Celtic are enjoying a much better season than anybody could have expected from them, after the club finished 25 points behind the Rangers and trophyless in the previous campaign. This time around, they have already won the Scottish League Cup and have to be considered as the favourites for the Premiership, as they have a 6 point lead over the Rangers with just 4 more league games to go.

There is one more Glasgow Derby still to be played, at Parkhead, but if Celtic are able to get a positive result from that one, they would be virtually guaranteed to lift the league title.

This Premiership is going to even more important than other recent ones as well, as the winners are almost certain to get a place in the main stage of the UEFA Champions League group stage next season. Celtic have not been able to qualify for Europe’s elite competition for years.

The place of the Premiership winners in next season’s Champions League had been put in some doubt recently though, with Villarreal making it to the semi-finals of the competition. The Spanish club have very little chance of making it to next season’s edition by finishing in the top 4 of La Liga but would be guaranteed a place if they are able to win it this time around.

Celtic handed massive boost by Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool

Villarreal travelled to Anfield to take on Liverpool for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final tie and suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Klopp’s side.

While there is still the second leg to be played as well, it is hard to see this Liverpool side letting this lead slip by, and it would be safe to say that they already have one foot in the final of the UEFA Champions League. Of course, anything can happen in football.

Naturally, the result was a great one for Celtic and what the fans would have wanted. But at the same time, one has to remember that they still have a lot to do themselves as the Premiership title is still not won.

Ange Postecoglou’s side lost the previous Glasgow Derby in disappointing fashion, at Hampden Park in the Scottish Cup semi-final. Thus, there will be some nerves going into the game against the Rangers this weekend at Parkhead.

This article was originally posted here