Celtic will shift their focus from their Champions League win over RB Leipzig as they prepare to face Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership at Rugby Park this weekend.
After the midweek excitement at Parkhead, the travelling fans will recognize that the upcoming match against Derek McInnes’ team is just as crucial for the Bhoys’ ambitions this season.
Currently, Celtic sit at the top of the Scottish Premiership on goal difference, but Aberdeen could overtake them with a win or even a draw against Dundee on Saturday evening.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Diff | Points |
| 1 |  Celtic |
10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 26 | 28 |
| 2 |  Aberdeen |
10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 9 | 11 | 28 |
| 3 |  Rangers |
10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 19 |
| 4 |  Dundee Utd |
11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 16 |
Brendan Rodgers will be focused on ensuring his team returns to Glasgow with another victory as they take on Kilmarnock this weekend, just before the international break begins.
Following their impressive win over Leipzig on Tuesday, Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes has shared his thoughts on Celtic’s current form and how he plans to challenge them on Sunday.
Derek McInnes on Countering Celtic:
Ahead of the match, McInnes spoke on the *Warm-Up* podcast, admitting he was impressed by Celtic’s “devastating” performance against Leipzig. However, he is confident that his team can be competitive when the two sides meet this weekend.
He remarked on Celtic’s recent win over Leipzig: “You saw Leipzig, who really pressed them, playing effectively a 4-4-2 out of possession, chasing them down, and at times, they had Celtic on the back foot for maybe 10-15 minutes. But Celtic played their game and still managed to get through. Right now, Celtic’s performance level is really strong, and it was a very mature showing, especially in the latter part of the second half. They have players who, when given space, will exploit it. The speed they have can be devastating, so we’ll need to limit the chances they have to use that, but we also know that good players will always find ways to break through. Our job is to stay organized and compact while still being true to our own style. I’ve got to find small things I can communicate to the players to help us.”
McInnes also noted, “The players aren’t naive. They watch Celtic’s games at Hampden and saw their win on Tuesday night. Most of them would have seen it, but the key is to remember that most of the players who will face Celtic on Sunday also played them last season.”
Celtic Must Be Ready for Rugby Park:
Celtic will once again face Kilmarnock on an artificial pitch this weekend, which can present a different challenge compared to playing on natural grass. However, this is not an excuse. McInnes and Kilmarnock have consistently provided a tough challenge for the Bhoys at home, so Celtic know they must be fully prepared for the battle ahead at Rugby Park.
On a positive note, Celtic have dominated Kilmarnock in their last two meetings, winning 9-0 over the two matches. Given Celtic’s current form, it’s clear they’ll be aiming to finish strongly before the international break.
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