Would you like to know how Celtic won the Scottish Premiership for a record-breaking three years running? The Rangers' defeat over Dundee gave them the impression that they would win the championship without ever having to play. The Rangers only managed a one-day delay in the Celtics' victory, despite their valiant effort.
The championship was formally sealed by Celtic with their huge win at Kilmarnock. However, the real story is in the key matches that played a bigger role in deciding the winner. Let's look at these important games.
Celtic's 12th Title-Winning Matches That Defined Victory
Here's a look at the key matches that secured Celtic's 12th title, defining their path to victory.
Rangers 0-1 Celtic - 3 September
The match between Rangers and Celtic on September 3rd was highly anticipated, as both teams were aiming for an early advantage in the league. Celtic had faced some uncertainty after a goalless draw against St Johnstone in their previous match. However, this game against Michael Beale's revamped Rangers at Ibrox Stadium was seen as a crucial moment in the season.
Despite the absence of away fans due to safety measures, Celtic managed to secure a victory in this important derby. The match began with early drama as VAR disallowed a goal by Rangers' Kemar Roofe, setting the tone for an intense encounter. In the first half, Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi scored a crucial volley, giving his team the lead.
In the second half, Rangers applied pressure in search of an equalizer, but Celtic's defense held firm, denying their opponents any clear goal-scoring opportunities. The final whistle blew with Celtic securing a 1-0 victory, maintaining their unbeaten record in the league and signaling their intent for the rest of the season.
Celtic 2-1 Rangers - 30 December
Fast forward to late December, Celtic had faced consecutive defeats earlier in the month, while Rangers were gaining momentum under their new manager, Philippe Clement. The Belgian manager was still unbeaten and had led Rangers to a League Cup victory. Despite their confidence, Rangers were five points behind Celtic, though they had two games in hand.
In this crucial derby, Celtic's Paulo Bernardo scored in the first half, calming any nerves among the home fans. An outstanding strike from Kyogo Furuhashi further solidified Celtic's control. The Rangers' hopes were briefly reignited by a late James Tavernier free-kick, even after Leon Balogun was sent off with a red card. However, an equalizer remained out of reach.
Following another win against St Mirren, Celtic entered the winter break comfortably at the top of the table. The victory against the Rangers was a significant moment for the Celtics, not only in terms of extending their lead in the league but also in boosting their confidence after a challenging period of consecutive defeats.
The win reaffirmed their dominance in the derby clashes and sent a clear message to their rivals about their determination to secure the league title once again.
Motherwell 1-3 Celtic - 25 February
At half-time at Fir Park, Celtic found themselves trailing by a goal and facing the possibility of falling 5 points behind Rangers, who had taken the top spot earlier. However, Adam Idah, on loan from Norwich City, turned the game around with two crucial goals, the second coming four minutes into stoppage time. A late strike from Luis Palma sealed the victory for Celtic.
This second-half resurgence revitalized Celtic's title bid after they had dropped points against Kilmarnock and Aberdeen in previous weeks. Despite the victory, there was still work to be done in the race for the title.
Celtic 3-0 St Mirren - 13 April
This win may not have seemed particularly significant at the time, but it proved to be critical in the title race. Similar to their visit to Fir Park, the Celtics took the first 45 minutes to find their rhythm. However, in the second half, goals from Reo Hatate, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Adam Idah secured a comfortable victory over St Mirren, pushing Brendan Rodgers' team four points clear at the top of the table.
The Rangers, with two games in hand, stumbled the following day with a loss at Ross County and then struggled to a 0-0 draw at Dundee a few days later. With these results, Celtic seized the initiative in the title race and didn't look back.
Celtic 2-1 Rangers - 11 May
Winning the Scottish title often hinges on the results of the Old Firm games, and this match was no exception. Going into this derby, Celtic had already secured seven points out of a possible nine against Rangers, and with this victory, they increased their tally to 10 out of 12.
Matt O'Riley opened the scoring for Celtic, followed by an own goal from John Lundstram. The Rangers' Cyriel Dessers managed to pull one back with a header. The drama intensified with Lundstram's red card and O'Riley missing a penalty. Despite these events, Celtic emerged victorious, moving six points clear with two games left to play.
No matter the outcome on Saturday, Celtic will finish with a winning margin of fewer than 10 points, highlighting the critical importance of their derby successes. This bodes well for their Scottish Cup defense, with Rangers standing between Brendan Rodgers' side and a potential domestic double.
The Bottom Line!
So, that's how Celtic secured their third consecutive Scottish Premiership title. They faced tough challenges throughout the season, but key victories in crucial matches propelled them to the top. From their early triumph against Rangers to their decisive win over St Mirren, each game played a vital role.
The Old Firm derby victories were especially important, showing Celtic's strength against their biggest rivals. Despite some nail-biting moments, Celtic emerged victorious in the end, proving their dominance in Scottish football. With their title secured, they now set their sights on the Scottish Cup, aiming for a historic domestic double.