100% duels won: Celtic’s 131-touch star was just as good as Schmeichel
Even though December is only getting started, it already appears that the Scottish Premiership crown has been determined. Under Brendan Rodgers’ leadership, Celtic, the defending champions, are advancing towards yet another league victory after defeating Hibernian 3-0.
Yes, don’t get ahead of yourself, and all that, but the Old Firm powerhouses are currently nine points ahead of their nearest opponents, Aberdeen, who made a mistake against St Johnstone on Saturday.
With Rangers – who take on Ross County on Sunday – currently 14 points adrift of the Hoops in third, it truly is Celtic’s league to lose, with the Glasgow outfit seeing off a spirited Hibs side to maintain their handsome advantage at the top.
Celtic’s best performers vs Hibs
Although things didn’t go as planned at Parkhead, Rodgers and company will be hoping to move on quickly before Tuesday’s Champions League matchup with Dinamo Zagreb after scoring three goals and earning three points.
As Kasper Schmeichel again stopped the tenacious visitors, the former Liverpool manager may actually credit his custodian with helping to clinch a valuable, arduous victory against David Gray’s team.
According to Sofascore, the seasoned Dane was called into action barely minutes into the match after making one of nine stops that he was needed to make after rejecting Mykola Kukharevych from close range.
Kasper Schmeichel’s game in numbers
90 minutes
9 saves
1 punch
7 saves from inside the box
45 touches
93% pass accuracy
7/9 long balls completed
2 clearances made
Stats via Sofascore
Substitute Kyogo Furuhashi then rubberstamped the victory with a delightful dink late on, following James Forrest’s threaded pass, although it was one man who didn’t get on the scoresheet that deserves notable plaudits.
Celtic’s star man vs Hibs
On Saturday afternoon, things would have gone quite differently without Schmeichel, but the former Leicester City player wasn’t the only one who stole the show; captain Callum McGregor was also excellent in his midfield position.
The Scotsman, who has been a mainstay of this team for a long time in Glasgow, is frequently overlooked as a player—that is, when he isn’t shooting from range.
Simply said, everything passes through the man in the middle, as seen once more against the Edinburgh team. McGregor recorded an incredible 131 touches and had an incredible 98% pass accuracy rate.
After winning all of his duels and making three clearances and one block in that fierce performance, the unrelenting star, who remained calm and collected in possession, also made an impression off the ball.
The 31-year-old, who is still the division’s joint-top scorer despite not participating on this particular occasion, is the whole deal; Rodgers only needs to choose which pair should start with him on a regular basis.
Like Schmeichel, McGregor is rightfully one of the few sureties in the starting lineup on a team and a side where spots are up for grabs.
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