Online opinion poll/sports blogging website FiveThirtyEight has ranked Rangers higher than Celtic in a list of the best teams in world football.
The popular polling platform’s Global Club Soccer Rankings places Rangers in 79th position out of 628 teams, a whole 17 positions above Celtic who’re in 96th.
Manchester City top the rankings which are sure to cause a little bit of upset in the green side of Glasgow. See the full rankings HERE.
On FiveThirtyEight’s official website, they explain the algorithm they use to come to these conclusions.
The whole thing is based on an SPI rating which is calculated on the expected number of goals scored and the expected number of goals conceded on a neutral field.
As they explain:
“Every team has an offensive rating that represents the number of goals it would be expected to score against an average team on a neutral field, and a defensive rating that represents the number of goals it would be expected to concede.’
“These ratings, in turn, produce an overall SPI rating, which represents the percentage of available points. A win is worth 3 points, a tie worth 1 point, and a loss worth 0 points – the team would be expected to take if that match were played over and over again.”
The rankings can change continuously, week-on-week depending on form and performances. So based on their algorithm, Rangers are currently streets ahead of Celtic.
And if that wasn’t enough to upset the Parkhead support, it’s not the only time FiveThirtyEight have ranked Rangers above Celtic this season.
The polling group predict that on current form Rangers will lift the Scottish Premiership title come the end of the season.
