The Glasgow Derby, the highlight of the Scottish football calendar. It promises passion, goals and drama. Ahead of this weekend’s fixture, what are the three talking points heading into the game?
Both Rangers and Celtic have experienced setbacks this season, whether that’s a blow in the form of captain and goalscorer Lawrence Shankland being ruled out for a considerable period or, in Celtic’s case, the team not quite performing to expectations.
With the Derby just 48 hours away, will Rangers dominate this tie once again? Will Celtic clam up against significant opposition? And will home advantage count for three points?
Are Rangers on a Roll?
A mere few weeks after Derek McInnes was placed in charge of the Rangers dugout, his team struggled to get results on the board. Their league form appeared dismal, and their swift exit from European football may go down in Rangers’ history as one of their worst-ever performances.
However, since their exit from Europe, it appears to have lit a fire under the Gers. They are unbeaten in five games, look threatening when on the attack and have built a solid midfield that is difficult to penetrate.
Their confidence off the back of some hard-fought victories paid off last Sunday as they defeated Celtic in the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup. Celtic looked lacklustre and lacked any form of creativity, managing just one shot at goal in 90 minutes, whereas a Dan Neil double and a goal for new striker Kevin Kelsy saw Rangers run out 3-0 victors.
Rangers, who at the start of their rocky season also craved a goal threat, certainly didn’t on Sunday as they barraged the Celtic goal with 15 shots, eight of which were on target.
With such a mammoth result coming last Sunday for the Ibrox side, does it swing the pendulum in their favour, with momentum firmly behind them? The question remains: can they continue it into this Sunday and register their first win at Celtic Park since January?
Do Celtic Get Cold Feet?
Celtic splashed the cash and made big-money signings in the summer transfer window, and in the league, it’s certainly paying off. The Hoops are in pole position, five points clear at the top of the table, and are unbeaten in the league. However, despite this, the ship doesn’t seem to be all that steady.
When asked to perform on the big occasions, whether that’s in European competitions or against Rangers this season, they fail to turn up. Or, if they do, the team appears to have fragilities that are often exposed by the opposition.
This season alone, against LASK in the Champions League play-off, Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup and Ferencvaros in the Europa League, they have lost all three games and shipped 11 goals, which is a third of their goal difference from the league last season.
The players they spent a packet on, have been anonymous in these significant matches. One of whom, Kasper Høgh, started on the bench last night and was called upon when they were 2-1 down at half-time and failed to really make an impact.
It’s clear that Celtic are still searching for that unbeatable and clinical starting XI combination. They are attempting to create a balance between different players who all perform with separate styles and it’s just not clicking. Should Høgh and Duran both start together? Which goalkeeper should be number one? These are all questions that need to be answered with a result on Sunday against their rivals.
The Home Advantage
As Sunday’s game is at Celtic Park, there will be no away fans following trouble at a previous Glasgow Derby last season, during which the pitch was invaded. This could turn the tide for Celtic, with the home support very much acting as the 12th man.
It’s an opportunity to pack out Celtic Park and create an atmosphere that makes it difficult for Rangers to get going and find their rhythm.
Naturally, there is a major difference between performing in front of home support and an away crowd. The home crowd could prove to be the turning point for Celtic against Rangers. It’s an opportunity for the Hoops to once again turn up for the fans and afford their supporters the bragging rights in Glasgow.
It’s a match that is relished by friend and foe alike, a game that is witnessed by millions up and down the country and a fixture that comes with plenty to discuss. Sunday will host all of these aspects and as the first league Glasgow Derby of the season, it will aim to deliver.
To watch the three key talking points Tik Tok video follow the link below: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZN86CvW1x/
