As a resurgent Rangers head to Celtic Park, it’s been a little easy for both sets of fans to get carried away as of late.
Philippe Clement’s League Cup-winning Rangers look a more resolute, steely and determined outfit who are winning together as a team.
It’s hard to believe that, by and large, this is the same squad Michael Beale had somehow managed into a rut with the Belgian galvanising a team of which mentality has always been the biggest question.
With Europa League last 16 football secured – and a Dublin dream shelved for now – the League Cup victory also ended a 13-year Hampden hoodoo with relief as much as celebration in the air when James Tavernier hoisted the trophy high above his head.
Celtic Park will be one of the biggest tests of this Rangers team’s resolve yet – especially without a bluenose in sight – but no matter what happens at Parkhead, this season is anything but over.
Win, lose or draw – it will do little to derail Rangers’ focus with a legendary Quadruple in the club’s sights this season.
Celtic wobble ahead of Rangers visit
Celtic, on the other hand, have being going through something of a wobble.
Having surrendered their grip at the top of the Scottish Premiership, at least for now, Rangers know that a victory at Parkhead gives them a clean run to the national game’s pinnacle when Philippe Clement’s marathon resumes after a winter breather.
Back-to-back league defeats against Kilmarnock and Hearts, combined with a home draw against Motherwell, have heaped the pressure on Brendan Rodgers.
The Celtic manager has also been somewhat the polar opposite of his Rangers number; a lack of quality apparently behind the club’s slump with big talk of January business echoing out around the Gallowgate.
We’re being told the chequebook and not a shoulder to lean on is the answer.
For that reason Celtic promise to pose something of a different animal in the second half of the campaign, reinforced by the financial might we hear fawning journalists write poetry about every time they collapse in the Champions League.
Vital transfer market awaits for Old Firm
Rangers too will re-enter the transfer market, the club’s devastating run of injury problems ensuring Philippe Clement simply must be backed next month.
The club have already made a statement signing – Rangers reportedly pipping Celtic to the signing of Fabio Silva following qualification for the Europa League knockouts.
Whilst we don’t suspect that will deter Celtic – who’ll be warned every penny spent in Scotland represents a risk – two or three starter quality additions are expected at Ibrox.
It points to the second half of the campaign being a whole of a lot more nervy than this fluctuating first period which is set to (almost) culminate with that trip to Celtic Park.
The match against Kilmarnock at Ibrox three days later is also worth three points.
No matter what happens – given the prospective points total is as close as it is now – there is no result which will be a disaster for either side.
The biggest matches between these two Glasgow giants are still very much to come this season with Rangers eyes on a much bigger prize than simple victory at Parkhead.
With the League Cup already in the bag, fans are starting to dream of the Premiership, Scottish Cup, and perhaps even Europa League glory to come.
