AliousRangers make the short trip across Glasgow to the east end of the city for the latest chapter of the Old Firm rivalry this weekend.
Brendan Rodgers’ dominant Celtic side hold a commanding 16-point lead over their fiercest rivals ahead of what will be the penultimate showdown between the two teams this season. Significantly, this will also be the first Old Firm derby in years to feature away supporters, adding an extra layer of intensity to an already heated fixture.
Despite having less preparation time for Sunday’s encounter at Parkhead, Rangers will be hoping that the momentum from their dramatic Europa League quarter-final qualification—secured via a penalty shootout win over Fenerbahce on Thursday—can help them finish an otherwise underwhelming campaign on a high.
Interim boss Barry Ferguson faces a balancing act in assessing his squad’s fitness following a grueling 120-minute battle against Jose Mourinho’s Turkish side. With fatigue potentially a concern, Ferguson and his coaching staff may look to make a few tactical changes to keep Celtic’s dangerous attacking trio of Nicolas Kühn, Daizen Maeda, and Jota in check. One of the biggest selection dilemmas could be whether 36-year-old centre-back Leon Balogun is physically ready to play two high-intensity matches in such quick succession.
Ferguson determined to break Rangers’ winless streak at Parkhead**
One thing Ferguson is well aware of is Rangers’ poor record at Celtic Park in recent years, a trend he is desperate to overturn. The former Ibrox captain acknowledged the difficulty of securing a result in the east end but remains confident in his team’s tactical approach.
“It’s been far too long. It’s a tough place to go and get a result, but we have a plan that I believe can work. If it’s not going as expected, we’ll be able to adjust during the game. That’s something I’ve emphasized—we haven’t been adaptable enough in the past, but we’re improving in that regard now that we’ve had more time on the training pitch.”**
Ferguson added: **“I’m looking forward to Sunday. We’ll play in a way that my staff and I believe gives us the best chance of getting the right result. From there, we’ll see how things unfold.”
Projected Rangers Starting XI (5-3-1-1):
Butland; Sterling, Tavernier, Fernandes, Souttar, Yilmaz; Raskin, Barron, Diomande; Cerny; Dessers**
Substitutes: Kelly (GK), Propper, Lawrence, Bajrami, Jefte, Fernandes, Igamane, Hagi, Rice, Danilo.
With everything to play for, Ferguson’s men will need to dig deep if they are to finally secure an elusive Old Firm victory at Parkhead.
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