Rangers host Celtic at Ibrox reside on Sunday on Sky Sports activities – however how do the groups’ present kinds and varieties earlier than a troublesome encounter evaluate?
Each groups performed 31 video games and have been solely three factors behind the titans of Scottish soccer. The Rangers first bled in August earlier than Hobbs responded in model with a 3-0 win in February. Nonetheless, three factors for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s workforce this weekend will equalize Gers in factors on the prime.
So what are the groups’ patterns, strengths and weaknesses, and the place do you win or lose within the recreation?
Sunday 3 April 11:00 AM
Departure at 12:00 midday
Table of Contents
historic rivalry
It is without doubt one of the best rivalries in world soccer. Steven Gerrard guided Rangers to their first league title in 10 years final season, ending Celtic’s nine-year streak of dominance – which ran for some time after the workforce was demoted in 2012 and rose to the degrees earlier than returning to the Premier League for 4 years. Later.
The interactive desk beneath consists of each derby courting again to the start: a Glasgow Cup third-round conflict in October 1888, wherein Celtic misplaced the winners 6-1. Nonetheless, it has been the Glasgow facet which have primarily dominated the match over the previous two and a half years.
What’s the sample?
Van Bronckhorst more and more used the 4-2-3-1, along with the favourite 4-3-3 used underneath Gerrard. The typical positions beneath highlights how linebacker James Tavernier has been pushing excessive down the proper with wings adopting inverted turns.
Collectively, Celtic performs on the next stage of the sector. Postecoglou normally begins at 4-3-3, pushing his vast midfielders near the central striker, whereas there’s rather more deal with presentation and pursuit of the entrance than the flankers.
Assaults analyzed
Is the league standings mendacity? Nicely, the stats reveal that top-ranked Celtic on the desk leads the way in which in virtually all assault metrics: objectives, photographs, photographs on objective, anticipated objectives in open play, and assists. The broader hoops model has additionally produced 25 objectives from 939 crosses or corners to prime the league this season – in addition to 16 fastball photographs.
However Jersey gamers are very harmful from set-pieces, with Tavernier’s well-known method typically penalizing opponents from set-ball conditions. In the meantime, the formidable air energy of striker Alfredo Morelos helped his facet rating 13 headed objectives – another than their incoming guests.
When it comes to the place to attain, Rangers look extra harmful in and across the six-yard space and in pockets exterior that space on the left and on the proper facet somewhat additional. Celtic has the identical quantity of energy close to the objective however converts a a lot bigger proportion of objectives from the penalty space.
The world of noticeable curiosity will probably be beneath the Rangers proper channel – Celtic left. Often each groups assault down these flanks, with Tavernier and Jota being the primary drivers, respectively. The battle to assault dominance over this channel could possibly be pivotal.
You need to use the interactive desk beneath to see which gamers dominate in your assault metrics. Morelos leads the way in which with 11 league objectives, narrowly behind Celtic’s forwards. Celtic’s star strikers Giorgos Giacomakis and Kyogo scored eight objectives from simply 744 and 947 minutes on the sector, respectively.
When it comes to creativity, no participant comes near Tavernier. The 30-year-old has topped the league with 11 assists and 96 probabilities. For the guests, right-backs Anthony Ralston and Jota scored probably the most objectives, however midfielder David Turnbull created probably the most probabilities.
pace and progress
Celtic winger Lille Abada leads the way in which for fast breaks, whereas Rangers striker Vogue Sakala poses a serious menace when deployed.
In the meantime, Hobbs centre-back and Tottenham loanee Cameron Carter Vickers carried the ball at his toes farther than another participant. On the prime of the sector, the Tavernier Rangers ceaselessly drive ahead alongside the proper channel, with Jota making an analogous advance to the guests down the left.
Youth vs Expertise
The typical age of present league leaders is simply 25 years and 309 days – solely Ross County has a youthful squad this season. In distinction, Rangers presently have the biggest squad at 28 years and 69 days outdated. So, whereas the league’s present and future standings look brilliant for the Parkhead facet, Van Bronckhorst’s males have rather more expertise.
go analyzed
Celtic averages 653 passes per recreation. Extremely, when counting eight of Europe’s prime leagues, solely Manchester Metropolis and PSG have averaged extra this season. So, it is no shock that Postecoglou’s facet have averaged a league-leading possession common of 70.3 per cent this season, with Rangers ranked second with 64 per cent.
The chart beneath illustrates the change of passes shared between facilities and divulges that the Rangers distribution happens primarily throughout the midfield with a notable change between the pivot within the defensive midfield and the Tavernier. Celtic’s extra superior model reveals even patterns throughout the sector however better concentrations between the left-back and Jota.
The visualization beneath gives additional proof of passing averages and nets, with Celtic matching or overtaking Rangers for passes in all superior areas – most notably within the central areas and down the left wing.
The middle again is known to dominate the passing metrics on account of quick exchanges of play, however Rangers midfielder Glenn Kamara emerges as a passing drive for good in the midst of the park.
It passes with out query, as Postecoglou seeks to stifle Tavernier, who has tried 376 passes contained in the penalty space this season – practically twice as a lot as another participant among the many groups.
Who’s pushing too laborious?
Whereas Celtic have extra possession of their offensive third place, their upcoming hosts ceaselessly regain possession within the superior areas. Conversely, Celtic are extra defensively robust within the center third, which is important to keep away from counters in opposition to the next streak.
When it comes to gamers, attacking midfielder Joe Aribo Rangers present the important thing urgent pressure up entrance, Morelos and Scott Arfield additionally present a serious menace, whereas Tomas Rojic, Jota and Abada paved the way for Celtic.
In the meantime Hobbs captain Callum McGregor and Rangers quarterback Camara leads the Destroyers in the midst of the park.
mushy spots?
Because the league leaders, it won’t be stunning to see each groups conceded the fewest objectives, however Celtic have scored 18 fewer league objectives in comparison with Rangers’ 25 – whereas the Hoops even have a prime 17 league objective. Clear sheets.
Nonetheless, regardless of this spectacular solidity, potential areas of weak spot look like exploited, as Rangers’ power from set-pieces is arguably bolstered by the truth that 11 of Celtic’s objectives conceded got here from set-piece positions this time period.
Celtic haven’t conceded a objective from exterior the field within the Scottish Premier League this season
In the meantime, Morelos’ Air Pressure might reap rewards in opposition to a workforce that headed 9 in – solely Ross County and Hibernian leaked extra – whereas no facet within the division conceded extra objectives from crosses.
On paper, the sudden result’s Rangers exploiting a foul, with the guests solely making two errors resulting in a shot this season. Nonetheless, Rangers’ excessive stress has the potential to stress a pricey mishap.
The chart beneath reveals all of the defensive motion either side’s defenders have taken this season and divulges that Rangers defensive gamers sometimes patrol deeper than their upcoming counterparts, with full-backs energetic within the central areas down the flanks – whereas Tavernier contributes extra up entrance. , may be very.
Celtic are venturing into midfield and dedicated to going additional, reflecting the workforce’s model of play – however there’s a dearth of defensive protection among the many central defenders and suggesting a possible hall of alternative for the hosts.
Apparently, regardless of Tavernier’s tendency to dart into attacking areas on the proper flank, opposing groups normally assault Rangers down the opposing flank, 43 % descending from the Rangers left channel. Coincidentally, however extra understandably, the very same proportions apply to Celtic – with groups trying to exploit their extra adventurous left channel.
The return of loyal kings and leaders
Whereas the stats might assist the case for Celtic’s place on the prime of the desk, Rangers have actually proven a problem within the face of adversity, successful 21 league factors from shedding their positions this marketing campaign. For context, 29 % of their factors have been collected thus far.
In the meantime, each groups confirmed nice resilience as soon as they scored to guide the sport, with Rangers shedding 10 factors and Celtic conceding their lowest two factors within the league. Based mostly on these numbers, Rangers can actually overcome the deficit, however Celtic are adept at protecting the lead.
Who’s crimson scorching?
Utilizing the Energy Rankings components, which awards gamers factors for 35 completely different stats – from objectives and assists to balls and tackles, Celtic striker Georgios Giacomakis is presently the workforce’s hottest participant, primarily based on his earlier 5 league video games, with seven objectives in simply three league video games .
When it comes to your entire season thus far, there is just one winner: Tavernier. The linebacker has racked up practically 15,000 factors greater than another participant among the many groups, with teammate Aribeau rating second, forward of Carter Vickers.
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