Seven games that helped settle the Premiership title as Celtic are crowned champions

Seven games that helped settle the Premiership title as Celtic are crowned champions

The title race is over and the Premiership trophy resides in Glasgow’s east end

once more after Celtic beat Kilmarnock 5-0 to make their lead at the top of the table unassailable.

Brendan Rodgers’ side made a successful defence of the prize

they’ve won in the last two seasons but the road to their triumph was anything but straightforward.

Rangers pushed the winners close and the top two both had ups and downs over a long campaign.

We’ve looked at the games that had a major say in who was crowned champions.

September 3: Rangers 0-1 Celtic

Both sides experienced difficult early-season play.

Celtic had concluded their summer successfully,

with their victory in the Scottish Cup final completing the Trifecta

as “Angeball” demonstrated his dominance for a second straight year.

But almost before the festivities could conclude, Ange Postecoglou left for Spurs,

and Brendan Rodgers returned with a tough act to follow and a challenge to his detractors:

“For those who I need to convince, I will see you here in May.”

Although Rangers had lost to Celtic in the cup semifinals

and finished seven points behind in the league,

Michael Beale had led the team in scoring since taking over for Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Beale was quite optimistic about the Ibrox side’s future following

a summer makeover that included the addition of several new players.

Neither party got started right away. Despite having started the league season with two victories,

Celtic’s treble defense failed at the first hurdle when

they were eliminated from the League Cup by Kilmarnock.

At the end of August, they drew 0-0 at home against St Johnstone.

Beale’s Rangers had a turbulent start of their own,

losing to PSV 7-3 on aggregate in Champions League qualifying after losing at Rugby Park on opening day.

That put pressure on both of them heading into the season’s first derby.

Rangers was at home, and Celtic was buoyant due to Aaron Rodgers’

impressive track record in this match during his previous managerial stint.

After just one minute of play, Ibrox exploded when Rabbi Matondo placed the ball past Joe Hart,

only for the goal to be disallowed because Cyriel Dessers was offside during the build-up.

Then, Kemar Roofe scored what appeared to be the first goal,

but referee Don Robertson disallowed it due to a Desser foul on Gustaf Lagerbielke,

prompting VAR to demand a review.

It appeared as though Celtic would have to consider themselves lucky to draw even at the break.

Rather, as the half was coming to an end, they took the lead.

Jack Butland was unable to block Kyogo Furuhashi’s early dipping attempt

from outside the area as he raced towards goal after breaking free of the Rangers defense.

The visitors, who were forced to use Liam Scales and Lagerbielke as a makeshift center defense,

battled to hold onto their lead and limited Rangers’ opportunities in the second half.

However, Sam Lammers missed a great chance, and Danilo had two late attempts that Hart was equal to.

when just four games, Celtic led their competitors by four points when the match ended 1-0.

Beale thought back on “a tough week” and “a desperately disappointing day” as Rangers finished fourth.

September 30: Celtic 1-2 Motherwell

Following the fireworks from the derby, both Glasgow teams won their next games to maintain the lead,

but Celtic went to Fir Park at the end of September for

a midday kickoff and the opportunity to extend their lead, if only by a few hours.

As the seconds passed toward full time, the visitors struggled to find a goal

against a resolute Motherwell team.

Celtic made a breakthrough with three minutes remaining in regular time

when Celtic sub Luis Palma fired in a vicious cross that nestled in the far post rather than being taken by anyone.

September 30: Aberdeen 1-3 Rangers

It’s unlikely that Michael Beale would have known about the drama

taking place at Fir Park as he got his team ready to play Aberdeen,

given the harsh criticism he’s received for his signings and the team’s performances,

and the mounting pressure he faces every week.

Even though the Dons had only won one of their first nine games prior to back-to-back wins over Ross County,

they had a rough start of their own and were far from the perfect

opponent for a Rangers team that was in dire need of a victory and a big showing.

Near the end of the first half, Stefan Gartenmann snuck in to score from a corner,

giving the visitors the lead.

December 30: Rangers 2-1 Celtic

Midway through October, Philippe Clement, a former manager of Monaco and Club Bruges,

was named Beale’s replacement. He immediately set about trying

to elevate his new team to the status of a more serious contender for championships.

Due to the Belgian’s tactics, the squad had gone 16 games without a loss,

including victories against Sparta Prague and Real Betis.

Rangers’ journey across town provided them with a chance

to exert pressure on a rival team that had been inconsistent in both

their play and results since their previous meeting.

The setting was set for a game that would decide both teams’ attitudes heading into the new year,

and Celtic won once more.

Rangers 3–3 on April 7. Celtic

After the New Year’s defeat at Celtic Park, Clement and Rangers bounced back,

winning 10 of their next eleven league games and only losing one, 2-1, at home to Motherwell.

With a 2-0 setback at home to Hearts and draws against Kilmarnock and Aberdeen,

Celtic’s lead at the top was just one point when they visited Ibrox in the first week of April.

The Rangers still had one game remaining, and as the teams took the field in Govan,

it appeared as though the blue team had the advantage.

April 14: Rangers 3-2 Ross County

After beating St Mirren 3-0 the day before, Celtic had stretched their advantage to four points.

However, Rangers knew going into Dingwall that a victory against

Ross County and a further three points against Dundee would put them in the driver’s seat in the Premiership.

County was in the relegation play-off zone, on their third manager of the season,

and had never defeated Rangers. They needed a win to boost confidence and begin their ascent to safety.

James Baldwin’s terrible own goal put interim manager Don Cowie’s team behind after 15 minutes,

despite a strong start. The Staggies recovered to secure one of their most well-known wins.

Philippe Clement’s side arrived at Celtic

May 11: Celtic 2-1 Rangers

Park last weekend knowing they had to at least avoid defeat to keep their fading title-challenge alive.

Going into the game three points behind with only two games remaining,

defeat would all but end any chance they had of stopping their rivals sealing three in a row.

But, as has been a common theme in Old Firm games this season,

the Hoops again ran out winners thanks to first half goals from Matt O’Riley and a John Lundstram own-goal.

Just as Cyriel Dessers looked to have thrown the visitors a lifeline by making it 2-1,

Lundstram was sent off for a late tackle on Alistair Johnston.

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