Fair to say, it has not been all smooth sailing for Celtic this season, but the title could still be theirs. It's hard to believe that the Champions League exit at the hands of Kairat, Brendan Rodgers' shock resignation after falling out with the board and the 33 day Wilfried Nancy experiment, as well as so much more, all happened in one season. Nevertheless, in less than a week's time, the campaign could end with the Celts champions for the fifth season in a row, and the 14th year out of the last 15.
Martin O'Neill's team have really upped their game in recent weeks, winning six on the spin since the start of April, and it is just as well. March's 2-0 defeat at Tannadice against Dundee United was their eighth league loss of the season, never before going on to win the title when enduring that many defeats.
This is only the ninth time since 1979 that the Bhoys have lost eight or more league games in a single campaign, most-recently doing so in 2000. In fact, no side has been Scottish champions with this many loses on their record for 91 years. Back in the 1935, it was Rangers who won the Division One title, despite losing eight of 38 games, ending up three points above Celtic and five clear of Hearts.
Well, all these decades later, it was the same trio going for the trophy again, albeit Sunday's Old Firm victory officially takes the Gers out of the running. So now, wins over Motherwell on Wednesday and then Hearts at home on Saturday, in a likely straight title shootout, will see them reclaim the trophy once more.
So, how rare is it for any club in any major European league to be crowned champions while losing eight or more matches?
European clubs to be champions with 8+ defeats (2000-present)
Club | League | Season | Defeats |
|---|---|---|---|
Deportivo La Coruña | La Liga | 1999/00 | 11 |
Anderlecht | Jupiler Pro League | 2013/14 | 11 |
Club Brugge | Jupiler Pro League | 2015/16 | 10 |
Monaco | Ligue 1 | 1999/00 | 9 |
Bayern Munich | Bundesliga | 2000/01 | 9 |
Rapid Wien | Austrian Bundesliga | 2007/08 | 9 |
Tirol Innsbruck | Austrian Bundesliga | 2000/01 | 8 |
Nantes | Ligue 1 | 2000/01 | 8 |
Olympique Lyonnais | Ligue 1 | 2001/02 | 8 |
Olympique Lyonnais | Ligue 1 | 2002/03 | 8 |
Internazionale | Serie A | 2005/06 | 8 |
Real Madrid | La Liga | 2006/07 | 8 |
RB Salzburg | Austrian Bundesliga | 2008/09 | 8 |
Sturm Graz | Austrian Bundesliga | 2010/11 | |
Club Brugge | Jupiler Pro League | 2020/21 | 8 |
Beşiktaş | Süper Lig | 2020/21 | 8 |
Note: UEFA's current top 14 ranked leagues were considered.
Across Europe's best 14 leagues, taking UEFA's ranking ahead of the start of next season, only 16 clubs have won their domestic title, despite losing eight or more matches, since 2000. Three of these clubs, including joint-record holders Anderlecht, are Belgian but, due to the division's convoluted system featuring the halving points, which they're actually ditching next season, those can be put to one side.
Thus, the true record holders in this regard in the 21st century are Deportivo La Coruña, who managed to win La Liga in 1999/00, despite losing 11 times. Not including Belgian outfits, only Depor, Monaco, Bayern Munich and Rapid Wien have done so enduring more than eight defeats.
Down south, the Premier League record for most defeats in a single season suffered by champions is seven loses, collected by Blackburn Rovers all the way back in 1994/95. Well, in this season's Scottish Premiership, Celtic have picked up eight defeats, and another would be fatal.
Hearts meantime have lost only five times, accumulating a very impressive 16 points out of a possible 21 against the Old Firm. However, defeat for Derek McInnes' side on Saturday, assuming Celtic have won at Fir Park on Wednesday, will see the Hoops snatch the title away from the Jambos.
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