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Celtic on pace to shatter European record for title-winning points margin

Russell Cheyne

Although the excitement of a title race ended long ago, the thrill of setting a European record awaits Celtic.

Paris Saint-Germain's title-winning points margin record is already in danger of falling a year after the French side ran away with the Ligue 1 title.

The capital city outfit secured the league title with over two months left in season, and went on to dominate the competition during the final weeks to win the Ligue 1 title by 31 points.

PSG ended up finishing two points clear of Celtic's 2013-14 title-winning campaign, but now it looks as though the Glaswegians are making a serious claim to make history once again.

Team Country Season Point Margin
Paris Saint-Germain France 2015-16 31
Celtic Scotland 2013-14 29
Olympiacos Greece 2015-16 28
Dinamo Zagreb Croatia 2007-08 28
Skonto Latvia 1997 27

The Brendan Rodgers-led side has been virtually unstoppable through 24 domestic matches, with breakout star Moussa Dembele and Premier League castaway Scott Sinclair towing the load for an attack that enjoys a 20-goal margin over the next highest-scoring team, Hearts (45 goals).

Celtic's league record alone is something to behold as the 47-time league champions have complied a ludicrous unbeaten record of 23 wins and one draw through 24 matches.

Despite facing opposition considerably weaker than the likes that PSG had to plough through last season, producing a 27-points gap over Aberdeen and Rangers - tied with 43 points - is nothing to scoff at, no matter the calibre of the league.

In comparison, Celtic holds a four-point edge over PSG's 2015-16 record at the same point of the season:

Team Season Games Wins Draws Losses Points
Paris Saint-Germain 2015-16 24 21 3 0 66
Celtic 2016-17 24 23 1 0 70

PSG, who secured the league title in March, went on to compile another 30 points.

Considering Celtic's run of dominance, the Glasgow-based side could, theoretically, also have the league wrapped up in March if the Bhoys win their next five matches, combined with the rest of the league beating Aberdeen and Rangers outright.

However, before Celtic attempts to break the European record, the club is eyeing a revered club record held by the Lisbon Lions. Rodgers' men can overtake the European winners' 50-year-old mark if they manage to go unbeaten over the next three matches to surpass the post-war record of 26 matches without a loss.

Country Team Year Points Margin
England Manchester United 1999-00 18
Spain Barcelona 2012-13 15
Italy Inter Milan 2006-07 22
Germany Bayern Munich 2012-13 25

While PSG is in no position to come close to last season's dominance - sitting 14 points off its pace at this stage a year ago and three points back of leaders AS Monaco - there is an unlikely adversary out of Wales who also has a chance to make history.

The New Saints, of the Welsh Premier League, has already beaten Ajax's 45-year-old record with its 26th-straight victory in December. Now, TNS has its sights set on continuing its record-breaking ways after compiling a similar league record to Celtic's - 22 wins, 1 draw - to open a 24-point gap.

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