Buddies first up for Celtic - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Buddies first up for Celtic

Celtic open their Clydesdale Bank Premier League title defence with a home fixture against St Mirren on August 10.

Gordon Strachan's champions close out their fixtures before the SPL split with a home match against Aberdeen.

Celtic beat fierce rivals Rangers for the SPL title last season and have three fixtures scheduled against their Old Firm opponents before the split.

Celtic are at home to Rangers on August 30 and February 14 and visit Ibrox on December 27.

Walter Smith's Rangers side open their campaign with an away fixture against Falkirk and are also away on the final fixture before the split on April 18 when they visit Hibernian.

Motherwell, who finished 29 points behind Celtic in third last season, begin the new campaign away to Hearts on August 9 and are at home to St Mirren on April 18. Motherwell play Celtic at home on September 13 and February 21 and away on November 8.

Rangers visit Motherwell on November 12 and play host to the same opponents on September 21 and April 11.

Aberdeen, fourth last season, begin the campaign at home to Inverness and are away against Celtic on April 18. Aberdeen are also away to Celtic on September 27 and at home to the same opposition on January 17.

Aberdeen's fixtures against Rangers are at home on August 23 and January 24 and away on November 22. The Dons visit Motherwell on August 16 and April 4 and are home to Well on November 29.

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