As the dust settles over Celtic’s late win over Ross County, some of Brendan Rodgers’ team can relax over the next two-week period as the international break kicks in.
The interval from club football will allow Brendan Rodgers the opportunity to help the likes of Celtic defenders Greg Taylor and Cameron Carter-Vickers recover from recent injuries picked up due to the busy fixture list.
Carter-Vickers is recovering from a foot issue and Taylor needs to resolve a calf issue and both have been integral to Celtic’s unbeaten run of results in the Scottish Premiership so far.
And Rodgers will need them because looking at the tough run of fixtures Celtic have from now until the next international break, the Hoops boss’ squad depth is set to be seriously tested both on the domestic and European fronts.
Celtic’s Scottish Premiership and League Cup test
On the domestic front, Celtic are favourites to retain the Scottish Premiership and will be heavily tipped to win the Scottish League Cup as well.
The first fixture after the international break has Brendan Rodgers facing Jimmy Thelin’s impressive Aberdeen at Celtic Park on the 19th of October.
Thelin’s team have enjoyed an impressive start to the season and have even been part of some discussions where Aberdeen could potentially split Celtic and Rangers at the top of the table.
After that, a trip to high-flying Motherwell on the 27th is sure to test Celtic with The Steelmen currently in fourth place in the league just three points behind Rangers.
Then Dundee visits Celtic Park on the 30th with a tricky away trip to Kilmarnock beckoning just before the next international break kicks in on the 10th of November.
And let’s not forget the small matter of Celtic facing Aberdeen in the League Cup semi-final at Hampden on the 2nd of November too.
But the challenges for Brendan Rodgers and Celtic do not stop there.
Celtic’s demanding Champions League campaign continues
On top of the challenging domestic fixture schedule, Celtic also have to sandwich in their money-spinning Champions League fixtures.
An opening day win over Slovan Bratislava at Celtic Park was followed up by a crushing defeat of the Bhoys by Borussia Dortmund.
However, slotted in between the Aberdeen and Motherwell fixtures, Celtic will have the chance to banish the Dortmund defeat away to the current Europa League holders, Atalanta.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s team have already recorded an impressive draw against Arsenal and Atalanta also defeated Shakhtar Donetsk on matchdays one and two and they will face Celtic full of confidence.
Celtic then welcome RB Leipzig on the 5th of November after the Hampden date with Aberdeen and just before Kilmarnock.
Celtic last beat Leipzig in the Europa League in 2021 but have since lost twice to the German club in the Champions League.
Brendan Rodgers will hope to seal his second win in UEFA’s top competition to help bolster his bid to escape the league phase of the Champions League.
Make no mistake, the next four weeks of Celtic’s fixture schedule is going to be a massive test for the strength of Rodgers’ squad depth.
The Hoops boss and the Celtic support will hope to come out of this phase with the lead in the league still intact, a place in the League Cup final booked and Celtic’s Champions League adventure still on course.
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