The match today will be Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou’s first taste of a Glasgow Derby along with some of his new recruits. With zero Celtic fans at Ibrox, it will be a first for all Celtic players. How will the players respond to such a hostile atmosphere?
Both sides sit on six points from their opening three Scottish Premiership games and will be desperate to get a head-start on their rivals going into the international break, but the form in this fixture always goes out the window.
After losing three of their opening four games, the Ibrox side has started to find their own form with three wins and a draw in their last four in all competitions, while Celtic have won six of their last seven in all competitions.
The first half performance from Thursdays Europa clash is not something you want to be carrying into this fixture, mistakes at the back with defenders and goalkeepers gave fans a reminder of last season, hopefully, that was a one-off.
Ange Postecoglou doesn’t have too many big decisions to make, that is mainly down to a lack of choice. Once the teams are announced all eyes will be on the front three and the wing-back positions.
With the teams just officially announced, this is the team Postecoglou has picked for today’s derby:
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Our starting XI for today's Glasgow derby ?#RANCEL | #COYBIG ?⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Q4piDPt1Be
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 29, 2021
It’s an Ibrox derby debut for new signing Juranovic. Greg Taylor’s injury from Holland must have been more serious but the new Bhoy can play both sides of wing-back, what a game to be introduced to Scottish football.
Is Odsonne Edouard playing his last derby game? Can he leave with another derby goal?
James Forrest and James McCarthy are still out, more to come on that when the manager does his pre-match interview.
