The Old Firm Derby is the showdown between Glasgow rivals Celtic and Rangers. It certainly may not have the glamour that comes with the popular Spanish El Classico or the Premier League's Manchester Derby or other popular world's soccer rivalries, however, a sophisticated battle on and off the pitch, arguably the most heated football rivalry on many fronts.
Rangers may have held the most Scottish Premiership title with 54 triumphs, it is their perennial rival Celtic that has dominated the domestic titles for the past 9 seasons(including a domestic treble from 2016/17 - 2018/19). Celtic, under the tutelage of manager Neil Lennon, are widely favoured to complete a 10th-straight-season triumph. They have started the 2020/21 league season on the right path with 25 points from 9 matches, a point adrift of Rangers.
The last time Rangers laid their hands on the league trophy was in 2010/11. A turbulent 2011/12 season that saw Rangers went into administration and then a 4-season stint in the lower divisions followed. Rangers have been under the shadows of Celtic ever since. However, the appointment of former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard in May 2018 has seen Rangers embark on an upward spiral and significantly closed the gap on their Glasgow rival Celtic.
The last league meeting between these 2 was a 2-1 victory for Rangers surprisingly at Celtic Park last December, Rangers 2nd win in 5 meetings, having also won 2-0 in May 2019. However, as in most derbies, stats don't always count. Both go into Saturday match without a league defeat so far. Rangers unbeaten in 10(8 wins and 2 draws) while Celtic is with 8 wins and 1 draw from 9 games.
Celtic is feeling the impact of the coronavirus with key players set to miss the derby. The holders will have to do without the duo of Odsoone Edouard and Ryan Christie. Both are on isolation for coronavirus related matters. Others like Nir Bitton and Hatem Elhamed will also miss out having also tested positive to COVID-19. Rangers, on the other hand, are free of the virus but would most likely miss key players such as Joe Aribo, Kemar Roofe and Nicola Katic through various injuries.
In December 2018, Gerrard masterminded Rangers 1st win over Celtic since Scottish Cup win in 2016 and 1st league win since 2012, ergo, it would be another pat on the back if Gerrard led Rangers to a 1st back-to-back victory over Celtic for the 1st time since the 1-0, 2-1 consecutive league win in 2009.
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