da dobrowin： With Celtic’s pre-season training well underway, the draw for UEFA Champions League qualifying made and friendlies due to start this week, it’s fair to say that the new season is looming for Celtic fans.
da fezbet： After going unbeaten domestically last term, winning the treble and thrashing Rangers 5-1 twice, it’ll be hard for Brendan Rodgers and his men to live up to the last 12 months.
Still, you wouldn’t put it past them having another stellar season and that’s exactly why Hoops fans are so excited. Far from being at their peak last season, many fans actually see it as the start of something special at the club.
While Europe is a big priority after the summer, the Scottish Premiership is Celtic’s bread and butter and next season’s division is shaping up to be a cracker. With the return of Hibernian to the fold, another big club joins the fray adding their support and a certain Neil Lennon into the mix.
With Rangers strengthening, Hearts persisting with Ian Cathro and Aberdeen holding onto Derek McInnes, interest in the Scottish top-flight could be at levels unseen for years.
The fixtures for the season ahead were released last week and these are the FOUR matches we reckon Celtic fans should be looking out for most…
25th October – Aberdeen vs Celtic
While Celtic’s trip to Ibrox in September will be a real test for Brendan Rodgers’ side, things arguably get toughest in the first few months of the season with a trip to Pittodrie in October for the Hoops’ first match away to Aberdeen.
The Dons were closest challengers to Celtic yet again last season, finishing above Rangers in the league and making both domestic finals.
In May’s Scottish Cup Final, Brendan Rodgers’ found their toughest domestic test yet, requiring a last-minute winner in a match they could have easily lost had the Dons stuck their chances away. Derek McInnes’ side will of course be hoping to replicate that performance in October and if they do so, it could be a very close encounter indeed.
Aberdeen have a decent chance of stringing together consistent results in the early part of the season and this could even be a top of the table clash with little to separate the two teams.
Add the return of new Celtic winger Jonny Hayes to Pittodrie into the mix and it makes for a massive occasion.
9th December – Hibernian vs Celtic
Incredibly, Celtic haven’t played Hibernian for over three years. That came at Easter Road in January 2014, a day when Kris Commons scored a hat-trick and Virgil van Dijk netted a trademark rocket free-kick into the top corner to deliver a 4-0 victory.
It’s unlikely to be as easy this time round with Neil Lennon having built an effective outfit that has a decent chance of making a splash in the Scottish Premiership next term.
After winning the Scottish Cup in 2016 and winning the Scottish Championship last season, the good feeling around Hibs is high and that could make Easter Road a pretty tough place to go.
Lennon is of course a Celtic legend and it’ll be an intriguing affair seeing him in the opposition dugout. No doubt he’ll fancy getting one over on his old team regardless of his strong feelings for the Hoops.
At the very least it’s a fresh fixture for away supporters who always enjoy a trip to Edinburgh.
16th December – Hearts vs Celtic
It’ll be a trip to Edinburgh for the Hoops twice in a week in December. A week after the Easter Road clash they’ll be back in the capital for a showdown with Hearts at Tynecastle. It’s the first match at the home of the Jam Tarts of the season and will no doubt be a feisty affair on and off the pitch.
Celtic dominated Hearts last season but there’s hope from Ian Cathro’s side that they can improve massively over the summer and bring players of real quality to the club in order to compete in the Premiership.
Tynecastle is traditionally not an easy place to go and in the depths of winter in December, a month with a very heavy schedule anyway, this could be a tricky encounter and therefore one of the more exciting matches of Celtic’s league season.
30th December – Celtic vs Rangers
It’s fair to say that Celtic fans enjoyed their matches against Rangers last season, for the most part. The two sides met a massive six times in all competitions with the Hoops coming out on top in five of those.
Two of the matches ended in 5-1 drubbings including at Ibrox, which was an almost unprecedented scoreline away to the Light Blues and will go down in history as one of the most famous domestic victories in Celtic’s long history.
The first match between the two takes place at Ibrox in September and Hoops fans have to wait until December to have a shot at Pedro Caixinha’s men at Celtic Park.
The New Year Derby is always the highlight of the league season and the opportunity to get one over on their city rivals heading into 2018 is a thought that’ll be cheering up most Hoops fans this summer.