Celtic and Rangers meet at Celtic Park on Sunday in a Premiership clash that arrives with very different recent rhythms. Celtic have put together a run of wins, while Rangers come in after back-to-back defeats and with questions hanging over their defensive balance.
With the season entering its final stretch in round 36, this is more than another Old Firm meeting. It is a chance for Celtic to reinforce control and for Rangers to halt a wobble that has shifted the mood around the fixture.
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Why it matters
For Celtic, the timing is ideal. They have kept winning without needing to be spectacular, and a home derby offers the chance to turn that consistency into a statement result in front of their own support.
For Rangers, the stakes are sharper. Two straight league losses have made this a test of resilience as much as quality, and a positive result would do more than improve the table picture — it would also steady the campaign narrative heading into the closing weeks.
Form picture
Celtic’s recent league form is built on control and efficiency. They have won four in a row, beating Hibernian, Falkirk, St. Mirren and Dundee, with the only blemish in the last five coming away at Dundee United.
That run suggests a side that is managing games well and finding enough in attack to stay ahead of opponents. The clean sheet against St. Mirren and the narrow wins elsewhere point to a team comfortable in tighter contests.
Rangers, by contrast, have lost their last two league matches, going down to Hearts and Motherwell. Before that, they had produced a more convincing spell with wins over Falkirk, Dundee United and Aberdeen, but the recent dip has changed the tone.
The concern is not just the defeats themselves, but the goals conceded in them. Rangers have been involved in open, high-scoring games, and the balance between attacking ambition and defensive security has looked fragile.
Key storyline
The main tactical question is whether Celtic can impose their usual structure against a Rangers side that has recently alternated between a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-2-2-2. Celtic’s settled 4-2-3-1 gives them a clearer platform, with Callum McGregor anchoring midfield and Daizen Maeda offering pace at the top end.
Rangers’ recent shape suggests a search for the right blend rather than a fixed plan. If they go with the more aggressive front pairing seen against Motherwell, they may create more pressure on Celtic’s back line, but they also risk leaving space in the areas Celtic are best equipped to exploit.
Team news
Celtic’s only listed injury is Tomas Cvancara, which leaves them with a largely settled group available. The expected XI is close to the side that has been used in recent wins, with Viljami Sinisalo in goal and a familiar defensive unit in front of him.
That continuity matters in a derby of this size. Alistair Johnston, Auston Trusty, Kieran Tierney and Liam Scales give Celtic a stable back four, while Arne Engels, Benjamin Nygren and Callum McGregor provide the midfield base for Hyun-jun Yang, Sebastian Tounekti and Daizen Maeda.
Rangers are without Ryan Naderi, but the bigger issue is likely to be selection rather than absences. Jack Butland should continue in goal, with Dujon Sterling, Emmanuel Fernandez, James Tavernier and Nasser Djiga forming the defensive line in the projected XI.
The midfield and forward areas are where the main decisions sit. Andreas Skov Olsen, Mikey Moore, Mohamed Diomandé, Nicolas Raskin and Tochi Chukwuani offer a mix of creativity and work rate behind Youssef Chermiti, but Rangers may need to decide whether to prioritise control or extra attacking threat from the start.
Tactical battle
The key area is likely to be midfield, where Celtic’s structure and Rangers’ recent instability meet. If Celtic can keep Callum McGregor and Arne Engels on the ball, they should be able to dictate tempo and force Rangers into longer defensive spells.
Rangers will need Nicolas Raskin and Tochi Chukwuani to break that rhythm and give their forwards enough service to make the game uncomfortable. If they cannot do that, Celtic’s shape and home control may gradually take over.
Recent meetings
The recent derby record has been tight and competitive, with Rangers edging the January meeting 3-1 after a 2-2 draw in March and a goalless draw in August. The pattern suggests neither side has been able to dominate consistently, even when results have swung one way or the other.
Reporter’s view
This feels like a match where Celtic’s steadiness is the more convincing storyline. They are in better form, have the cleaner team picture and look more settled in their shape, which is often decisive in a fixture that can turn on small details.
Rangers still have enough attacking quality to make this uncomfortable, especially if they can stretch Celtic early and avoid being pinned back. But the recent defensive record and the lack of momentum make it hard to ignore Celtic as the side better placed to control the afternoon.
Prediction
Celtic to edge a tight derby, with their form and structure giving them the slight advantage.
