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Steffen Schmidt - August 3, 2023
Celtic vs Ross County
Scottish Premiership
Date: 5 August 2023, Saturday
Kick-off at 12:30 UK / 13:30 CET
Venue: Celtic Park (Glasgow).
Defending champions Celtic will open the new Premiership season with the home fixture against Ross County on Saturday afternoon in Glasgow.
The Bhoys have dominated the competition last year, winning the silverware with a stunning record of 32 wins, 3 draws, and only 3 losses in 38 games.
They have also boasted the best attacking and defensive records in the Premiership with a goal difference of 114-34 in the process.
Head coach Ange Postecoglou left the team to join Tottenham Hotspur, leavings pace for the former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers to return to Parkhead after four years with Leicester City.
Rodgers can be satisfied with his team’s displays in preseason as the Bhoys won three and lost just one of six exhibitions this preseason, a run that involves a famous victory over La Liga side Athletic Bilbao.
The story is completely opposite with Ross County who retained the elite class status by the skin of their teeth last time out.
The Staggies finished the season second from bottom and needed a penalty-shootout success against Championship playoffs winners Patrick Thistle to avoid the relegation.
The team led by Malky Mackay have made a lot of changes in between the two seasons and the acquisitions will likely need some time to gel with the new teammates.
Ross County have already been in competitive action this summer, winning three League Cup ties against Stanraer, Morton, and Edinburgh City before falling on penalties to third-class side Kelty Hearts in the previous game.
The gulf in quality between these two teams is enormous and we can’t expect anything other than a commanding victory for the reigning champions.
Ross County had the second-worst attacking record in the league last year and we fancy the 1.83 odds offered for Celtic to win to nil here. The hosts are also 1.95 to beat the rivals by three or more goals difference.
