If you needed any evidence that Old Firm Derbies can still deliver, it was answered emphatically at Ibrox on Sunday. Celtic came away with a 3-2 victory to stretch their lead at the top of the SPL to nine points with a game in hand. It was the fourth straight win at Ibrox for Celtic, something not achieved for over 100 years.
That was another record achieved for Celtic under the stewardship of Brendan Rodgers but, more importantly, it does look the victory has quashed any lingering hopes that Rangers had of winning the league. In fact, the latest betting odds have Celtic priced at just 1/100 to get the job done, with Rangers (25/1) and Aberdeen (80/1) needing something akin to a miracle to take the title now.
However, there are plenty of other things to keep an eye on for the rest of the season. Here are three things that should be focused on over the next couple of months:
A Double Treble:
The League Cup is already in the bag, as well as a seemingly unassailable position in the league, so Celtic just need the Scottish FA Cup to make it two trebles in two seasons. They are, of course, favourites to lift the trophy this season, although, on Sunday’s evidence, the semi-final against Rangers will be no walkover. The Bhoys are priced at odds of 4/6 to win the cup, with Rangers at 9/2 and Aberdeen at 6/1. You can grab some free bets through the latest UK betting offers from major bookmakers if you are backing Celtic or anyone else to go all the way.
Building Towards Next Season:
It’s really getting to the point where Rodgers’ reign is going to be defined more by success in Europe than it is domestically. Convincing players like Moussa Dembélé that Celtic can continue to progress in Europe next season will be a key issue for Rodgers over the next couple of months. It was disappointing to lose to Zenit in the Europa League, especially after the first leg performance. However, there were plenty of good signs that the side is finding its way. Despite not knowing who the opponents will be, preparing now for next season’s Champions League campaign is crucial.
Restore the Invincibles Tag:
While competition is good for the SPL, Celtic are way behind in terms of the records set in the 2016/17 season. Celtic managed an incredible 2.83 points per game and scored in every game. That stat now sits at 2.13 PPG, with Celtic failing to score in 14% of matches. The 2016/17 season may never be emulated again, but it would be good to get back that sense of infallibility around the team. Winning, and losing, can be habitual in football. If Rodgers does have designs of making an impact on the Champions League next year or continuing the dominance at home, the same level of hunger is required for the remainder of this season – even after the tile has been confirmed