This weekend’s Premier Sports Cup clash between Celtic and Kilmarnock represents the Hoops’ biggest fixture in months. Celtic have a virtually insurmountable nine point advantage at the top of the SPFL table, which they have enjoyed since the middle of November and even then the gap was seven points for a few weeks longer. League games have taken on less significance of late with Ange Postecoglou’s team having one hand on the trophy. Even a defeat at Ibrox would have left Celtic in a supremely strong position a couple of weeks ago, albeit the draw Celtic attained pretty much sealed things.
19th December 2021; Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland; Scottish League Cup final, Hibernian versus Celtic: Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic celebrates with the trophy after the win
With the above in mind, this Saturday represents Celtic’s biggest match in a couple of months. The game gives Celtic a chance to reach the final of a competition that they won last season. It’s an opportunity to help achieve another trophy, which would be added to the league title, enabling attentions to turn to the Scottish Cup and the dream of yet another treble.
Thoughts of a treble and even a double are a way off at the moment though. Knockout football can throw up surprises and anyone is capable of losing one off games. It is this factor that makes the match so pivotal, as opposed the procession to the league title where punishment for dropped points is much less impactful with the lead Celtic have.
19th December 2021; Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland; Scottish League Cup final, Hibernian versus Celtic: Callum McGregor of Celtic with the trophy
Every game is important and supporters never want to lose any fixture. However, this weekend is the first time in a while that a Celtic match could be described as ‘must win’.
Let’s hope Ange’s team keep up their relentless form.
