Celtic have wrapped up the Scottish Premiership with eight games to spare. It’s their sixth consecutive championship win in a row, the third time they have achieved that landmark in their history.
You’d be forgiven for thinking they’ll be taking the foot off the pedal now, basking in the glory of a long, hard season. To think such a thing though is to not know Celtic Football Club.
They have big goals still left to fulfil this season, not least obtaining a rare domestic treble of trophies.
Another key aim will be maintaining their unbeaten domestic record between now and the end of the season. They’re now just 10 games away from achieving the feat of going an entire campaign without being defeated in domestic football. If they manage that it will go down in history as one of the greatest seasons in the club’s long history.
Despite being so deep into the season undefeated, the trickiest part of the process could still be ahead with some massive games potential a roadblocks to that aim.
Here are three matches that could trip the Hoops up before the end of the season…
Celtic vs Rangers – Hampden – 23/04
Let’s not forget that Rangers defeated Celtic in this fixture in 2015/16. The Hoops were much fancied going into that Scottish Cup semi-final, despite being less than convincing compared to their form this season.
Ronny Deila’s side met their match and Rangers managed to grind out a draw and go on to win on penalties, sending them through to a Scottish Cup final showdown with Hibernian.
While they would ultimately lose that one, the semi-final was one of their highlights of the season. Even this time around, despite Brendan Rodgers’ side’s dominance, they may fancy their chances.
The last match between the two at Hampden was only won by a very late Moussa Dembele goal and as good as it was, it’s an indication that this match may not be the hammering Celtic fans hope for.
Given it’s a one-off occasion and could be decided by penalties, this is potentially the biggest obstacle between the Bhoys and an unbeaten season.
Rangers vs Celtic – Ibrox – 29/04
Regardless of what happens at Hampden, just six days later the two teams will face off for a final time this season at the home of Rangers. You’d imagine that if, as expected Celtic win the semi-final, that the Gers will be putting all their energy into trying to get at least one victory over the Hoops this season.
All they’ve managed is one draw so far, and the prospect of their great rivals going an entire season unbeaten is not something any Rangers fan wants to contemplate. They’d never hear the end of it for years, possibly decades to come.
This will be their last chance saloon and backed by their noisy home crowd, could be their best chance of finally getting one over on Brendan Rodgers’ side.
The Hoops won this fixture at the end of December but it was a hard fought win, going behind and receiving a battering for the first half an hour, before rallying and producing an excellent comeback.
If Rangers get their noses in front again in the final game, anything could happen.
Scottish Cup Final – Hampden – 27/05
Should Celtic do the unthinkable and go the entire league season unbeaten then just one test will remain in their quest for a treble and immortality: The Scottish Cup Final.
That will be against either Hibernian, the current holders of the trophy, or Aberdeen, who are the closest team to Celtic in Scotland again this season.
They overcame the Dons in the League Cup Final last Autumn but the glitz and glamour of the Scottish Cup is a different beast. It’s the trophy every club in Scotland wants to win, knowing that Celtic usually have the league wrapped up. As such it’s taken on extra meaning in recent years, especially as its so competitive, with 7 different winners in the last decade.
The biggest test of their entire season could come in the final match with both the treble AND the unbeaten season on the line.
It doesn’t get much more dramatic than that.