Celtic will begin their Scottish Premiership title defense with the visit of Ross County. Last season, the Bhoys won their 11th top-flight championship in 12 years, while the Staggies narrowly avoided being relegated. It would be an understatement to say that Celtic dominated the Scottish Premiership last season, as the Glasgow giants were undefeated in 38 games, winning 32 and drawing three, en route to a second consecutive championship.
Preview (Celtic vs Ross County)
The Bhoys finished the season with the finest defensive record in the division, having given up just 34 times. They also scored a staggering 114 league goals, averaging precisely three goals per game. Ange Postecoglou departed Parkhead to join Tottenham Hotspur in June after leading Celtic to five trophies in two years. Brendan Rodgers returned to the team after a four-year stint at Leicester City. Between 2016 and 2019, Rodgers guided Celtic to two Scottish Premierships, two Scottish Cups, and three Scottish League Cups. In 2016–17 and 2017–18, Celtic completed the fabled “double treble” by winning all three domestic trophies.
Rodgers will be hoping for another prosperous era at the club after overseeing three wins, two draws, and one loss in six preseason friendly, including victories against Portimonense, Gamba Osaka, and Athletic Bilbao. Ross County, on the other hand, finished second to last in the Premiership standings last season. These results forced Malky Mackay’s team to compete with the champion of the Championship playoffs. Fortunately for the Staggies, they held off Partick Thistle and kept their place in the top division for another year. They overcame a 2-0 loss in the first leg to square the game at 3-3 before winning 5-4 on penalties.
Given that Ross County only managed to win nine of their 38 league games last season, while also registering seven draws and 22 losses, it is fair to conclude that they deserved to finish second from the bottom, three points above Dundee United, who were sent packing automatically. In addition, just three teams — Dundee United, Kilmarnock, and St Mirren — gave up more goals than Ross County did the previous season, which was 60, than only one team, Livingston. The 2023–24 season has already begun for Mackay’s team, who have already taken control of Group D with victories against Stranraer, Morton, and Edinburgh City in the League Cup. However, their most recent match ended in a penalty shootout loss to Kelty Hearts of the third division.
Team News
With Australian midfielder Aaron Mooy hanging up his boots and Portuguese winger Jota joining Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad in a £25 million move, Celtic have lost a few crucial players this summer. The Glasgow giants have once more raided the Asian market. They signed Tomoki Iwata from Japan and Kwon Hyeok-kyu and Yang Hyun-jun from South Korea. At Parkhead, Iwata joins fellow compatriots Yuki Kobayashi, Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda, and Kyogo Furuhashi. The latter scored 34 goals in 50 games last season across all competitions.
Due to injury, Celtic’s right-back Alistair Johnston, attacker Albian Ajeti, and midfielder James McCarthy, who last played for the team in November 2022, all appear to be out to start the season. Alex Iacovitti and Keith Watson left on free transfers. Ross County was also active in the transfer market this summer. They brought in Josh Reid from Coventry City and James Brown from Blackburn Rovers. Midfielders’ knee problems are still bothering them. Ross Callachan and Ben Paton won’t be available for the Staggies for some time. Celtic, who dominated the competition the previous season and nearly avoided relegation last year with Ross County, appear set to open their Premiership championship defense with a convincing victory.
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