Celtic vs Rangers – Match preview and team news | OneFootball

Celtic and Rangers meet for the second time in a week as they prepare for the Scottish Premiership derby day match on Sunday at the Celtic Park Stadium.

Celtic vs Rangers – Match preview and team news

Celtic team news

Celtic welcomes back midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Sunday’s highly anticipated Old Firm derby.

The experienced player returns to domestic duty after serving a European suspension following the club’s midweek UEFA Europa League defeat to Ferencváros.

However, manager Martin O’Neill faces several late fitness assessments for a few unnamed squad members who picked up knocks during that intense Thursday night fixture.

The Hoops remain significantly depleted by a long list of definite absentees. Winger Yang Hyun-jun is still unavailable due to his international commitments with South Korea at the Asian Games.

Furthermore, defensive pillar Alistair Johnston is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while young midfielder Callum Osmand remains out with an ankle problem.

Long-term absentees London Emenalo and Jota—who is continuing his rehabilitation from a severe knee injury—are both completely ruled out of the matchday squad.

Rangers team news

Rangers manager Derek McInnes is dealing with crucial injury doubts ahead of the crucial trip to Celtic Park.

Striker Ryan Naderi faces a late fitness test and is highly uncertain after sustaining a painful ankle injury during last weekend’s triumphant Scottish League Cup derby.

On a more positive note, left-back Tuur Rommens has successfully returned to first-team training following a groin issue, though he remains a major doubt for a starting spot alongside one other heavily monitored squad member.

The Light Blues are definitively missing several key individuals. Captain Lawrence Shankland remains sidelined following hamstring surgery, while fellow forward Youssef Chermiti is out long-term with a cruciate ligament injury.

Additionally, Daisuke Yokota, Kosta Nedeljkovic, and Jose Cifuentes are all unavailable, meaning Venezuelan forward Kevin Kelsy is expected to lead the frontline once again.

Form

Celtic

Celtic holds a perfect domestic record in the Scottish Premiership standings, leading the league with six wins from six matches. Despite their domestic dominance, the Hoops have hit a brief rough patch over the past week. They suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat against arch-rivals Rangers in the League Cup quarter-finals, followed by a disappointing 3-1 home loss to Ferencváros in their midweek UEFA Europa League opener.

Rangers

Rangers enter the derby in exceptional form, riding a four-match winning streak across all competitions. The Light Blues sit third in the league, five points behind Celtic. Momentum is firmly on their side following narrow 1-0 Premiership victories over Motherwell and St Mirren, capped off by a dominant 3-0 statement win over Celtic in last weekend’s cup tie.

Predicted lineups

Celtic: Johnstone; Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Scales; McGregor, Baur; Hassan, Nygren, Duran; Hogh

Rangers: Pandur; Sterling, Fernandez, Makhanya, Penrice; Raskin, Neil; Naderi, Kim, Gassama; Kelsy

How to watch Celtic vs Rangers?

UK fans can watch the match live on Sky Sports.

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