On a seemingly unstoppable surge towards another Scottish Premiership title, Celtic return to their headquarters to square up to Hibernian on Saturday evening.
Brendan Rodgers's men passed the Pittodrie test on Wednesday evening, edging out closest foes Aberdeen 1-0, while Hibs hit Motherwell for three last time out to end a dismal winless run.
Match preview
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Welcomed to Aberdeen's Pittodrie base in appalling weather conditions, Celtic were battling both the elements and their nearest title rivals on Wednesday evening, starting the top-of-the-table clash just four points better off than Jimmy Thelin's team.
However, the gap to first place extended to seven points by the full-time whistle, as Reo Hatate came up with the critical moment in the second half to propel Celtic to one of their most hard-fought successes of the season yet, and their 13th from 14 in the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership.
Now seven points clear of Aberdeen with a match in hand and 11 better off than faltering Rangers, it would take the capitulation of all capitulations for Rodgers's side to relinquish a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title, and an astonishing 55th overall.
Since dropping points for the first and only time this season in their previous battle with Aberdeen at Celtic Park, the Bhoys have emerged triumphant from their last six top-flight matches, letting in just one goal during those 540 minutes of football.
With their domestic dominance not waning, the Celtic contingent may very well already have one eye on next week's Champions League trip to Croatian powerhouses Dinamo Zagreb, which precedes an Old Firm League Cup final with old foes Rangers on December 15.
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While Celtic and Hibs' respective positions in the Scottish Premiership table make for grim reading for the travelling faithful, the visitors should arrive for Saturday's game with a newfound spring in their step after finally earning their first win since the middle of September.
Five losses and four draws followed a 2-0 success over St Johnstone nearly three months ago, but David Gray's team made light work of Motherwell on November 30, as Junior Hoilett, Mykola Kuharevich and Josh Campbell all registered at Fir Park.
The significance of Hibs' success at Motherwell cannot be overstated, as Gray's men are now off the bottom and reside in the relegation playoff place - two points clear of basement team Hearts - while also being just one adrift of St Johnstone and Kilmarnock.
A first away victory of the season could hardly have been more timely for Hibernian before a visit to Celtic Park, and from 16 Scottish Premiership games on the road in 2024, the visitors have only failed to score in three of them.
Hibs also only have to go back to May 2023 for their most recent success over Celtic - a thrilling 4-2 triumph during the closing stages of the season - but the champions have since come up trumps in four successive meetings in all competitions, netting at least twice in every game.
Team News
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Alex Valle's half-time substitution in Celtic's success over Aberdeen raised a couple of eyebrows, but Rodgers confirmed after the game that his early withdrawal was not injury-related, so he will be fine to line up against Hibs.
The holders should therefore be missing just the one player for Saturday's battle, as Odin Thiago Holm is still working his way back from a calf concern but could make his return before the end of the year.
Rodgers is not afraid to rotate when the intense fixture schedule demands it, so the likes of Adam Idah, Luke McGowan and Greg Taylor - who replaced Valle at half time in midweek - are all viable options to start this one.
Hibs will also be able to call upon almost every player for Saturday's encounter, including Jordan Obita following his suspension, but Celtic-owned midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu cannot face his parent club.
Ex-Fulham youngster Kieron Bowie is also nursing a hamstring complaint, but Gray has no need to shuffle the pack after their last successful outing, as Hoilett and Kuharevich continue up front alongside Elie Youan.
The Hibs boss also revealed on Friday that Rudi Molotnikov had sustained a "little" groin injury in training, ruling him out of contention as well.
Celtic possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor; Hatate, McGregor, McGowan; Forrest, Idah, Maeda
Hibernian possible starting lineup:
Smith; Iredale, O'Hora, Bushiri; C. Cadden, Triantis, Newell, N. Cadden; Hoilett; Youan, Kuharevich
We say: Celtic 3-0 Hibernian
Even though Hibs have fresher legs in the camp and marched to a more emphatic success in their most recent fixture, those factors should prove largely inconsequential against the champions.
A rejigged Celtic side still possess an abundance of quality, and we can only envisage Rodgers's men picking up another customary league win before two crunch matches in the following week.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
