The Glasgow Derby returns as Celtic and Rangers prepare to clash once again in one of football’s most iconic rivalries.
Celtic have long held the upper hand in this fixture and will aim to extend their dominance when they face Rangers at Ibrox on Thursday.
Over the years, whether led by Ange Postecoglou, Brendan Rodgers, or playing under varying circumstances—be it scoring first, trailing, or even struggling for form—the Bhoys have consistently emerged victorious.
This was evident in the recent League Cup final, where Celtic triumphed over Rangers in a thrilling penalty shootout at Hampden.
Rangers fans may have held onto hope of closing the Premiership gap before that match, but reality has set in.
Celtic now sit 14 points clear at the top, while Rodgers’ team continues to deliver during the festive period. In contrast, Philippe Clement’s Rangers have faltered, further widening the divide.
Kris Boyd Predicts a “Nasty” Atmosphere if Celtic Strike First
Daizen Maeda, who scored within 20 seconds at Ibrox last April, will look to add to his tally after his impressive League Cup final display.
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd has expressed concern about the upcoming match, admitting that the league is already out of Rangers’ reach.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Boyd shared his fears about the potential reaction at Ibrox if Celtic take an early lead:
“There is a lot of negativity,” said Boyd. “There were questions being asked a few weeks ago. If you look at it now, obviously, they lost at St Mirren and the draw against Motherwell. The changes that were made to the team. There is a lot of negativity surrounding Rangers going into this Celtic game.
“If Celtic go to Ibrox, and some of the bookmakers have got them odds on favourites, which pretty much sums up where both teams are at. Celtic going to Ibrox odds on and it’s the second Glasgow derby of the season in the league. It’s not been good enough for Rangers. You just get the feeling that if this continues. Well, it can continue.
“There will be, depending on what happens, I think there will be a lot of angry Rangers fans at Ibrox. If Celtic start well and score the first goal, there will be 51,000 Rangers fans in there, it could get really nasty – even if Rangers win, Celtic will still be 11 points clear. The league is over.”
No Away Fans at Ibrox for Celtic’s Visit
The absence of away fans at Ibrox for this Derby continues to highlight a long-standing issue. As Brendan Rodgers aptly put it in August, “it’s a Rangers thing.”
In 2018, Rangers broke tradition by ending the allocation of 7,500 tickets to Celtic fans at Ibrox, as reported by BBC Sport. Celtic followed suit, with Rodgers addressing the matter earlier this season:
“Celtic have played their part in what they were asked to do,” said Rodgers. “When you go back to when this all started, it had nothing to do with Celtic.
“Celtic get dragged into this here as being a Celtic-Rangers thing. It’s not a Celtic-Rangers thing, this is a Rangers thing.
“When asked to have this agreement, make the stadium safe, we plough money into that, that started months ago. On both parties, that hasn’t been agreed, so it’s not complicated, it hasn’t been done.”
Celtic head into the clash with confidence, knowing a win would not only cement their dominance but also extend their massive lead at the top of the table.
