Celtic extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 12 points after a dominant 4-0 victory over Motherwell at Celtic Park on December 26, 2024. Meanwhile, Rangers suffered a setback, losing 2-1 to St. Mirren, creating more distance between the two clubs.
The Hoops took command of the match early on, with Arne Engels converting a penalty just before halftime. Their commanding performance continued after the break, with Daizen Maeda doubling the lead, followed by goals from Nicolas Kuhn and Reo Hatate.
Brendan Rodgers, Celtic's manager, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s ability to bounce back following their recent 0-0 draw against Dundee United. He noted, "We did do this and could have had a few more. So, overall, to keep the clean sheet, score four, create the chances... then it's very pleasing." The win strengthened Celtic's position at the top of the league, bringing their point total to 47.
The match unfolded with Celtic quickly asserting their dominance. After some early struggles to break through Motherwell's defense, they were awarded the penalty when Aston Oxborough collided with Hyunjun Yang. Engels stepped up to convert the spot-kick, sending Oxborough the wrong way.
After halftime, the Hoops' momentum escalated. A well-worked corner saw Liam Scales flick the ball to Maeda, who headed home, quickly putting Celtic up 2-0. The match continued to tilt heavily in Celtic's favor with Kuhn’s low shot finding the net courtesy of a deflection off of Kofi Balmer. Then, with just minutes left, Hatate found the corner of the net with another precise finish to wrap up the scoring.
On the opposite end of the table, Rangers faced disappointment as they took on St. Mirren. After conceding early through Oisin Smyth's penalty, equalizing with Danilo's goal proved to be just not enough. Caolan Boyd-Munce sealed the game for St. Mirren with a stunning late strike, securing the win and leaving Rangers facing tough questions about their title aspirations.
Philippe Clement, the manager for Rangers, was visibly frustrated post-match, stating, "We threw away 45 minutes. Our first half was not acceptable, not good enough. You give belief to your opponent. A lot of things went wrong." His reflection on the match highlights the gravity of the loss for Rangers, who had been on an impressive unbeaten streak until this point.
The victory leaves Celtic firmly atop the Premiership standings, creating a significant 12-point cushion over second-placed Rangers, who now need to regroup quickly as they prepare to take on Motherwell next. Conversely, Celtic will face St. Johnstone, aiming to maintain their momentum and close out the year on top.
Meanwhile, results from other matches of the day also caught attention. Hibernian won the Edinburgh derby against rivals Hearts thanks to Dwight Gayle's decisive goal, marking Hibs' first victory at Tynecastle in five years. The home side, Hearts, faced possible relegation trouble, exemplifying the fierce competition across the league.
Aberdeen continued their poor form, suffering another heavy 4-0 defeat at the hands of Kilmarnock. This loss extended their winless streak to seven matches, adding more pressure to the Dons as they seek to turn their season around. Kyle Vassell and David Watson scored for Kilmarnock, who now have reasons to look upward in the league standings.
With the calendar year drawing to a close, the Scottish Premiership is gearing up for what promises to be thrilling fixtures. Celtic looks poised to secure their position, but with Rangers still battling, the excitement is far from over. Fans will keep their eyes peeled to see how the title race continues to evolve as both clubs take the field for their upcoming matches. The battle for supremacy remains fierce, with every goal making significant impacts on momentum.
Celtic’s commanding performance serves as a potent reminder of their capabilities, and as they look to consolidate their lead, the looming question is—who can challenge them as the league progresses?
