Rangers v Celtic: Why Sunday's League Cup quarter-final is crucial
Glasgow prepares for the first Old Firm derby of the season as Rangers and Celtic meet in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals.
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In Glasgow, every Old Firm match carries significant weight, but Sunday's League Cup quarter-final at Ibrox feels particularly seismic. Both clubs enter the fixture looking to recover from European disappointment and establish dominance in their first derby meeting of the season.
Celtic have enjoyed a strong start domestically, despite a dramatic exit from the Champions League qualifiers against LASK. Rangers, under manager Derek McInnes, have recovered from a shaky start to the Premiership season with four consecutive league wins, though they also suffered early European exits in the Europa and Conference Leagues.
The match will be played without any away supporters. This temporary arrangement follows the SPFL's intervention after civil unrest during last season's Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox. Celtic rejected a 300-seat allocation, ensuring the atmosphere will be entirely dominated by the home support.
I think it's important that we tap into having that 50,000 behind us and be behind the players, support them, have their backs, not be on their backs and really make it as tough for Celtic as possible. Derek McInnes
Former Celtic captain Scott Brown noted that a fast start is essential for the visitors to silence the home crowd. Manager Martin O'Neill acknowledged the difficulty of the task, admitting that while scoring early is the goal, managing the intense pressure of Ibrox remains the primary challenge for his side.