Hibernian vs Rangers matches tend to be spectacular, but it’s looking even more so this season.
On December 19th and 26th, football fans are going to be set for a treat when the pair meet each other back-to-back. Steven Gerrard will face Neil Lennon for the first time at Easter Road, before Lennon’s side arrives at Ibrox a week later.
The sub-plots for these games are mounting nicely. The first meeting between Gerrard vs Lennon being the main one. Emerson Hyndman’s return to Ibrox yet another. Who can solidify themselves as the major challengers to Celtic’s throne? So many questions will be answered throughout the week, and the matches themselves are sure to thrill.
Hibs may have lost 4-2 at Celtic Park last week, but they proved they can pack a punch. The likes of Martin Boyle, Stevie Mallan, and Daryl Horgan all have the kind of pace that can cause any side in Scotland problems.
Added to that, Florian Kemberi continues to go from strength to strength at Easter Road. Jamie Maclaren, the man that netted four goals against Gers last season including a hat-trick, is back and looking fit.
Lennon has instilled a philosophy of sacrificing his defence to be more attractive. Sometimes it pays off and sometimes it doesn’t. Regardless, it’s a dangerous tactic.
So far, Gerrard has struggled to nail in his number one defensive partnership. Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic looked like being just that at the start of the season. Joe Worrall was then brought in for a short period before Katic played once more against Hamilton.
Solidify the defence
Between now and the Hibs match, it wouldn’t surprised you if that changed once more, or even several more times. Against a pacey Hibs side, Rangers are going to want a partnership they can rely on.
Meanwhile, we all know Rangers have the attacking players to hurt Lennon’s side. With Hibs at their weakest defensively, they’ll struggle to keep out the likes of Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent, and Scott Arfield. Morelos nabbed two goals against them last season, and knows the route to goal against the Leith side.
Both teams are capable of sitting in and hitting on the counter, or being open and expansive. In both matches, we’re most likely going to get the latter in what will be an incredible couple of matches.
You only have to look at last season to see just how entertaining matches between these sides were.
Hibs won twice at Ibrox 3-2 and 2-1 respectively. Sandwiched in between those matches was a 2-1 success for the Gers at Easter Road. It all then culminated in a 5-5 thriller on the final day of the season. That adds up to 21 goals in the four meetings between the teams alone last season.
There’s no reason to believe we aren’t going to get similar entertainment this term. With both teams gunning for Hearts and Celtic, and also carrying a simple hatred of the other, Rangers vs Hibs is going to be a cracker come December.
Mark it in your diary and cancel anything you have going on. This is going to be one you simply don’t want to miss.
