The Old Firm clash between Celtic and Rangers is one of the most highly anticipated and fiercely contested derbies in world football. This Sunday, the two Glasgow giants will face off once again at Celtic Park, with the hosts looking to continue their dominance over their city rivals. But can Philippe Clement’s Rangers side finally break their duck and cause an upset?
The Bookmakers’ Verdict: A One-Horse Race?
According to the bookmakers, the answer is a resounding no. All 27 odds-layers have Celtic down as odds-on favorites to win the match, with some offering as short as 1/5 for a home win. Rangers, on the other hand, are out at a whopping 4-1, with the draw available at 7/2. It’s a price that will surely tempt some punters to take a chance on the underdogs, but the stats suggest that it’s a long shot.
“We may have unearthed a flaw in that theory,” writes one pundit, referencing the fact that the bookies are never wrong. But in this case, it’s hard to argue with the odds. Celtic have only lost once in their last 12 matches, and that was a meaningless defeat at Ibrox when they were already champions. Rangers, on the other hand, have struggled to find consistency and are still reeling from the exit of several key players.
Rodgers’ Record vs. Clement’s Conundrum
Brendan Rodgers has a remarkable record in Old Firm derbies, with just one defeat in 18 matches. He’s the king of all he surveys when it comes to days like this, but Philippe Clement is still searching for his first win. The Rangers manager is under pressure, and a gap of two points could become five if things go wrong at Celtic Park. A five-point deficit after four league games is not where any Ibrox boss wants to be.
Clement has been fighting fires for months, from the Ibrox debacle to the pre-season losses and the challenge of amending his team on a tight budget. But he needs a big win to turn things around, and you wonder if he’ll be tempted to throw something different at Celtic. Perhaps the answer lies in new signing Nedim Bajrami, who arrived from Sassuolo and has already shown his quality on the international stage.
Player Transfers and Injuries: Who’s in and Who’s out?
Celtic have been busy in the transfer market, bringing in several new signings to strengthen their squad. Arne Engels has been signed from Augsburg, while Auston Trusty has joined from Sheffield United. The left-sided centre-back or left-back will surely be in the team soon, if not on Sunday. Liam Scales has done a stellar job for Celtic, but Trusty hasn’t been signed to warm the bench.
Adam Idah is a terrific alternative to Kyogo, while Luke McCowan is one of the best midfielders in the country. Rodgers has more options now, and Celtic fans will be sated at the moment. The club has spent money, and some ambition has been shown. Rangers, on the other hand, have seen 11 players leave and 11 join, with Clement still trying to gel his new signings into a cohesive unit.
New Faces and Old Favorites: The Key to Success?
For Rangers to succeed, they need to be ruthless and disrupt Callum McGregor’s authority on the pitch. The Celtic captain is usually the guy with the highest passing accuracy, the most touches, and by far the greatest significance. McGregor dominates, Kyogo scores, Rangers fight back, but Celtic win – it’s a familiar story, and one that Rangers need to rewrite if they want to cause an upset.
But with the likes of Bajrami, Vaclav Cerny, and Jefte operating behind Cyriel Dessers, there’s a chance that Rangers can ask some questions on Sunday. For Celtic, it’s all about maintaining their momentum and pressing their advantage. They’ve got the confidence and the quality, but Rangers have the desire and the determination to turn things around. It’s going to be a fascinating match, and one that could have a significant impact on the season ahead.
Rangers need a big win to turn things around, but Celtic are not going to make it easy for them. With the Old Firm fixture always being a thrilling and unpredictable affair, fans are eagerly anticipating the tie. Can Rangers exploit the weaknesses of the Celtic side and secure a win or will they succumb to yet another loss to the Old Firm? Only time will tell but one thing is certain – it will be a truly absorbing contest.
For Celtic fans, the thought of their beloved players such as Callum McGregor, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Lukas Jutkiewicz donning the iconic green and white jerseys is an exciting prospect. As they face their fierce rivals Rangers on what is expected to be a very bright and sunny day, the atmosphere at Celtic Park will be filled with a sense of hope and excitement as this ‘Old Firm’ clash will truly live up to its billing and more.
In what promises to be a thrilling encounter of the Scottish Premier League (SPL), Rangers travel to Celtic Park as the action unfolds this weekend on a very highly anticipated tie that will leave many football fans worldwide – pinching themselves for a lot more of what we truly know as – “The Old Firm.”