Champions Again: Celts Visit Ipox

Champions Again: Celts Visit Ipox
~~~~~~~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~~~~~~~


The Bhoys clinched the Premiership title after the 2-0 win over Hearts last week


Ipox Stadium, Glasgow
Saturday, 13 May 2023
12.30 BST

Celtic are Champions again, and will be looking to add a fourth consecutive Glasgow derby day success, when the Bhoys head to Govan tomorrow.

Having secured the title with the 2-0 win over Hearts last weekend, the party may've started for the Celtic fans, but for Ange and the team there is still work to be done.

Despite the Premiership crown already secured, if anyone thinks that this weekend's game therefore doesn't matter, then they simply don't understand Glasgow.

There is no such thing as a meaningless derby.And it's more than just bragging rights.

There is still the chance for Ange Postecoglou's side to set new records in terms of points tally total and goals scored in a single Premiership campaign. To achieve either of those though, it will require winning all of the remaining 4 league fixtures, starting with tomorrow.

But there is more.

The Bhoys are one of only two teams who have departed Govan with anything to show for their efforts in the League - and a win tomorrow would really underline the current dominance by inflicting the first defeat of Sevco at Ipox by a Scottish side this season.

Something the hosts at Ipox will be looking to prevent at all costs.​

PFA Player of the Year Award Nominees Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor and Kyogo Furuhashi

While Celtic have been busy clinching the League title and are eyeing up a possible clean sweep of domestic honours should Ange's Bhoys prevail against Inverness CT in the Scottish Cup Final in 3 weeks time, all of the talk surrounding Saturday's hosts is about the size of the rebuild that will be required this coming summer.

Michael Beale has been in the Ipox manager's office since the World Cup break, and after starting with a 2-2 draw in January, his team have been defeated in the last 3 straight meetings between these sides.

Indeed, it is anticipated that this will be the last such derby game for a lot of the current players in Beale's squad, with a lot of players either out of contract or otherwise heading out of the exit door.

The Celts will be confronted with an entirely hostile environment when they walk out onto the pitch ahead of kick-off, but nothing would be sweeter than to silence the attending crowd with a display worthy of the Champions that they are.


Liel Abada and Matt O'Riley are both shortlisted for the Young Player of the Year Award

By the Numbers​

• The Hoops are undefeated in meetings between these sides this season, winning 4 times and drawing once.

• Celtic are undefeated in their last 13 'Away' outings in the Premiership, winning 12 of these.

• The Bhoys need to win all of their 4 remaining Premiership matches if they are to set a new record for points in a single League campaign.

• Sevco have drawn just twice and are yet to lose at Ipox in domestic competition this season - Celtic being the last visiting side to win there, back in April 2022.

Team News

The Bhoys will once again be without defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston and Stephen Welsh, in addition to the continued absence of James Forrest and James McCarthy on the sidelines.

As for the hosts, they will be without Tom Lawrence, Malik Tillman, Kemar Roofe, Steven Davis, Filip Helander and Nnamdi Ofoborh. There are questions over Borna Barasic, Antonio Colak and Ryan Kent, all of whom missed last week's game, while it is also likely to be too soon for Ryan Jack, who is returning from ankle troubles.

Referee: Steven McLean

The 42yr old whistleblower has 231 top flight matches to his name since making his debut in 2010, although has only once previously officiated a Glasgow derby, back in December 2016.

Incidently, Celtic have won all 6 matches (5Lg 1Cp) this season when McLean has been the referee - with a combined goal For/Against of 28-3 across those 6 games.

Celtic's Overall Record
M: 37 W: 30 D: 3 L: 4

VAR: Greg Aitken



~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~

Overall
P: 35 W: 20 D: 6 L: 9​

Last 5 Meetings
W W W D W

~~~~ 2022/23 Form ~~~~

All Comps
W W D W W ~ W L L W L​