By Goal.com News on Sunday, 21 March 2021
Category: Goal.com News

LIVE: Celtic vs Rangers

65' Christie's effort from an Elyounoussi lay-off is deflected behind by Goldson. The resulting set-piece amounts to nothing after Ajer commits a foul.

64' Rangers look uncomfortable with another Celtic corner, but it's eventually cleared away by Helander.

62' Celtic have largely controlled this half, and look more likely to find a winner, but they still need to be wary of the visitors' threat on the break.

60' A fluent, one-touch Rangers move ends with Morelos misplacing a throughball towards Kent.

58' Chance for Elyounoussi! Callum McGregor clips in the perfect cross to find an unmarked Elyounoussi, but the attacker mistimes his jump and he can only plant a weak header narrowly over the bar from six yards!

54' Big save from Allan McGregor! Edouard hits a fizzing half-volley from 25 yards across Allan McGregor and towards the far corner, but the goalkeeper acrobatically gets across to palm it to safety!

52' Balogun's whipped cross from deep skids through Morelos' legs at the back post. If he could have controlled that it would have been a huge chance!

50' Chance for Welsh! Welsh gets to Callum McGregor's corner first and he glances the delivery inches over the bar from eight yards!

48' Elyounoussi managed three shots on target and one key pass in that first half, alongside his goal - Rangers will need to nullify him if they're to leave with three points today.  

46' Rangers get the second half underway.

Neither side will be too disappointed with that half, and both can still have realistic hopes of winning this game.

The sides head in level after an open, entertaining first half. Celtic struck first when Edouard set up Elyounoussi for a clever diving header from close range, and they had further chances to add to their lead. Callum McGregor was denied by an instinctive save, while Edouard had a tight penalty appeal turned down. However, Rangers showed plenty of resolve to fight back, and they equalised when Morelos turned Barisic's corner in from close range, to leave the match finely poised.   

45' + 1' HALF TIME: Celtic 1-1 Rangers

45' Ajer's weak header is pushed behind for another corner by Allan McGregor.

44' Kent's angled volley from just inside the box is well saved by Bain.

42' So close for Edouard! An intricate Celtic move culminates with Callum McGregor slipping Edouard through on goal and the striker's first-time effort deflects off Allan McGregor and the goalkeeper manages to scramble back towards his line to gather it at the second attempt!

40' Rangers will be delighted with that response! They were under severe pressure after the goal, but they've shown plenty of character to fight back with a set-piece. 

35' Laxalt darts inside dangerously before he's finally stopped by Balogun's strong tackle.

33' Turnbull's deft, curling throughball picks out the run of Elyounoussi brilliantly, but the attacker can't quite control it and the chance fades.

31' Big save from Allan McGregor! Callum McGregor holds off Kamara and races into the box at an angle, before firing a low shot towards the near post that the goalkeeper instinctively blocks away with his legs!

29' Celtic look full of confidence all of a sudden and they're pouring forward at every opportunity.

25' Well, that's a morale-boosting moment for Celtic! After a difficult season, they would have been fearing the worst today, but Elyounoussi's header has given them hope of a win!

22' Chance for Morelos! Barisic swings in a wicked delivery from the touchline and it's met by Morelos who can only head a tame effort straight at Bain from eight yards! With better timing, that could have caused Bain real issues!

21' Callum McGregor attempts to hit a diagonal pass over the top to Edouard, but there isn't enough power on it and Helander heads to safety.   

19' Brown slips a neat pass into Edouard inside the box and the attacker skips past Balogun, before being tackled by Goldson at the crucial moment.  

17' After a fast start, Rangers are playing at a more sedate pace and Celtic are settling into the game.  

15' Kent's chipped cross is headed well wide by Hagi.

13' Laxalt is hacked down by Hagi at an angle just outside the area. It's a promising position for Celtic but Turnbull's delivery is headed out to Callum McGregor who blazes a wild shot over from 20 yards.   

11' Rangers have looked sharper so far; they're playing with real urgency and belief in attack - while Celtic look a little more nervous.

9' The hosts will be desperate to at least find the net today and avoid an unwanted record. Celtic have failed to score against Rangers in the Scottish Premiership this season, they never have failed to score against Rangers for a whole campaign of the competition.

7' Kent scuffs a free-kick from deep and it's hacked away by Brown just outside the box.

5' The visitors are pressing and hassling Celtic high up the pitch and they force Bain into a long clearance out of play.  

3' Rangers push forward early on, as Morelos attempts to thread a pass in behind in search of Davis, but it's inaccurate and it trickles through to Bain.

1' Celtic get the first half underway.

The players are emerging from the tunnel and kick off is just seconds away!

Rangers are looking to win three separate league Old Firm derbies against Celtic in a single season for the first time since the 1999-2000 campaign under Dick Advocaat.

Rangers make two changes to the team that were knocked out of the Europa League by Slavia Prague in the week: Patterson makes way for Helander, while Hagi comes in for Arfield.

Celtic are unchanged from the side that drew 0-0 with Dundee United last time out.

SUBS: Jermain Defoe, Scott Arfield, Scott Wright, Kemar Roofe, Bongani Zungu, Jon McLaughlin, Calvin Bassey, Nathan Patterson, Cedric Itten.

RANGERS (4-3-3): Allan McGregor; Leon Balogun, Connor Goldson, Filip Helander, Borna Barisic; Glen Kamara, Steven Davis, Joe Aribo; Ianis Hagi, Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent.

SUBS: Ismaila Soro, James Forrest, Nir Bitton, Patryk Klimala, Greg Taylor, Shane Duffy, Leigh Griffiths, Tomas Rogic, Vasilios Barkas.

CELTIC (4-3-1-2): Scott Bain; Jonjoe Kenny, Stephen Welsh, Kristoffer Ajer, Diego Laxalt; David Turnbull, Scott Brown, Callum McGregor; Ryan Christie; Mohamed Elyounoussi, Odsonne Edouard.

For Rangers, this is their first match since being crowned champions and they’ll be looking to celebrate by beating their rivals today.

Hello and welcome to live commentary of this Scottish Premiership fixture between Celtic and Rangers. The hosts enter this one almost assured of a second-place finish, but pride will always be on the line in the Old Firm derby.

Original link
Leave Comments