Celtic secured their spot in the League Cup final scheduled for December after delivering an emphatic defeat to Aberdeen at Hampden on Saturday. Their commanding performance left no doubt about their readiness for the final.
Meanwhile, Rangers joined Celtic in the final a day later, but their journey was much more challenging. After going down early in the first half against Motherwell, they had to fight hard to come back, eventually winning the semi-final 2-1. Unlike Celtic’s dominant display, Rangers struggled for rhythm, showcasing a less impressive performance compared to the one put on by Brendan Rodgers’ side against Aberdeen.
In the aftermath of Rangers’ victory, Philippe Clement was questioned about Celtic’s impressive win over Aberdeen, and he expressed concern about the upcoming challenge of facing the Hoops in just over a month. Speaking to BBC Sportsound, he acknowledged the difficulties teams face in maintaining peak performance every few days, citing Aberdeen’s recent struggles against both teams. He emphasized that Celtic is a formidable opponent, demonstrating their strength both domestically and in Europe. Clement recognized the upcoming match as a significant challenge, expressing his determination to rise to it.
Since Philippe Clement took over as Rangers’ boss in October 2023, Celtic has dominated their encounters. The two teams have faced each other five times, with Celtic winning four of those matches and drawing once. In their first clash on December 30, 2023, Celtic triumphed 2-1, thanks to goals from Paulo Bernardo and Kyogo Furuhashi, while James Tavernier scored a late consolation for Rangers. The two teams played to a thrilling 3-3 draw on April 7, 2024, where Rangers fought back from a 2-0 deficit, eventually equalizing in the closing moments.
On May 11, 2024, Celtic ended Rangers’ title hopes with another 2-1 victory, driven by a goal from Matt O’Riley and an own goal by John Lundstram, while Cyriel Dessers netted for Rangers. The two sides met again in the Scottish Cup final on May 25, 2024, where Celtic secured a narrow 1-0 win, courtesy of a late goal from Adam Idah, capping off a successful season for Brendan Rodgers. In their most recent encounter on September 1, 2024, Celtic once again asserted their dominance with a 3-0 victory, as Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Callum McGregor each found the net, sending a clear message to their rivals early in the season.
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