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Key occasions
Simply watching again that second objective … it’s a high run from Raskin into the realm to draw the eye of Celtic’s defence, releasing up Diomande within the center. The notice of the Belgian, with that deft flick, is excellent too.
HALF-TIME: Celtic 0-2 Rangers
A genuinely thrilling half of soccer. Rangers are effectively positioned for the upset; Celtic have been off it, solely discovering some rhythm after that second objective.
45+1 min: Two minutes are added on as Jota cuts in from the left and launches a dipping hit from round 25 yards, the ball travelling simply broad. He’s been inflicting some hassle in the previous few minutes.
43 min: What a block from Sterling! Jota whips in from the left, Maeda will get a glancing header on it and Sterling, dealing with his personal objective, in some way diverts the ball away for a nook. Butland then saves after a header from the set-piece. Celtic are lastly clicking into gear.
42 min: … and out comes a yellow for Barry Ferguson, for causes not totally clear to me. Jota busts into life on the left, driving into the realm earlier than getting a shot away, a nook the tip outcome.
41 min: Barry Ferguson is loving life on the touchline.
Tavernier dinks in a ball from the proper into the realm … Raskin runs in to look a header into the center, the place Diomande takes it down earlier than discovering the underside left nook. It’s an exquisite objective and, I’ve to say, effectively deserved, too.
GOAL! Celtic 0-2 Rangers (Diomande 37)
A shocking transfer from Rangers!
37 min: It’s one other mishit from Schmeichel on the again, underhitting a go … the relentless Ridvan thunders ahead to try to get on the tip of it and capitalise. He’s been very spectacular up to now.
35 min: Engels stands over a Celtic free-kick that’s taken by Kühn. It’s a really poor one, a cross from centre-left that safely heads out for a Butland goalkick.
33 min: Ridvan does brilliantly on the again, nicking the ball to begin a transfer ahead … however Dessers, looking for Cerny on the proper, will get his go fallacious. A nook is what they accept, with Balogun heading straight in direction of Schmeichel.
30 min: Sterling intervenes within the Rangers space to brush away a low cross, the Celtic assault ending with a blast from vary that sails excessive. It’s been a irritating first half-hour for the league leaders, one the place they’ve seemed a contact sloppy on the again.
28 min: Diomande will get a maintain of the ball within the center and appears set to slide in Dessers however overhits his go.
27 min: So very practically an personal objective! The nook is available in, Balogun heads in direction of the far publish, with Engels practically diverting the ball into his personal internet earlier than Schmeichel intervenes.
26 min: Cerny dances into the realm and tries to chop again a ball for Diomande however Nawrocki holds his personal, blocking the ball out for a nook.
24 min: Tavernier, up by the midway line, will get in Schlupp’s means earlier than Johnston makes a effective run into the Rangers space, the ball excessive discovering him and prompting a nook. Carter-Vickers heads excessive over the bar from the outswinging nook.
22 min: Johnston is feeling his means into the sport out on Celtic’s proper, driving ahead and trying to lower by means of the traces along with his passing.
19 min: Celtic try to work it round however Rangers are fairly ferocious with their urgent, amped up by their lead.
16 min: Oh my, it needs to be 2-0 to Rangers. Schmeichel, outdoors his space, misplaces a go to Cerny who, as a substitute of capturing first-time, tries to dribble into the realm and spherical Schmeichel. The angle for a shot is cut-off and Celtic get away with it, the ball going out for a nook that results in nothing.
15 min: The sport has develop into a bit stop-start after the fluency of the primary 10.
14 min: The ball is caught on Rangers’ proper, throw-ins aplenty.
12 min: … Jota’s inswinger is headed away by Balogun, who was preventing it out with Carter-Vickers.
11 min: It’s all a bit chaotic in the meanwhile. Celtic have a nook from the left …
9 min: Cerny launches an formidable hit from round 20 yards, the ball falling properly for a one-bounce effort. It travels broad earlier than Celtic advance ahead … and Butland makes a cracking save. Hatate discovered area simply outdoors the D, making an attempt to curve the ball into the highest left nook. It was a effective hit, however Butland moved shortly.
6 min: Celtic lastly get shifting, Maeda’s first-time shot within the space – the cross coming from the proper – travelling broad. The flag was up for offside anyway.
The nook is available in from Tavernier and Raskin leaps excessive on the entrance publish, guiding his header to the far nook, previous Schmeichel. The visiting supporters – again right here after a while – are jubilant. Barry Ferguson will get the fist pumps going.
GOAL! Celtic 0-1 Rangers (Raskin 4)
What a begin for the guests!
3 min: Ooooh, high save from Schmeichel, diving to his proper to tip spherical a stinging strike from Raskin. A nook for Rangers …
2 min: Schlupp is into the motion once more, heading away the nook for a throw-in. Tavernier sends it lengthy, into the realm, with Celtic unable to correctly get rid. Rangers have one other throw …
1 min: Rangers win an early free-kick on the proper, with Tavernier and Cerny by the ball. Tavernier whips it in and Schlupp clears out for a nook.
Peeeeep!
You’ll By no means Stroll Alone rings out. Rangers kick issues off. Let’s play!
Proper, only a few minutes away from getting going. Celtic Park awaits.
Simon McMahon is just utilizing this as a starter.
Celtic Rangers is at all times an, eh, event. Hoping for a number of
purple playing cardsobjectives right now to whet the urge for food for the primary occasion at 3 o’clock at Tannadice, the times correct derby between Europe chasing Dundee United and relegation chasing Dundee…
Barry Ferguson has been talking to his previous teammate Kris Boyd: “There’ll be no excuses by way of, ‘There was a sport on Thursday, I’m feeling a bit leggy’. I’ll discuss to them. And if anyone has acquired any doubt of their thoughts they received’t be enjoying. I want people who find themselves 100% centered. You’re by no means 100% match going right into a sport however I want guys who’re mainly going to go to warfare.”
It’s a severe health check for Rangers, with 10 starters current from Thursday evening. Nick Ames was there to take it in.
The groups
We’ve our XIs. Celtic are with out their injured captain Callum McGregor and lacking Auston Trusty on the again, too. In come Maik Nawrocki and Luke McCowan. Rangers have only one change from midweek: Ridvan Yilmaz replaces Jefté.
Celtic: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Nawrocki, Schlupp, McCowan, Engels, Hatate, Jota, Kühn, Maeda
Subs: Sinisalo, Taylor, Idah, Yang, Kenny, Murray, Ralston, Bonnar, Turley
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Ridvan, Sterling, Barron, Raskin, Diomande, Cerny, Dessers
Subs: Kelly, Pröpper, Lawrence, Bajrami, Nsiala, Igamane, Hagi, Rice, Danilo
Preamble
Whats up, good day, good day and welcome to our protection of a extremely important Previous Agency conflict. Visiting supporters will likely be current, a decision discovered over the query of ticket allocations. Round 2,400 Rangers followers will roar at Celtic Park this afternoon.
However that is no title conflict. Celtic are means out in entrance, 16 factors forward of their rivals, Brendan Rodgers eyeing up one other home treble. Rangers, although, nonetheless have the thrill of Europe, by means of to the quarter-finals of the Europa League after Jack Butland’s heroism towards Fenerbahce on Thursday night. That adrenaline, presumably nonetheless pumping, must make up for the fatigue of enjoying by means of further time.
After which there’s the Barry Ferguson ingredient, the previous captain turned supervisor, prepared for the warmth that’ll come his means on the touchline, 16 years on from his final runaround on this fixture. It’ll be enjoyable. Kick-off’s at 12.30pm GMT.