Celtic will return to Scottish Premiership action this weekend as Ross County travel to the east end of Glasgow, aiming to maintain their unbeaten league form and extend their lead at the top of the table.
The Bhoys head into this clash buoyed by a spirited midweek performance in Europe. A 1-1 draw with Club Brugge at Celtic Park kept their Champions League hopes alive, thanks to a hard-fought comeback against the Belgian Pro League holders.
However, Brendan Rodgers and his squad are keenly aware of the domestic stakes. A victory over Ross County would allow them to move five points clear of Aberdeen before Jimmy Thelin’s side take on Hearts the following day.
Ross County arrive at Celtic Park with mixed form, securing two wins in their last five matches. Currently sitting eighth in the Scottish Premiership standings, the Highlanders will be looking to cause an upset against the league leaders.
While Celtic’s European ambitions have dominated recent discussions, defender Alistair Johnston has underlined the importance of maintaining focus on all competitions.
Speaking to The Daily Record, Johnston issued a rallying cry, emphasizing Celtic’s determination to dominate on both domestic and European fronts.
Alistair Johnston on Celtic’s ambitions:
“It goes hand in hand. You know if you do well domestically, you give yourself a chance. If we hopefully win the league this year, you still have to qualify,” Johnston explained.
“But these kinds of nights give you extra motivation for the league because you want to be here next year.
“We have so many games, it’s just match after match, so it’s going to be a busy spell. We have such a good squad here though it’s an exciting period and we’re all looking forward to it. Zagreb is a couple of weeks away, so we are focused on County this weekend.
“We have the confidence in the group no matter the game or how hostile the environment – which I’m guessing it’s going to be crazy over there. Then we are ready for anything that’s thrown at us. It’s an exciting match.”
Celtic eye a busy festive period:
As the festive season approaches, Celtic are gearing up for a pivotal run of fixtures that could shape their campaign.
Securing a fourth successive league title remains the primary goal, but the Bhoys are also chasing Champions League progress and preparing for a Premier Sports Cup final against rivals Rangers.
Save for a defeat in Dortmund, Celtic have been near-flawless across all competitions this season. With momentum on their side, Rodgers’ men are determined to sustain their impressive form in the weeks ahead.
