Celtic have already negotiated a tough away fixture this season. The away trip to Pittodrie is about as tough a challenge as you can get. Or so we thought.
The 3-1 at Pittodrie was a hard-fought victory but looking at Brendan Rodgers’ next nine fixtures, it seems that things are about to get a lot tougher for the Celtic boss.
Over the course of August and right through October, Celtic have nine domestic fixtures to negotiate. Not so bad some might think, but when SIX of those are away from home against some of the league’s biggest teams, it’s not until then you see the huge task ahead for Brendan Rodgers.
First up is Kilmarnock away in the league cup. A trip to Rugby Park beckons as Rodgers attempts to defend the first trophy he ever won as the Celtic manager. If the Hampden semi-final is anything to go by, this won’t be an easy fixture. Especially on that artificial surface.
Then it’s St Johnstone at home in the SPFL, followed up with the Glasgow Derby trip to Ibrox on the 3rd of September. In what is the first of a minimum of four ties against our rivals, Rodgers will be keen to put a marker down on the SPFL challengers.
Dundee at Celtic Park is up next on the 16th of September which is then followed up by another tricky away tie to Livingston on yet another artificial pitch. Celtic have had trouble at the Tony Macaroni Arena in previous seasons and Rodgers will be keen to ensure no points are dropped at the expense of David Martindale.
Fir Park beckons on the 30th of September where Stuart Kettlewell’s Steelmen will entertain us and that is followed up by a home league match against Derek McInnes’ Kilmarnock the following week.
The next two fixtures Celtic face after that is an Edinburgh doubleheader. Hearts and Hibs await the Bhoys on the 21st and 28th of October respectively and that will end a pretty horrendous run of fixtures that will test Celtic to the limit.
And I haven’t even mentioned the tiny matter of the Champions League group games sandwiched between the Dundee and Livingston fixtures and Motherwell and Kilmarnock trips.
Undoubtedly, these fixtures make for exciting reading for the fans. The games are coming up thick and fast. But for the Celtic players, especially the new recruits, this period will be a huge test for them and their desire to defend our domestic dominance and to make progress in Europe’s top competition.
In other news, Celtic ready to make their move for Premier League player and it could be a bargain
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
