Celtic Park will host one of the most heated and historic rivalries in football as Celtic take on Rangers in the first Old Firm derby of the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season on Sunday, September 1, 2024, at 12:30 PM UK time.
The Old Firm derby is more than just a football match; it’s a clash that divides a city, a country, and sometimes even families. The fixture is steeped in history, tradition, and intense rivalry, making it one of the most eagerly anticipated matches in the football calendar. This edition of the Old Firm comes early in the season, but its significance cannot be overstated. Celtic, under the stewardship of Brendan Rodgers, have started the season in imperious form, winning all their league games so far. Meanwhile, Rangers, now managed by Philippe Clement, have shown signs of resurgence after a shaky start.
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Celtic: The Dominant Force
Celtic have been the team to beat in Scottish football for over two decades, with their dominance only interrupted briefly. Since the turn of the millennium, they have secured 18 Scottish Premiership titles, a testament to their consistency and quality. Their dominance was particularly evident during Rangers’ financial troubles, which saw their rivals relegated to the third division in 2012. During this period, Celtic claimed nine consecutive league titles, a feat they have achieved twice in their history.
Brendan Rodgers’ return to Celtic Park in the summer of 2023 marked a new chapter for the club. His first stint with the Hoops was highly successful, and his second tenure has begun in a similar vein. Since his return, Rodgers has lost only eight competitive matches and has led Celtic to three consecutive league titles. The Bhoys have started the 2024-25 campaign in scintillating form, winning their first three league matches without conceding a single goal. Their aggregate score of 12-1 in these games highlights both their attacking prowess and defensive solidity.
Celtic’s unbeaten run now stands at 20 matches across all competitions, a sequence dating back to March when they last tasted defeat against Hearts. Their most recent encounter with Rangers ended in a 1-0 victory in the Scottish Cup final, with Adam Idah scoring a dramatic late winner. This result extended Celtic’s unbeaten run against their arch-rivals to five matches, a streak they will be eager to continue on Sunday.
Team News: Celtic
Celtic may have to cope without key players Maik Nawrocki and Michael Johnston, who are both recovering from injuries and are expected to return later in September. Despite these absences, Rodgers is likely to field an unchanged lineup from the side that comfortably defeated St Mirren in their last league outing.
The midfield trio of Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor, and Paulo Bernardo has been pivotal in Celtic’s early-season success, especially after the departure of Matt O’Riley to Brighton & Hove Albion. Up front, Adam Idah, James Forrest, and Daizen Maeda will be expected to provide the firepower to breach the Rangers defense.
Celtic’s predicted starting lineup:
- Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; Bernardo, McGregor, Hatate; Forrest, Idah, Maeda.
Rangers: Aiming to Close the Gap
Rangers have endured a turbulent period since their title-winning campaign in 2020-21, where they went undefeated throughout the league season. However, the Gers have struggled to maintain that level of performance in subsequent years, finishing second behind Celtic in each of the last three seasons. The gap between the two Glasgow giants has widened, with Rangers finishing eight points adrift of Celtic in the 2023-24 campaign.
Philippe Clement was brought in to replace Michael Beale in November 2023, after a disappointing start to the season saw Rangers trailing Celtic by seven points. While Clement managed to stabilize the team, he was unable to close the gap significantly, and Rangers finished the season in second place once again.
The Belgian has faced a challenging start to the new season, with a poor pre-season campaign raising concerns among the Ibrox faithful. However, Rangers have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, with a 2-0 victory over St Johnstone followed by a 6-0 demolition of Ross County. Clement will be hoping that this upturn in form continues as Rangers look to end their winless run in Old Firm derbies, which has now stretched to five matches.
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Team News: Rangers
Rangers also have injury concerns to contend with, as Nicolas Raskin, Oscar Cortes, and Ridvan Yilmaz are all sidelined, with their return expected later in September. Despite these injuries, Clement is likely to stick with the same starting eleven that thrashed Ross County, with Cyriel Dessers leading the line.
Dessers has been in excellent form, and his goalscoring ability will be crucial if Rangers are to come away from Celtic Park with a positive result. The midfield battle will be key, and Clement will rely on the experience of James Tavernier and the creativity of Tom Lawrence to unlock the Celtic defense.
Rangers’ predicted starting lineup:
- Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Jefte; Sterling, Barron; Cerny, Lawrence, Matondo; Dessers.
Head-to-Head: A Historic Rivalry
The Old Firm derby is one of the oldest and most fiercely contested rivalries in world football. The two Glasgow giants have faced each other over 400 times in competitive fixtures, with the rivalry dating back to the late 19th century. Celtic and Rangers have dominated Scottish football for decades, and their encounters are always highly charged, both on and off the pitch.
Recent history has favored Celtic, who have gone unbeaten in their last five meetings with Rangers. The last Old Firm derby at Celtic Park ended in a 2-1 victory for the hosts, with Kyogo Furuhashi and Jota scoring the goals for Celtic. Rangers’ last victory in the derby came in May 2023, when they secured a 3-0 win at Ibrox, but since then, it has been all Celtic.
Tactical Analysis:
- Celtic: Brendan Rodgers is likely to deploy his favored 4-3-3 formation, with a focus on controlling possession and pressing high up the pitch. Celtic’s midfield trio of McGregor, Hatate, and Bernardo will be key to their success, providing the link between defense and attack. The pace and movement of Idah and Maeda in the final third will be crucial in stretching the Rangers defense, while Forrest’s experience in Old Firm derbies could prove invaluable.
- Rangers: Philippe Clement is expected to set his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with a focus on counter-attacking and exploiting any spaces left by Celtic’s attacking full-backs. Rangers will look to use the pace of Matondo and the creativity of Lawrence to create chances for Dessers, while Tavernier’s set-piece delivery could be a key weapon in Rangers’ arsenal.
Betting Tips:
- Match Outcome Prediction: Goal.mu/Mauri.bet predicts: Celtic 2-1 Rangers. Celtic’s formidable home record and their recent dominance in this fixture suggest that they will come out on top in a closely fought encounter. However, Rangers have shown enough improvement in recent weeks to make this a competitive match.
- Both Teams to Score: Yes. Both teams have the attacking talent to find the back of the net, and with the intensity of the Old Firm derby, it’s likely that both sides will get on the scoresheet.
- Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Over 2.5 Goals. The last few meetings between these sides have been high-scoring affairs, and with both teams in good attacking form, this trend is likely to continue.
- Hot Stat: Celtic have not conceded a goal in their first three league matches this season, but Rangers have scored 12 goals in their last two matches. This stat suggests that while Celtic’s defense has been strong, Rangers’ attack could pose a significant threat.
Final Prediction:
Goal.mu/Mauri.bet predicts: Celtic 2-1 Rangers. Celtic’s home advantage and superior form give them the edge in this Old Firm derby. However, Rangers’ recent resurgence means that they will not go down without a fight, making this a must-watch encounter.
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