Evidence is clear: Celtic are back

The evidence is clear: we’ve got our Celtic back.  The football on Saturday was better than at any point this season.  Four goals scored told only part of the story.  Odsonne Edouard alone hit the post three times, while Callum McGregor struck the crossbar and Scott Sinclair hit the post with the keeper out of his goal.

Faculties that were so elusive a few weeks ago, like passing and movement, were a joy.  Tom Rogic deserved his Man of the Match award, while Odsonne is back looking ominously difficult to play.  The loss of Scott Brown to injury was a worry, while his replacement, Scott Sinclair continues to struggle to recapture past form.  If you were within a mile of Celtic Park, you may also have heard me when Mikael Lustig was out-muscled for Hibs second goal.

Hibs looked a shadow of the team we expected in the first half.  Anyone who comes to Celtic Park with more lofty intentions than simply defending their 18-yard box had better be on form.  They objectively improved in the second half, but that would have been different if the woodwork did not come to their rescue so often.

I’m not going to tell you I’m confident about Leipzig, but I am looking forward to Murrayfield on Sunday.  We look ready to defend our treble.