, aims to give European-bound teams extra preparation time. Five Premiership sides-Celtic, Hearts, Rangers, Motherwell and Hibernian-have already taken advantage this season.

St Johnstone, who finished top of last year’s Championship with 77 points from 36 games, now face a reshuffled start to their campaign. Their last outing saw a 1-0 win at Ayr United on May 1, capping a five-game winning streak that stretched into the close season.

Why it matters for St Johnstone

For Callum Davidson’s side, the delay is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it avoids an immediate trip to a resurgent Celtic side fresh from European action. On the other, the extra downtime could disrupt their own rhythm after a strong finish to the Championship campaign, when they scored 67 goals and conceded just 25, finishing 11 points clear of Partick Thistle.

The postponement also shifts St Johnstone’s focus to squad depth and fitness. With the rearranged fixture now pencilled in for the Champions League midweek window on September 8/9, the Perth side will need every available player fit and sharp. Their recent form-five straight wins-shows they’re in good shape, but European nights demand peak intensity.

What comes next for both sides?

Celtic will use the extra weeks to finalise their Champions League squad and tactics ahead of a high-stakes qualifier. Their new signing Camilo Duran, unveiled on July 23, will hope to stake a claim for minutes in a campaign that could see them face Europe’s elite.

For St Johnstone, the next step is a league meeting with Dundee United on August 22, selected for live broadcast on Premier Sports. Should Hearts, Hibs or Motherwell also draw European play-offs, their fixtures will follow a similar path, with potential rearrangements into mid-September.

The SPFL will publish exact kick-off times once UEFA completes its league-phase draws at the end of August. Until then, St Johnstone’s players and staff have a rare window to regroup before the Premiership fireworks begin.

League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 1st in Scottish Championship, 77 pts, 22W-11D-3L from 36 games, recent form WWWWW.