Celtic Archives - Page 3 of 3

Celtic hand Motherwell a Boxing Day pummelling

Venue: Celtic Park Date: 26/12/24 Time: 15:00 Motherwell were powerless to prevent a Celtic rout as the Glasgow side ended the day with a twelve point lead at the top of the table. Aston Oxborough was the guilty party as he caught an oncoming Yang Hyun-Jun to gift Celtic a penalty minutes before the first half ended which Arne Engels duly converted to open the scoring. Celtic’s unrelenting pressure continued to pay dividends when Daizen Maeda doubled the home side’s advantage, reaching Liam Scales’ glancing header first with a headed ball of his own. Perhaps more fortunate with their third, Oxborough could do nothing when Nicolas Kuhn’s shot from outside the penalty area was deflected by Kofi Balmer. Reo Hatate added the cherry on top as he mazed past Motherwell’s defenders to fire in the fourth and final goal of the evening. An ever present Maeda came close to breaking the deadlock early on, when he found himself in the path of McGregor’s deflected shot but couldn’t get the beating of Oxborough. Calamity soon followed when the Japanese forward attempted to slot the ball past the keeper but was denied by an outstretched leg as bodies flew in to deal with the follow up, the visitors able to clear their lines. Maeda was once again involved to cut a low ball across to Idah but the striker’s attempt lacked the conviction to give his side the lead. Motherwell came close when Marvin Kaleta’s header from a cross was accidentally saved on the line by his teammate and former Celtic player Tony Watt. Engels was dangerous on set pieces throughout but his free kick in the second half could not dip in time to test the man between the posts. Line-ups: Celtic: K. Schmeichel, G. Taylor (Alex Valle 78′), L. Scales, C. Carter-Vickers, A. Ralston, Paulo Bernardo (R. Hatate 63′), C. McGregor (c), A. Engels (L. McCowan 72′), D. Maeda, A. Idah (K. Furuhashi 63′), Yang Hyun-Jun (N. Kuhn 63′) Substitutes: K. Furuhashi, R. Hatate, N. Kuhn, L. McCowan, L. Palma, V. Sinisalo, A. Trusty, Alex Valle, S. Welsh Motherwell: A. Oxborough, S. Blaney, K. Balmer, D. Casey, E. Wilson, L. Miller (c), H. Paton (S. Nicholson 72′), M. Kaleta (S. O’Donnell 79′), T. Maswanhise (Jair Tavares 79′), T. Sparrow (A. Halliday 63′), T. Watt (A. Stamatelopoulos 63′) Substitutes: M. Ebiye, L. Gordon, A. Halliday, K. Hegyi, S. Nicholson, S. O’Donnell, A. Stamatelopoulos, D. Zdravkovski, Jair Tavares Referee: Ross Hardie

December 26, 2024

History on the line for Celtic and Rangers in Sunday’s League Cup final

Venue: Hampden Park Date: 15/12/24 Time: 15:30 Where to watch: The game is live on Premier Sports On Sunday, it is not merely a League Cup at stake but history as both sides sit neck and neck on a monumental 118 trophies. Celtic come in favourites as the country’s dominant force and their UCL results are indicative of a side that has taken its game to another level under Brendan Rodgers. However last year’s winners Rangers look to have turned a corner in recent weeks following a poor start to the campaign, undefeated since October and notching some impressive results of their own in the Europa League. How did we get here Celtic swotted all before them as they put Hibernian, Falkirk and Aberdeen to the sword, scoring fourteen goals en route to the final. Current cup holders Rangers meanwhile comfortably dispatched St Johnstone and Dundee but were given a scare in the semifinal at Hampden when Motherwell led at the break. Ultimately Cyriel Dessers and Nedim Bajrami’s goals were the difference, saving Philippe Clement from an embarrassing exit. Domestic steamrollers Celtic There is no question who the favourites are on this occasion. Celtic sit nine points clear at the top of the table, undefeated with the season yet to reach the halfway stage. A goal difference of 40+ is an astounding figure as the side continue to rotate with no noticeable impact on performance. Nicolas Kuhn looks a cut above in the league and his performance against RB Leipzig will have drawn eyes from across the continent. The German tops the Premiership’s assist charts and his 3.12 chances created per 90 bettered only by Paulo Bernardo’s 3.13. Yet behind every machine like performance is the mechanic who keeps everything ticking, and in Callum McGregor, Celtic have a player whose ability to recycle possession is just as dangerous as his eye for goal. With six league goals, the captain not only sits joint top of the charts but has put away a third of the shots he has taken so far. Victory on Sunday would bring a 23rd domestic trophy to place him just two off Celtic’s record holder Bobby Lennox. Igamane the face of revived Rangers This time last month, Hamza Igamane was afterthought in heated discussions concerning how Rangers could turn their dismal season around. Losses to Celtic, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen had made winning the title nigh on impossible after only ten games as Igamane had managed a solitary goal against FCSB. Four weeks on, the Moroccan looks set to play a starring role in helping his side retain the League Cup for the first time since 2011. With the oft-maligned Dessers guilty of missing too many clear-cut chances, Igamane had the opportunity to make the striker’s berth his own and it’s fair to say he has grabbed it with both hands. A double against Nice kickstarted a run of five goals in as many appearances, including a terrific finish in Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham. Perhaps more impressive than the finish, was the cross that led to it. James Tavernier’s whipped ball a timely reminder of the talent Britain’s highest ever goalscoring defender possesses. It has not been plain sailing for the club’s captain this season, having been a lightning rod for the ire of fans furious with a season that has left them below Aberdeen in the table. Dropped to the bench, Tavernier would have been forgiven for thinking this was the start of an ignominious end to a career that has seen the right-back amass 329 appearances, dating right back to their time in the Championship. Five trophies in ten years pales in comparison to McGregor but there is a strong case to be made that there could have been even fewer without his contributions over the years. Europe beginning to show wear and tear? Celtic have without a doubt exceeded expectations in Europe, suffering a solitary, albeit emphatic defeat to Borussia Dortmund. The extent of this raised bar crystallised in the disappointment from fans to have only earned a point away to Dinamo Zagreb. Come Sunday, Brendan Rodgers’ men will have almost averaged a game every three days. Much has been made of the squad depth the squad have, with Arne Engels, Liam Scales, Luke McCowan and Luis Palma just some of the options from the bench who would star in every other Premiership side. However the flatness of the draw in Croatia suggests a fatigue that may be just as much mental as it is physical. Most footballers not immune to the grinding machine of modern football and this League Cup final could prove one game too many in such a short space of time. Meanwhile, for all of their European success that has propelled them into the automatic places of the Europa League table, Rangers do not posses that same quality from the bench. Too many rotations are unlikely but fortunately Rangers have yet to show that midweek games produce a weakened weekend performance. So far Clement’s players have won each of the five games domestic games that have followed European fixtures. Although as the Belgian manager will be acutely aware, a cup final against Celtic is an entirely different different beast to tame. History favours Hoops Rangers may be some distance ahead when it comes to the League Cup with twenty-eight wins to Celtic’s twenty-one but the side from the East End have captured seven of the past ten. What is perhaps more prescient to this tie is Rodgers’ own record versus Rangers. In nineteen games the Northern Irishman has lost just one Glasgow derby, winning an impressive fifteen. Celtic were winners in

December 14, 2024

Dinamo Zagreb vs Celtic: What to expect?

Celtic have the opportunity to make to a push for the automatic places when they travel to a troubled Dinamo Zagreb this evening, the first meeting since the sides met in the group stages ten years ago. The Glasgow side recovered well from their 7-1 thrashing at the hands of Dortmund to earn themselves five points against some strong opposition in Atalanta, RB Leipzig and Club Brugge, taking their total tally to eight. Sitting only two points off the top eight, Brendan Rodgers will know that a win in a Croatia will at least give the side a much needed buffer for the play-off spot. Hosts Dinamo Zagreb find themselves in a similar predicament, sat just one point behind Celtic in the standings. The club which has been graced by the likes of Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovavic and once Celtic goalscoring machine Mark Viduka, will likely see this fixture as their best chance at three points before facing Arsenal and AC Milan. Celtic will hope for a more positive result than their last visit to Zagreb in 2014 when Marko Pjaca, who is expected to feature tonight, grabbed a hat-trick on route to a 4-3 victory for the Croatians. No home comforts for Celtic Be it in the East End or on the road, Celtic have steamrolled their way to the top of the table and look set to retain the title before the New Year. Europe however, is a different kettle of fish and the stats don’t paint a promising picture ahead of tonight’s clash. Winless away from home, Celtic have missed the impact the atmosphere has on shrinking opponents but their own style of play too. Possession at home in their European campaign is an impressive 61% but drops to 41% away from Glasgow. Meanwhile their xG for goes from 1.65 to 0.8 whilst xG again rises from 0.94 to 2.53. It is hardly a new problem for Celtic, who managed just one win in six games from their two previous group stages. Like the constantly flashing symbols on my car’s dashboard, statistics don’t always tell the whole truth, but they do offer a warning that should be heeded for those who want to ensure safety on the road. Out of sorts but not out yet It has not been plain sailing for the Croatian’s this season. Despite capturing the last seven league titles, Dinamo sit third in the league with just one win from their last seven games. Worse still, they suffered a humiliating 9-2 defeat at the hands of Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich in their opening game of the group stage. However bouncing back to earn a draw with Monaco before grabbing six points away to RB Salzburg and Slovan Bratislava shows they are no slouches. Conversely to Celtic, their struggles have been for the most part at home this season, having not won a game at the Stadio Maksimir since September. Celtic will know themselves from the Dortmund fallout, underestimate teams in this competition at your peril.

December 10, 2024

Celtic dispatch Hibs to stretch points gap to nine

Celtic 3 – 0 Hibernian Celtic continued their undefeated league streak with a 3-0 win over an improved Hibernian side, moving nine points clear at the top of the table. Arne Engels met Alistair Johnson’s low cross to open the scoring after just six minutes. The hosts put the game to bed in the second half thanks to a Joe Newell own goal from a Luke McCowan corner before Kyogo Furuhashi’s deft chip sealed the three points. It could have been more Luke McGowan hitting the crossbar soon after the opener with Adam Idah guilty of not putting away an clear-cut chance. Hibernian’s had their chances, Newell blasting a good opportunity over the bar before Kasper Schmeichel denied Mykola Kukharevych in a one on one. The result leaves Hibs at the bottom of the table after Hearts defeated Dundee. Line-ups: Celtic: K. Schmeichel, G. Taylor, L. Scales, A. Trusty, A. Johnston, A. Engels (R. Hatate 73′), C. McGregor, L. McCowan (Paulo Bernardo 73′), D. Maeda (Yang Hyun-Jun 67′), A. Idah (K. Furuhashi 67′), N. Kuhn (J. Forrest 46′) Substitutes: C. Carter-Vickers, J. Forrest, K. Furuhashi, Paulo Bernardo, R. Hatate, A. Ralston, V. Sinisalo, Alex Valle, Yang Hyun-Jun Hibernian: J. Smith, J. Iredale, R. Bushiri, W. O’Hora, J. Obita, L. Miller (C. Cadden 83′), J. Newell (D. Gayle 82′), N. Triantis, E. Youan (J. Hoilett 82′), M. Kuharevich (J. Campbell 27′) Substitutes: M. Boyle, J. Bursik, C. Cadden, J. Campbell, J. Doyle-Hayes, D. Gayle, J. Hoilett, D. Levitt, N. Moriah-Welsh

December 7, 2024

First half onslaught sees Celtic cruise to victory against Ross County

Celtic 5 – 0 Ross County Bredan Rodgers’ men continued their unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership, a 5-0 victory over Ross County extending their lead at the top to five points. County faced an uphill battle from start but it was made all the more difficult when a Liam Scales header put the home side ahead after only ten minutes. Don Cowie looked on as Ross Laidlaw could little to prevent the first half flood of goals. Charlie Telfer blasted over the visitors’ best opportunity, a fortunate Callum McGregor guilty of letting possession slip near his own box. Luke McGowan was on hand to double Celtic’s lead before Paulo Bernardo’s goal but the game to bed before forty-five minutes had elapsed. It was again all too easy for the hosts as McGregor, with far too much space, blasted a fantastic shot from outside the box. Adam Idah dealt the final blow, some tricky footwork giving the striker space to send a rocket past a miserable Laidlaw who saw himself substituted after the break. Despite the humbling defeat, Ross County sit in eighth, just three points outside of the top six. Line-ups: Celtic: K. Schmeichel, A. Valle (G. Taylor 80′), L. Scales, C. Carter-Vickers, A. Johnston (A. Ralston 61′), P. Bernardo, C. McGregor (A. Engels 61′), L. McCowan (R. Hatate 70′), D. Maeda (Yang Hyun-Jun 46′), A. Idah, J. Forrest Ross County: R. Laidlaw (J. Hamilton 48′), E. Campbell, R. Leak, A. Wright, G. Harmon, J. Nisbet, C. Telfer, J. Brown (M. Efete 46′), J. White (S. Allardice 46′), N. Chilvers (V. Loturi 61′), R. Hale (A. Samuel 73′) Referee: Gordon Crawford Attendance: 58, 436

December 1, 2024

Celtic welcome giant killers Brugge in Champions League tie

Champions League: Celtic v Club Brugge Belgian side Club Brugge travel to Glasgow take on a Celtic team in red hot form. The hosts remain kings of Scotland, yet to a lose a game domestically and swatting closest rivals Aberdeen 6-0 in the League Cup. More impressive yet, is their marked improvement on the continental stage. Dominating an RB Leipzig side packed with some Europe’s most sought after talent was the statement win Brendan Rodgers’ had been asking for following their setback in Dortmund. Brugge similarly suffered at the hands of last year’s finalists before taking six points from a possible nine, including an impressive victory over Aston Villa. Sitting second in the Belgian Pro League, they are not quite steamrolling opposition in the same way Celtic have but a 7-0 win against Sint-Truiden at the weekend was perfect preparation for game sure to be see plenty of goals. Hosts must capitalise on home form By the reaction of the Leipzig players at full-time, it looked as though they couldn’t wait to get the first flight out of Glasgow. A sentiment no doubt shared by Slovan who were thumped 5-1 in their opening game of the campaign at Celtic Park. Always a step ahead of their opponents with quick combinations and looking as though they would not be troubled by adding an extra half hour onto the game, Nicolas Kuhn was the picked of the bunch as Celtic played the kind of football Rodgers’ knew was possible following their thumping in Dortmund. The manager will want to show that there is much more to come from his side both home and away. With only one point on the road so far as trips to Dinamo Zagreb and Aston Villa await, the East End side will need to take full advantage of home crowd if they are to give themselves every chance of progressing. Despite only one loss in four Celtic remain caught between two poles. Sitting only three points above the bottom tier isn’t much of a buffer, whilst a three goal margin could propel them into the automatic places. There are no easy games in the Champions League but perform tonight and the club could be on track to reach the knockout stages for the first time since 2013. Visitors no shrinking violets The hosts received a fair amount of acclaim for their Leipzig scalp but Club Brugge have an arguably more impressive one of their own after muzzling Aston Villa in a 1-0 victory. Tyrone Mings’ calamity stole headlines but the Belgians kept one the Premier League’s best sides goalless in a performance that deserved more than being a mere sideshow in the post-match analysis. Doing so with a squad in constant flux is not mean feat either. Brugge are side packed with young technical talent, the likes Hugo Vetlesen and Christos Tzolis sure to find a home among Europe’s elite soon. The developing crop are supported by veterans Simon Mignolet and a name familiar to Celtic fans in Dedryck Boyata, who spent four seasons at the club. Granted, they are missing the goalscoring threat of Igor Thiago, whose £30 million move to Brentford left big boots to fill but Tzolis’ four goals against Sint-Truden at the weekend makes him a fairly promising contender. With Sporting CP, Juventus and Manchester City still to come, Brugge will see tonight as their best opportunity to add one more scalp to their collection.

November 27, 2024

Celtic class above Hearts in capital win

Heart of Midlothian 1 – 4 Celtic Celtic applied the afterburners against Hearts to leave Tynecastle with a convincing win, moving three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership. In truth Neil Critchley’s side should have had something to show for their efforts in the first half but were sorely lacking a composed presence up front. Blair Spittal could only tamely fire at the keeper before Lawrence Shankland continued to look a shadow of his former self, sending a James Penrice cut-back wide. Having kept the tiring hosts out, Celtic took a hold of the game as Daniel Oyegoke’s poor clearance was deflected into Kygo Furuhashi’s feet, the Japanese forward finishing after Craig Gordon’s opening save. Brendan Rodgers’ men soon doubled their lead with Nikolas Kuhn firing home a second. Hearts were nearly back in when Anthony Ralston’s clearance hit the post and Shankland not making the most of another opportunity, instead teeing up Cameron Devlin, who could not guide the ball past the bodies in front. Adam Idah’s finish put the game to bed but the goals didn’t stop there, Musa Drammeh’s rocket from outside the box providing some consolation before Idah put home a penalty in added time to make sure Celtic had the final word on the night.

November 24, 2024

Celtic