Despite being the runaway league leaders with a sixteen-point cushion at the top of the Premiership standings, Celtic must not understate Rangers on Sunday lunchtime after losing 3-0 at Ibrox in January. Yet the Hoops are having the upper hand as they defeated the Light Blues twice already including a comprehensive Parkhead win with an identical scoreline.
Meanwhile, it is a battle of pride and prestige for Rangers who had a shootout heartbreak against the Celts in the League Cup final. But their Midas touch in Europe continues following a Europa League Round of 16 victory against Fenerbahce, thanks to Jack Butland’s heroics in the tie-breaker. Barry Ferguson’s men must overcome the fatigue from Thursday night and secure a result at Parkhead thus stopping their bitter rivals from hitting the 100-point mark by the end of the campaign.
Celtic vs Rangers: Talking Tactics
The 4-3-3 formation suits Brendan Rodgers’ free-flowing passing game along with swift attacking transitions from defence. Callum McGregor’s fitness concern could decimate them deep down the midfield, yet the technicality and creative spark of the other midfielders should see them dominate the game in the centre of the pitch.
Ferguson has tweaked Philippe Clement’s 4-2-3-1 and switched to a 3-4-2-1 in recent games. This set-up should target an overload and expose the absence of a specialist ‘number 6’ if McGregor fails a late fitness test. However, the focus must be on maintaining the defensive shape with or without the ball.
Team News
Celtic
Paulo Bernardo continues to be sidelined with an ankle injury, but the veteran James Forrest is back in training, overcoming a long-standing foot injury. McGregor remains a fitness doubt, and so is Liam Scales who missed last week’s Cup contest against Hibernian due to a facial injury.
Celtic Predicted XI (4-3-3)
Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Schlupp; Engels, McCowan, Hatate; Kuhn, Jota, Maeda
Rangers
Connor Barron could not complete the Fenerbahce game, and the gaffer must assess if the young Scotsman is available this weekend having returned from a long injury layoff only a few days back. Neraysho Kasanwirjo, who sustained a knee injury while on international duties, is expected to return to action later this month.
Rangers Predicted XI (3-4-2-1)
Butland; Tavernier, Propper, Souttar; Yilmaz, Raskin, Diomande, Jefte; Cerny, Lawrence; Dessers.
Key Men
Celtic
Daizen Maeda is in red-hot form having notched 27 goals and 8 assists in 41 outings across competitions. The Japanese ace might terrorize the Gers defence as he has done so far except for the Ibrox tie earlier this year. Arne Engles might have to play a holding role to keep things calm in the middle of the park.
Rangers
Skipper James Tavernier is converted into a right centre-back in Ferguson’s ‘back three’. The skipper must exhibit his defensive discipline and concentration, also, the flair of Vaclav Cerny from the right-hand flank could cause menace in the Hoops defensive third.
Celtic vs Rangers: Streaming Links
| Broadcaster | |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports |
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