On Thursday afternoon, the biggest fixture in the Scottish Calendar takes place once more: Celtic versus Rangers. With the Champions fourteen points ahead you could be forgiven for thinking this may lack a competitive edge; it will be as competitive and fiery as always. The visitors will be licking their wounds at a depleted and low on confidence Rangers side taking to the park. How will they shape up though? At Last Word on Football, we answer just that as we provide our Celtic predicted lineup.
Celtic Predicted Lineup Vs Rangers
How Celtic Have Lined Up Recently
Callum McGregor was rested at the weekend, with Paulo Bernardo handed the keys to the number six role. It made little difference with the Hoops running away 4-0 winners. It’s a testament to the depth of this Celtic squad that without their captain they looked as comfortable and fluid as ever. Greg Taylor was also demoted to the bench with Alex Valle yet again impressing in one of the brief chances he has been given. It creates a slight selection dilemma at left back, but you get the impression that Brendan Rodgers still favours the Scotsman.
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Celtic Recent Form and Tactics
Pretty much everything is going to plan for the Bhoys. Yet to lose in the league, a trophy already in the bag, plus sitting nicely inside the Champions League top 24, it’s as good a start to a season in recent memory. Furthermore, the improved squad depth has allowed for sustained performances while frequently rotating.
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In this derby, the form is just as good. In the last seventeen meetings, Celtic have lost just twice, with one coming in extra time in the 2022 Scottish Cup semi-final and the other a 3-0 loss in a tie at the end of the season when the league was already in the bag. On that day the likes of Alexandro Bernabei, Yuki Kobayashi and Oh Hyeon-gyu all featured. More recently, it’s seven games without defeat, and only one draw coming at Ibrox last season. It’s domination to say the least.
Tactically, Celtic will set up as a 4-3-3, with the left sided full-back inverted. Whether Taylor or Valle plays will decide just how central that structure becomes. Out of possession, they will take up a 4-4-2 shape, with Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi the pairing up top and Nicolas Kuhn and Daizen Maeda ready to pounce out wide.
Celtic Injuries to Consider
Only James Forrest is out on the side-lines with a long term injury.
Celtic Predicted Lineup
The midfield is where the decisions are to be made. Taylor or Valle is a slight dilemma, but the former seems to be more preferred in these fixtures. With the Rangers backline missing James Tavernier, John Souttar, Neraysho Kasanwirjo and potentially Leon Balogun; Kuhn, Kyogo and Maeda’s pace will be a luxury.
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McGregor and Hatate are certainties, but who will form the trio, Arne Engels or Bernardo? Despite the Belgian’s upturn in form, Bernardo’s world-class ball control and positioning will give him the edge as Celtic look to dominate in the central areas. It really is such a tight call though, and you wouldn’t be surprised to see the inverse.
Kasper Schmeichel
Alistair Johnson
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Liam Scales
Greg Taylor
Callum McGregor
Reo Hatate
Paulo Bernardo
Nicolas Kuhn
Kyogo Furuhashi
Daizen Maeda
