Celtic return to domestic action this weekend when they face Hearts and they have a packed schedule awaiting them.
Brendan Rodgers will be rather pleased with how the team has performed this season, not just in the Premiership, but also in the Champions League.
But when the international break concludes, you sense the period from now until the New Year will define what type of season Celtic will have.
There are some huge matters to deal with, including Celtic’s League Cup final showdown against Rangers, as well as dealing with crucial European games on the road to the team securing knockout football in the Champions League.
The main event is always the title and maintaining that deserved top spot, with Aberdeen not seemingly going away after 11 matches have been played.
Credit to Jimmy Thelin’s side, they have managed to keep up with the champions’ pace, but they are well behind on goal difference.
The top two are nine points clear of third-placed Rangers and it’s pretty clear how everything is panning out.
But a certain Barry Ferguson seemed to be confused by it all when he was discussing the Premiership’s top two.
Who will finish second behind Celtic?
Ferguson admitted that when Celtic thrashed Aberdeen in the League Cup semi-final, he thought it was the beginning of the end for the Dons.
But they have continued to march on and they can’t stop winning, as Rodgers has a title challenge from an unfamiliar source this season.
Ferguson acknowledged that Aberdeen are ‘here to stay’, but when he was asked about who will finish in the top two, he omitted Aberdeen and was subsequently mocked by Go Radio presenter Paul Cooney.
“It’s always difficult when you go to St Mirren, no doubt about that,” said Ferguson. “That will be one potential banana skin for Aberdeen. But they are high in confidence. That win over Dundee showed they have something about them after getting battered by Celtic in the semi-final. You are thinking ‘that could be it. That’s them going to struggle’. But they came back with a big victory against Dundee. It shows you that they are here to stay, Aberdeen. I never seen it. But now, I think they are challenging.
On top-two finish: “No,” responded Ferguson. And then presenter Paul Cooney mocked the pundit by saying: “They are back to stay says Barry Ferguson. First or second? Nah. Third.”
Ferguson then added: “But you have to give them credit. That was a big test for them. They couldn’t get near Celtic, let’s be honest. You think ‘right, that will hurt them’.”
Scottish Premiership table
The only thing stopping Celtic from adding another title to their cabinet is themselves and the distraction of the Champions League.
For the first time in a long time, the Bhoys will be playing in Europe’s elite competition beyond Christmas and it’s going to seriously test the legs.
But even then, Celtic have a really strong squad and you can only see one outcome at the end of it all. It’s just a case of, how long will Aberdeen stay in the race?!
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  CelticCeltic | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 3 | 28 | 31 |
| 2 |  AberdeenAberdeen | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 10 | 14 | 31 |
| 3 |  RangersRangers | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 22 |
| 4 |  Dundee UtdDundee Utd | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 19 |
| 5 |  MotherwellMotherwell | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 19 |
| 6 |  ST MirrenST Mirren | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 22 | -5 | 15 |
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