Celtic delivered three festive points for supporters with a dominant 4-0 Boxing Day victory over Motherwell at Celtic Park. After dropping points previously with a 0-0 draw against Dundee United, the Bhoys asserted their strength, reaffirming their position at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
The match kicked off with great anticipation as Celtic fans filled the stands, hoping to see their team back to winning ways. Under the management of Brendan Rodgers, Celtic fielded a solid line-up, needing to take advantage of their home ground against Motherwell, who sat fourth in the table and came with their own momentum, being unbeaten in their last three games.
Celtic came out strong, immediately asserting themselves with impressive ball control and aggressive attacking play. The first half, initially filled with missed chances and thwarted efforts, took on new life just before the interval. Despite some frustrations and missed opportunities, it was Celtic's persistence which paid off as the half drew to a close. After Hyun-jun Yang was brought down by Motherwell goalkeeper Aston Oxborough within the box, referee Ross Hardie awarded Celtic a penalty. Arne Engels stepped up and coolly converted the spot-kick, sending the home crowd wild as they cheered their team to a well-deserved 1-0 lead.
The second half saw Celtic’s performance intensify, showcasing their attacking prowess and depth, with Maeda, Kuhn, and Hatate all contributing significantly. Three minutes after the restart, the Hoops doubled their lead when Engels swung in a corner kick flicked on by Liam Scales. Daizen Maeda, showing remarkable timing and strength, leapt above the defenders to bullet home with a powerful header. With this goal, Celtic began to dominate the game completely, leaving Motherwell struggling to contain their relentless advances.
Celtic's third goal came from Nicolas Kuhn, who, just after subbing on, made his presence felt. Gathering the ball around 25 yards out, he surged forward and unleashed a low shot, which took a deflection off one of the defenders, trickling past Oxborough and confirming the home team’s superiority at 3-0.
Not to be outdone, Reo Hatate, who also came off the bench, rounded off the scoring with another brilliant strike from outside the box, curling the ball home to make it 4-0. The goal was met with roaring approval from the fans, cementing Celtic’s place as the team to beat this season. Several more chances came and went for the Bhoys, highlighting their control of the match. Both Kyogo and Liam Scales had noteworthy attempts at extending the lead, but Oxborough was on hand to deny them.
Arne Engels, who had played such a pivotal role with his penalty and assist on Maeda's goal, demonstrated his growing influence within the squad. Despite being relatively quiet throughout the match, he received recognition from the crowd and managed to shake off jitters following earlier performances. Celtic’s captain Callum McGregor also shone brightly, orchestrated the midfield play and ensured fluid movement across the park for his team.
Despite the eventual scoreline, Motherwell put up a fight and had moments, such as when Tawanda Maswanhise headed just over the bar, showcasing their determination not to go quietly. Manager Stuart Kettlewell expressed frustration with two penalty decisions, but even with these grievances, Motherwell struggled to thwart Celtic’s advances.
By the final whistle, Celtic had seized all three points, highlighting their status as genuine championship contenders. They now remain unbeaten this season, sitting at the top of the table with 47 points; Motherwell now finds themselves slipping to fifth, trailing behind the league leaders.
With the victory, Celtic has sent a strong message to their rivals. On January 2nd, the Hoops face Rangers at Ibrox, where they will aim to preserve their lead and extend their unbeaten streak. A strong performance will be key, but for now, they revel in their Boxing Day triumph, reminding fans why they are the champions of Scotland.