Rangers v Celtic: What makes Sunday’s League Cup quarter-final crucial?
BBC Sport
In Glasgow, every Old Firm match is significant, but there’s a sense that this Sunday’s encounter could be seismic.
No away fans, calamities in Europe and Derek McInnes’ Old Firm debut
Rangers legend Graeme Souness highlights the importance of this Scottish Premier Sports Cup quarter-final, saying it’s an opportunity for both teams to "put a marker down."
Rangers vs. Celtic: Who are the favourites?
Celtic have started the season strongly with six wins in six matches, but their recent European performances have been mixed. After winning their first leg of the Champions League play-off against LASK 3-0, they suffered a shocking 5-1 defeat in Austria, ultimately losing 5-4 on aggregate.
While Celtic have since recovered, securing four consecutive league wins, their midweek victory at St Johnstone was unconvincing despite significant team changes. Scott Brown emphasizes the significance of an early goal for Celtic, noting that it can silence the Ibrox crowd and establish control over the game.
Rangers’ domestic and European struggles
Domestically, Rangers have shown signs of improvement, with four consecutive league wins following a difficult start. However, they’ve also faced embarrassment on the European stage. After finishing third last season, they were eliminated from the Europa League in the third qualifying round by Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok, losing 2-1 away and drawing 1-1 at home. They ultimately lost on penalties in the Conference League play-off against Czech team Jablonec.
The significance of no away fans at Ibrox
This Old Firm match is unique as it will be played without any away supporters due to a "temporary arrangement" made by the SPFL.
