It’s the biggest fixture of the Scottish Football season; this weekend brings the third league derby this campaign. With two three-nil wins a piece, who will earn the bragging rights on Sunday? Here at Last Word on football, we provide our Celtic Predicted Lineup for this incredible game.
Celtic Predicted Lineup vs Rangers
How Celtic have Lined up Recently
In last week’s 2-0 cup victory over Hibernian, Celtic went full strength, as predicted here on Last Word on Football. Kasper Schmeichel played in goals.
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Alistair Johnson, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty and Jeffrey Schlupp completed the back four. Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Arne Engels formed a midfield. While, Nicolas Kuhn, Daizen Maeda and Jota were in attack.
Celtic Recent Form and Tactics
Last week had a real Summer feel to it. The sort of day that signifies the imminence of the business stage of the season. A near 60,000 fans packed into Parkhead to watch their side progress to yet another day at Hampden.
They had a week to prepare, and a further week followed leading up to the big one.
The Champions impressed against a Hibs side unbeaten in fifteen. There was as renewed intensity and freshness and although the game “only” finished two-nil, there was rarely a sense of jeopardy. The visitors failed to test Kasper Schmeichel and the Bhoys breezed home.
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Yet, Sunday is a different type of game altogether, and there will be a sense of revenge in the air. After all, earlier this year Rangers ended their long wait for a win over Celtic, with a three-nil routing at Ibrox.
On that day, they failed to dominate the midfield in their usual way, while the defence struggled in possession. As a matter of fact, since then Liam Scales has rarely started for the Champions.
In other words, they failed to do the basics which gives them the platform to link the game and establish control.
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Tactically, the utilisation of Maeda will be key. He has so often played as a left-winger in this tie, and to great success. Of course, he offers so much going forward, yet defensively he has covered Greg Taylor time and time again while also limiting James Tavernier.
Contrastingly, with Schlupp at left back, expect Rodgers to deviate from his usual derby day setup.
Injuries to Consider
James Forrest returns to the matchday squad meanwhile Paulo Bernardo and Liam Scales are out. Callum McGregor is a doubt having missed training all week.
Celtic Predicted Lineup
Kasper Schmeichel
Alistair Johnson
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Auston Trusty
Jeffrey Schlupp
Arne Engels
Luke McCowan
Reo Hatate
Nicolas Kuhn
Daizen Maeda
Jota