'City & Celtic seek statement win in four-way SWPL title race'

SWPL 1: Glasgow City v Celtic

When: Friday, 14 February Where: Petershill Park, Glasgow Kick-off: 19:30 GMT

Coverage: Watch live on BBC Scotland & iPlayer, follow on BBC Sport app & website

Few leagues have done title drama like the SWPL in the last two seasons and, with 12 games to go and four teams separated by only two points, it looks certain to deliver gripping excitement once again.

Glasgow City, champions two seasons ago thanks to an added-time winner on the final day, meet Celtic - winners last term in the same late fashion - at Petershill Park on Friday night.

Both sides are locked on 50 points after 20 games.

Rangers and Hibernian are just two further back, and if both win their games and there is a draw between the top two, all four sides would be level on 51 points with one match left before the league splits.

Then it becomes dog eat dog as the top six play each other home and away to see which of the four teams comes out with the trophy.

Even Hearts, eight points off the pace, are not out of contention just yet. Four could feasibly become five.

So while Glasgow City's meeting with Celtic is merely the pre-cursor to a fantastic finale, it could have a big psychological impact on the title race.

This is the second meeting of these sides within a fortnight.

In the fourth round of the Scottish Cup at the start of the month, City twice came from behind to triumph 3-2 and dump Celtic out of the competition, exacting revenge for their penalty shootout defeat by their Glasgow neighbours in the Sky Sports Cup earlier in the season.

Now it is Elena Sadiku and Celtic who are out for some retribution, particularly because that loss means retaining the SWPL title is their only shot at a trophy this season.

Leanne Ross and the Glasgow City coaching team made two half-time changes and tweaked their shape in that tie, which proved hugely effective in turning the game around.

"We always want to get back on and we always want to do better," Sadiku said of the last match.

"But we need to be confident because it was a good game, and we had good first half like everybody saw."

Celtic's progress to the Champions League group stage meant they have had extra games to deal with - but they have now caught up and a run of seven straight league wins has them right where they want to be.

Last season they trailed Rangers by four points going into the split, but managed to win eight and draw two of their final 10 games to pip their rivals on goal difference.

A win here would be a statement they intend to do it all over again.

City were level on points with Celtic last season when the league split, but ended the campaign nine points adrift and without a trophy.

Ross, who led City to their 16th league title two seasons ago to add to her 27 trophies as a player with the club, will be desperate to learn those lessons.

Their defence has been imperious this season, conceding just eight goals and keeping 14 clean sheets in 20 SWPL matches.

That made it all the more surprising when Hibernian scored three first-half goals against them at the end of January to clinch a 3-1 win.

It was City's first defeat in the SWPL since August against Celtic, which they followed with a 16-game unbeaten run.

Ross' side got back on the horse with an 8-0 thumping of Montrose last time as well as the victory over Celtic, so they appear to have brushed that loss off.

Their record against the top five in the league is decent, taking 11 points from a possible 21, the joint-best along with Hibs, and they have won all 10 games at home this term.

It all points to a side which is confident - and scattered with experienced players like Lee Gibson, Hayley Lauder, and Joanne Love, who all know how to get the job done having won multiple titles.

They will know as well as anyone the match-up with Celtic will be far from decisive when it comes to the SWPL title, but winning it to go at least two points clear could be a huge psychological boost for either side.