The Glasgow Derby, popularly known as the Old Firm Derby, is the famous clash between Glasgow and Scottish Premiership rivals Celtic and Rangers, the rivalry that began as far back as 1888 has gone on to be part and parcel of the rich Scottish culture. With 104 out of 122 Scottish league titles shared amongst Rangers(54) and Celtic(50), both teams are the undisputed shot callers in Scottish football. However, Celtic has dominated and won the league for the past 8th consecutive seasons, putting Rangers on the back seat since her return from relegation 4 seasons ago. Rangers' quest to break Celtic stronghold on the league begins with the 1st of 3 league clashes against Celtic on Sunday.
LEAGUE FORM:
RANGERS (W, W, W); Rangers began the season with the right momentum with a 100% start, winning all 3 league matches played, scoring 9 goals and conceded 2, and with a group stage of the Europa League secured, confidence is sky-high going into the derby come Sunday.
CELTIC ( W, W, W, ); Celtic, like her city rival, goes into Sunday's derby full of confidence, having started the league with equally 100% win, 15 staggering goals scored and just 3 conceded in the 3 matches played. Celtic has also qualified for the group stage of Europa league and so can focus on league fixtures.
RANGERS vs CELTIC, H2H:
RANGERS W2, CELTIC W7;
Both teams had played 9 league matches against each other since Rangers returned to the SPL in 2016/17 season(having been removed from the league in 2012/13 for financial troubles), and it was Celtic with 6 consecutive league wins in both 2016/17 & 2017/18. Rangers brought in ex Liverpool International Steven Gerrard for his managerial debut in 2018/19, and he has since redeemed some pride unto Rangers, winning 2 out of the 3 Old Firm derbies of that season.
KEY PLAYERS:
RANGERS's arguably best player is Alfredo Morelos, the Colombian has become 1 of Rangers important player over the year and will no doubt prove a torn in Celtic's flesh. Jermaine Defoe is another player that can sure hurt Celtic if, given the nod on Sunday, other usual suspects include Scott Arfield and James Tavernier, both players scored in the 2-0 win last May.
CELTIC may be without their marauding left-back Kieran Tierney who had since joined Arsenal, but they've got threats all over the pitch, James Forrest and Odsonne Edouard both scored in a 2-1 win over Rangers last season and will be raring to go again on Sunday. Leigh Griffiths and Bayo Youssouf have already begun the season with a couple of goals and can be called on by Celtic's manager Neil Lennon.
PREDICTION;
Rangers 1-0 Celtic
Rangers won both fixtures 1-0, 2-0 respectively at the Ibrox Stadium last season, losing only the away trip 1-2 at Celtic Park. I think Rangers will edge this fixture too.
Enjoy the Super Sunday fixtures. Thank you all for your time.
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