Flying high at the top of Scottish Premiership table, a League Cup win, Champions League qualification and currently undefeated domestically.
Things couldn’t be going much better for the Hoops under Brendan Rodgers right now. Positivity at the club is at a level most haven’t seen at Celtic for over a decade.
The new Celtic boss has turned the Bhoys into an even more dominant force than they were under Ronny Deila and has made them competitive in Europe again. There’s still lots of work to do for the club to hit the heights that the support expect but things are certainly moving in the right direction.
There have been some massive, iconic moments already this season and with the year about to end, we thought it’d be a good idea to take a look at the story so far.
Here are TEN great photos that sum up the action so far…
It all started with relief
The Brendan Rodgers era at Celtic got off to a terrible start, losing to part timers Lincoln Red Imps in their first qualification match for the UEFA Champions League.
Thankfully for Rodgers, the Hoops and their supporters, that first leg defeat was overturned at Celtic Park with Mikael Lustig, Patrick Roberts and Leigh Griffiths on the scoresheet.
Griffiths’ effort, shown here, overturned the 1-0 deficit to 2-1 across the tie, the first time the Bhoys breathed easy in the fixture.
Through another round
Celtic’s tie with Kazakhstan champions FC Astana was a tricky one on paper, on the pitch and logistically too. Almost five hours away in a plane, the Bhoys earned a credible draw over there before the second leg at Celtic Park.
The game was heading into the lottery of extra-time and penalties before a last minute spot kick was awarded to the Hoops within the 90 minutes.
Moussa Dembele, having just turned 20, had not scored for Celtic up to this point but took the massive responsibility onto his shoulders and tucked it away to send Celtic Park into raptures. A sign that this Celtic team could never be counted out.
Back in the big time
Scott Brown’s exceptional finish in the first leg against Israeli champions Hapoel Be’er Sheva gave Celtic enough of a cushion to progress into the Group Stage of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in three seasons.
It was also the first time a Celtic manager had taken the Bhoys there at the first time of asking. Brendan Rodgers had achieved an incredible thing and this was the catalyst for positivity being sky high from then on.
Brown’s goal made it 5-2 on the night and despite losing 2-0 in the second leg, the Hoops had taken their place on Europe’s big stage again.
A hero is born
Moussa Dembele’s hat-trick against Rangers in the first derby of the season has ensured he will always be remembered fondly at Celtic Park, regardless of what happens from here on out.
His exquisite finishes gave Celtic fans one of the best days of their lives, punishing their city rivals in a way that hadn’t been seen for 16 years.
The three goals were part of an incredible run that has plateaued at 17… for now.
Reality check
The elation of that derby win was brought right back down to earth just three days later when Celtic visited the Nou Camp for their first Champions League game proper of the season.
A 7-0 drubbing, it was officially the worst defeat in Celtic’s long and proud history in European competition.
It demonstrated just how much Celtic have to do to be a force on the continent. Champions League football has moved on massively during the short few years the Bhoys have been absent from the competition.
Restoring pride
Having already been demolished by Barcelona, many Celtic fans feared the worst when Pep Guardiola’s in-form Manchester City came calling in Glasgow.
It turned out to be a rejuvenating performance for the Hoops, taking the lead three times against the mega-rich English club. Moussa Dembele was again the hero and his sublime overhead effort stole the headlines.
It wasn’t a victory, but it restored European pride a club that thrives on it.
Another derby, another win
Moussa Dembele inflicted more pain on Rangers fans at Hampden Park with his cheeky back-heel finish in the closing moments of the Scottish League Cup semi-final.
It gave Celtic the opportunity to win their 100th honour and sparked fans’ dreams of a historic treble in Brendan Rodgers’ first season as boss.
Although a closer scoreline than before, the Bhoys were every bit as dominant across the 90 minutes, proving again they’re pretty much untouchable domestically.
Competitive on the road again
Celtic have had some dreadful results away in Europe over the years, as any supporter will tell you. Playing away to a German team is never easy for any side, but for the Scottish champions, it’s extra difficult.
Their 1-1 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach showed that progress can be made. The Hoops could have gone on to win the game in final moments, this Callum McGregor miss from a fantastic opportunity the only thing missing from a fine European performance.
Century Bhoys
Celtic won their 100th major honour, the Scottish League Cup, with a thumping 3-0 win over Aberdeen at Hampden Park last month. It was Rodgers’ first ever competition win as a manager and the first of what could be many as Celtic boss.
The Hoops were a mean outfit on the day, blowing away an Aberdeen side that a few fancied to cause an upset.
Tom Rogic, James Forrest and Moussa Dembele were the heroes. Dembele became the first Celtic player since 1982 to score in every round of the tournament.
Bowing out with heads held high
Celtic’s European journey may have come to an earlier end than some had hoped but it ended with another respectable draw on the road, this time away to Manchester City.
Not many would have expected it to be the Hoops’ home form that saw them exit the competition. Two draws on the road away in Germany and England is a fair achievement for most teams in Europe.
It again showed that if Rodgers can build on the foundations he has at Celtic, the Bhoys could become a real force in Europe next season.
