Celtic are set to face off against their fierce rivals Rangers at Celtic Park on Sunday afternoon in the first Old Firm derby of the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season.
The hosts have a flawless league record with three wins from three, leaving the visitors trailing by two points, having secured two wins and a draw in their three matches.
Match preview
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Celtic have been the dominant force in Scottish football in recent times, lifting the Scottish Premiership title in 18 of the 25 seasons since the turn of the millennium.
Their dominance was further amplified when Rangers were relegated to the third division due to financial issues in 2012, a period during which Celtic went on to win nine consecutive titles between 2011 and 2020.
That was the second time in their history that the Bhoys had won nine consecutive titles, having been denied a record-breaking 10th in 1974-75, and they were once again stopped by a formidable Rangers team in 2020-21.
However, Celtic have regained their dominance in Scottish football over the subsequent years, winning the league in each of the last three seasons, and they have started this campaign looking like the team to beat.
Brendan Rodgers returned to Celtic Park at the start of last season, following his controversial departure for Leicester City in February 2019, and has since lost only eight competitive matches.
Celtic have made a phenomenal start to the 2024-25 campaign, winning all four matches with a 12-1 aggregate score, yet to concede in the league and extending their unbeaten run to 20 games across all competitions since their last loss to Hearts in March.
The last meeting between these two sides saw Celtic claim the Scottish Cup with a last-gasp winner from Adam Idah, extending their unbeaten streak against Rangers to five matches since their last defeat in May 2023.
For Rangers, having capped their remarkable rise through the divisions with an undefeated league title in 2020-21 after their drop to the third division, their performance in the subsequent years has been deeply disappointing.
Although the Gers have finished second in each of the three campaigns since their league triumph, they have fallen increasingly behind Celtic each year.
They finished four points behind in 2021-22, seven points behind in 2022-23, and eight points behind in 2023-24, a trend that Philippe Clement will be keen to reverse this term.
The Belgian took charge in November 2023 after Michael Beale was sacked as Rangers trailed Celtic by seven points after just seven games, but Clement was unable to close the gap.
The Gers endured a torrid pre-season in preparation for the new campaign, losing three and drawing one, and started the season with one win in their first four games across all competitions.
Clement's team have improved in their last two outings, beating St Johnstone 2-0 and Ross County 6-0, and they will be aiming to bring an end to their disappointing run of Old Firm derbies without a victory on Sunday.
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Team News
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Celtic could be without both Maik Nawrocki and Michael Johnston due to injury concerns, with the pair expected to return sometime in September.
Rodgers may name an unchanged side from the team that defeated St Mirren in their last Scottish Premiership match, with Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor, and Paulo Bernardo expected to remain in midfield following Matt O'Riley's departure to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Nicolas Raskin, Oscar Cortes and Ridvan Yilmaz are all expected to remain on the sidelines for Rangers, with all three likely to return in September.
Following a fantastic 6-0 victory against Ross County, Clement is anticipated to name an unchanged 11, with top scorer Cyriel Dessers set to lead the line.
Celtic possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; Bernardo, McGregor, Hatate; Forrest, Idah, Maeda
Rangers possible starting lineup:
Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Jefte; Sterling, Barron; Cerny, Lawrence, Matondo; Dessers
We say: Celtic 2-1 Rangers
Celtic have had an incredible start to the new season and remain unbeaten in 20 matches across all competitions, as well as avoiding defeat against Rangers in the last five meetings, suggesting a victory for the hosts.
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Ellis Stevens
