Rangers can reduce Celtic's lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to just two points with a win in Sunday's Old Firm derby at Ibrox. A victory would also extend their winning run against their city rivals to five matches, all with clean sheets.
Derek McInnes's side arrives in formidable form, sitting second in the table with 13 points from six games. They have won their last five league matches, scoring seven goals and conceding only four during that run. Their most recent result was a commanding 3-0 victory over Celtic just a week ago, with goals from D. Neil and K. Kelsy.
Team news and availability
Ryan Naderi is a doubt for Rangers after picking up an ankle injury in that win. Tuur Roomens, however, has returned to training after his own spell on the sidelines. One other unnamed player is also considered a doubt ahead of the fixture.
Celtic's situation
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is preparing his team to avoid a third consecutive defeat. He will be without key defenders Alistair Johnston and Callum Osmand due to injury, while Yang Hyun-Jun is away on international duty with South Korea. O'Neill stated his team is ready for the challenge. "We're ready to go, we really are," the Celtic manager said. "We're getting prepared for the game." He acknowledged the pressure but insisted the squad's focus is solely on halting their recent slide in this fixture.
For Rangers boss Derek McInnes, a win would see him join Graeme Souness as only the second manager in the club's history to win his first two Old Firm derbies. McInnes acknowledged the fine margins in such high-stakes fixtures. "You're only one bad result away from getting a belt in the mouth again," he told reporters. "The form book goes out the window in these games, but we have to use the confidence from our recent performances."
The match represents a key moment early in the season. A win for Celtic would see them move eight points clear of Rangers, while a third straight loss would see their lead shrink to two points with Rangers holding a game in hand. Their next assignment after this derby is another trip to face Celtic, scheduled for September 20, meaning the rivals are set for a quickfire double-header. Supporters can track the evolving standings as the title race develops.
Background and full detail: bbc.com
