Key events
26 mins: It was only half-cleared by Rangers, a weak header that dropped perfectly to Paulo Bernardo to meet with a crisp volley.
He’s booked for his overly-exuberant celebration, diving into the crowd, but won’t care very much about that.
GOAL! Celtic 1-0 Rangers (Bernardo, 25)
25 mins: Palma stands up Tavernier and stabs it back to Taylor, whose shot is unfurled from his unfavoured right-foot, but it does get a deflection to earn Celtic a corner.
And it’s volleyed home from the corner. What a strike from Bernardo!
23 mins: Half of Celtic Park think their side have scored, but it’s rippled into the side netting by Bernardo!
That was a rasping drive as the yards opened up for the midfielder on the edge of the box. About as close as either side have come.
22 mins: Maeda is penalised for offside after steeling a march on Yilmaz down the Celtic right and squaring into the path of Kyogo. The Japanese international didn’t steer it home in any case, so might have been secretly thankful to see the flag go up.
20 mins: Todd Cantwell looks a class apart in this company, he really does. He’s central to everything good the visitors have done, with some fine interplay creating a decent chance for Sima.
Roy Keane is among the spectators at Celtic Park, if you’re interested.
19 mins: For the second time in 20 minutes, James Tavernier’s set piece delivery is very poor. That’s not typical Tavernier by any stretch of the imagination, but it will disappoint Clement, but those opportunities like gold dust for Ranges today.
17 mins: Groans greet every decision given in Rangers’ favour but this is a fair call from the referee, Nick Walsh. Johnston is booked for a trip on Sima, Rangers with a great chance to whip in a ball here …
16 mins: It’s a brilliant pick-out from Sterling as he crosses from the right but Dessers doesn’t get it out of his feet and Cantwell skews his effort, too.
At the other end, there’s plenty of purpose from Celtic, but Kyogo is shut out on the edge of the area.
14 mins: Finally, some kind of break in proceedings and a slight slowing of the tempo. The snow has now almost all cleared and/or melted, by the way.
12 mins: These two teams are playing as if it’s the last 15 minutes of the game, not the first! The tempo is utterly relentless.
Butland claws clear from a dangerous looking cross, with Celtic now keeping their feet on the gas … Bernardo then steels in to nod Palma’s cross towards goal, but doesn’t get enough on it and nor can Maeda steer it home at the back post. Wide.
11 mins: Luis Palma exhibits his skill with a couple of runs at Tavernier and attempted crosses from the host’s left. Eventually it brings a corner, as the home fans turn up the volume.
9 mins: Space opens up for Celtic but Daizen Maeda can’t sort his feet out on the right and the chance comes and goes.
The Celtic press is high and fierce but it’s leaving holes at the back.
8 mins: Goldson is looking to launch it forward at every opportunity for Rangers and the blue shirts are winning a few second balls in the middle. Cantwell turns away from trouble and McCausland’s pull-back from the right almost creates a huge opening!
Cantwell couldn’t quite pick up the scraps to guide an effort at goal. Scrambled away.
5 mins: Wasteful once more from Tavernier, as his volleyed cross goes out for a goal-kick, but he’s already getting into very advanced areas from right-back. Rangers are doing well to shut Celtic down in the middle so far; then playing it direct.
Kyogo eventually counters but cannot squeeze in his effort as the angle tightens from the left. Butland pushes out for a Celtic corner.
3 min: Tidy play from Dujon Sterling in the Rangers’ midfield, winning a free-kick after McGregor’s needless foul. It’s sent in from the visitors’ right but easily nodded away by Kyogo. A poor delivery from James Tavernier.
2 min: Some early impetus from Greg Taylor stationed in the Celtic left back position with license to push on. The tempo is very high early doors, as you’d expect.
KICK OFF
A cacophony of noise greets the opening whistle from referee Nick Walsh. Let’s go!
The only Rangers fan in attendance today is their former striker Kris Boyd, who is sitting in the Sky Sports studio. A shame that the Old Firm doesn’t have proper away fans, but that’s where we are. The teams are coming out ready for lift-off.
Philippe Clement and Brendan Rodgers have been speaking to Sky Sports before kick-off:
Clement said: “I’m only busy with my team, not with the fixture, just with my guys and the circumstances before the game.”
Rodgers isn’t concerned about the loss of Cameron Carter-Vickers to injury. “I’m sure Stephen will come in and do very well,” he says of centre back Stephen Welsh who slots into the side.
“Go and enjoy the occasion,” is Rodgers’s message to his team. “It’s about that intensity and keeping it as high as we can.”
I wonder how impartial his commentary will be?
In Paradise early and looking forward to the biggest derby in world football…Celtic v Rangers live coverage starts on Sky 1130am…⚽️🎁🍀 pic.twitter.com/Xpqj6yI0lV
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) December 30, 2023
If rough-and-tumble snowy Old Firm football isn’t your thing (and it really should be, by the way) my colleague Rob Smyth is all over Luton v Chelsea in the English Premier League this Saturday lunchtime.
It was quite the send-off for Rangers from Ibrox this morning as they made the short journey across Glasgow …
Celtic will be the more fearful set of supporters going into this game, according to their former manager Gordon Strachan, who predicts a tough afternoon for the Bhoys, speaking to BoyleSports:
Well they have to claw back a five-point gap but, as we sit here this morning, I would say Celtic are the most worried supporters out of the two. It happens that way though, it’s like a baton in Scotland that is perennially swapped between the two sides and it brings pressure with it when you carry that.
The stress for the fans perpetuates itself through to the manager and the players. [Before Dundee] Celtic had two defeats on the trot, the first time since 2013. The Rangers fans will be buoyed with confidence at what has happened in this past month. Clement has closed the gap on Celtic, that’s for sure and it is a test for the Celtic.
Ewan Murray
The words of Brendan Rodgers are not currently replicated by demeanour.
The Celtic manager’s defence of his club’s position, before the second Old Firm clash of the season, is striking when in black and white. Rodgers was responding to whether or not his team are in need of a statement result this lunchtime.
“I think if you read or listen to everything in the media you would feel we were in constant crisis mode here,” Rodgers said. “That’s what I feel.”
Something about Rodgers’ delivery and body language lacked conviction. This all came across as rather humdrum or lacking in spark.
Team news
Pretty much as expected for Celtic today. All eyes on the much-coveted Kyogo Furuhashi up front.
Connor Goldson and John Lundstram are both passed fit and back in the starting lineup for Rangers.
It’s a bit snowy in Glasgow today. As we understand it, there’s very little chance of the game being called off at this late stage. Grab the orange ball and proceed!
Preamble
Good morning and welcome to derby day in Glasgow! It’s the final Old Firm derby of 2023, a year in Scottish football that Celtic have dominated, but one that ends with the power dynamic shifting ever-so slightly in the favour of Rangers, which makes this clash so intriguing.
Philippe Clement is getting his first ever taste of the Old Firm and he could hardly have his team in better form, on a seven-game winning streak in all competitions and unbeaten in his 16 matches in charge. He’s even got a trophy in the bag in the shape of the Scottish League Cup AKA the Viaplay Cup.
Celtic are guaranteed to be top of the pile come Hogmanay, but they’re feeling their old rivals breathing down their necks after a number of dropped points of late, including defeats to Kilmarnock and Hearts before Christmas. Brendan Rodgers would love a win in front of a partisan Celtic Park crowd to alleviate some building pressure. A defeat would mean just a two-point gap to Rangers, who will still have two games in hand.
Stick with us for a fascinating afternoon of feisty, old-fashioned Old Firm fitba.
