Celtic have made a strong start to their league campaign, but Sunday afternoon at Ibrox exposed some fairly uncomfortable problems.
The 3-0 League Cup defeat was Celtic’s second really poor showing when the level of opposition and occasion went up this season, following the collapse against LASK in Austria.
There is not much time to lick wounds either. The next five fixtures will start asking far more serious questions of Martin O’Neill’s side.
Celtic’s Next Five Fixtures
First up is Ferencvaros at Celtic Park on Thursday night, Celtic’s opening game of the Europa League league phase. UEFA football returning to Paradise should normally bring excitement, but after what happened at Ibrox, this suddenly feels like a game Celtic need to use to settle everyone down.
Three days later, Rangers come to Celtic Park in the Premiership.
There is no need to manufacture a storyline for that one. Celtic were comprehensively beaten at Ibrox on Sunday and now have the chance to respond immediately in the league. Another performance anywhere close to what we witnessed this weekend and the conversation around this team will change very quickly.
The international break follows before Celtic return with Motherwell away at Fir Park on Sunday, October 11. On paper it is the least glamorous game in this sequence, but trips to Fir Park rarely offer Celtic an afternoon where they can simply turn up and go through the motions.
Then the difficulty jumps considerably.
On Thursday, October 15, Celtic travel to Lisbon to face Benfica in the Europa League. This is exactly the sort of European away night supporters want Celtic competing properly in. Benfica at the Estádio da Luz will also provide a fairly unforgiving examination of where this team actually is.
There is little recovery time before Hearts arrive at Celtic Park on Sunday, October 18. That means Celtic will return from Portugal and immediately face another domestic game which should demand plenty physically.
That is the concern after Ibrox.
Celtic have won their league games so far, but performances have not always matched the results. When the intensity has risen, against LASK and now Rangers, this team has looked alarmingly vulnerable.
Ferencvaros and Rangers now arrive at Celtic Park within four days of each other. A few weeks later Celtic face Benfica away and Hearts at home within the space of 72 hours.
There will be rotation, injuries, European travel and very little opportunity to hide poor performances.
The early weeks of the season are over. Celtic have got points on the board and survived some warning signs along the way.
Now the heat gets turned up.
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