Glasgow Derby Preview – By Any Means Necessary

Celtic travel to Ibrox this afternoon for the mouthwatering clash against Rangers. With one point between the sides, Brendan Rodgers’ side will be looking for a positive result in a game that could have an impact on the destination of the Premiership title next month.

The build-up ahead of Celtic’s game against Rangers has been that Philippe Clement’s team are in the ascendancy with Rodgers’ team hanging on by their fingernails. As the Celtic manager pointed out, in their last five games, both teams have won four and lost one meaning that form-wise wise they are on similar paths. There is no escaping the importance of the fixture given the proximity of the teams in the league table.

Defensively, Celtic will look to be solid given that Cameron Carter-Vickers is available for the first time in this fixture since last year’s Scottish Cup Semi Final. The next question is whether Callum McGregor starts in the centre of the park, having dominated the last two fixtures. Kyogo has seven goals in his last six starts against Rangers and will be keen to continue to make the difference in Derby Day in Glasgow.

The game will come down to narrow margins with quality in each area of the pitch required to ensure a positive result. The Green Brigade/Bhoys Celtic display as the players departed for the team hotel yesterday was ‘By Any Means Necessary’ and that typifies the fighting spirit that will be required when the team go to battle at Ibrox. Rodgers and his team will

With all that said, I will predict a score 1-0 to Celtic but I would be happy enough with the points being shared between the teams. Rodgers has an excellent record in the fixture but he will know the significance of not losing. Whilst Celtic will look to win the game, they will be careful not to leave themselves exposed to benefit Rangers’ counterattack.

Lubo90 – Rangers 0 Celtic 1

Meanwhile, Jessica Elliott has provided her prediction for the game, predicting a narrow victory for the Scottish Champions.

Jessica Elliott – Rangers 1 Celtic 2

I’m saying 2-1 in Celtic’s favour. I think that our squad is more than good enough to beat them and off the back of a good win against Livingston, I don’t see Rangers being able to overcome us. With that being said, I could also see this ending in a draw and I do think that, if we do win, the winning goal will come very late in the game.

Either way, it’s definitely going to be a close one but I think that this game could be important in the title race.