The air crackles with anticipation in Glasgow as the 2026 Scottish Premiership title race reaches its boiling point. This Saturday, Celtic and Rangers, two titans locked in a rivalry as ancient as the city's cobblestone streets, will clash at Parkhead in a match that feels less like a football game and more like a seismic event ready to reshape the league landscape. For Wilfried Nancy's Celtic, this derby is a desperate attempt to salvage a season that has sputtered like a misfiring engine since his arrival, with five losses in seven games. Across the city, Danny Rohl's Rangers arrive with the steady hum of a well-oiled machine, having found form with four wins in their last six. Both gaze up at league leaders Hearts, but only one can land a knockout blow in this historic fixture and truly ignite their 2026 championship charge.

🏥 The Treatment Room Tally: Who's In, Who's Out?

Both managers are navigating an injury list that resembles a battlefield triage center. For Celtic, the absentee sheet is particularly worrying.

Celtic's Walking Wounded:

  • Kelechi Iheanacho (Striker): A huge blow. His physical presence and goal threat will be sorely missed.

  • Defensive Crisis: Alistair Johnston, Callum Osmand, and the rock at the back, Cameron Carter-Vickers, are all out. This forces a major reshuffle.

  • Jota (Winger): Another key creative spark sidelined.

  • AFCON Absences: Sebastian Tounetki and Michel-Ange Balikwisha remain unavailable.

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On the blue side, Rangers have their own issues, though they appear slightly more manageable.

Rangers' Injury Report:

  • Nedim Bajrami & Oliver Antman: Key midfield and attacking options ruled out.

  • Derek Cornelius & Bailey Rice: Defensive and midfield depth affected.

  • AFCON Duty: Defender Nasser Djiga is away with his national team.

  • A Glimmer of Hope: John Souttar has returned to training, but his fitness is being managed like a fragile antique vase. Bojan Miovski is back from illness.

🤔 Predicted Lineups: Nancy's Puzzle vs. Rohl's Consistency

With squads stretched thin, the managers' team selections are under the microscope.

Celtic Predicted XI (3-4-2-1):

Position Player Note
GK Kasper Schmeichel Experience vital in a cauldron.
RWB Anthony Ralston Likely to start due to Johnston's absence.
CB Auston Trusty Must step up in Carter-Vickers' void.
CB Kieran Tierney The leader at the back.
LWB Yang Hyun-Jun Pace on the flank could be key.
CM Philippe Sandler Expected to partner the captain.
CM Callum McGregor (C) The heartbeat of the team.
CM Alan McCormack Could get the nod for energy.
AM Lucas Nygren Creative burden falls on him.
AM Daizen Maeda His relentless running is a guaranteed starter.
ST Tommy Kenny Likely to lead the line in Iheanacho's absence.

Notable Bench Options: Reo Hatate, Paulo Bernardo (the £30k-a-week duo likely held in reserve), James Forrest.

Nancy's conundrum is like trying to complete a jigsaw puzzle with half the pieces missing. New loan signing Julian Araujo could make a dramatic debut if called upon.

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Rangers Predicted XI (4-3-3):

Position Player Note
GK Jack Butland A reliable last line of defense.
RB James Tavernier (C) Set-pieces and attacking thrust from deep.
CB John Souttar If fit, he starts. A major boost.
CB Jose Fernandez Forms the likely central partnership.
LB Kieron Meghoma Youngster with big potential.
CM Charlie Aasgaard Technically gifted in midfield.
CM Nicolas Raskin Provides the engine room grit.
CM Mohamed Diomande Dynamic box-to-box presence.
RW Ibrahima Gassama Pace and trickery on the wing.
ST Bojan Miovski Returns to lead the line.
LW Mikey Moore The teenage sensation, a wildcard.

Notable Bench Options: Max Aarons, Youssef Chermiti, Danilo (the high-earning trio worth £100k-a-week collectively), Scott Arfield.

Coming off a comfortable midweek win, Rohl's selection is expected to be as stable as a gyroscope, with minimal changes. The potential inclusion of Souttar would be as significant as finding the keystone to an arch.

⚔️ Tactical Keys to the Battle

This match will be won and lost in specific duels and strategic gambits:

  1. Celtic's Fragile Backline vs. Rangers' Press: Can Trusty and Tierney handle the relentless press from Miovski, Gassama, and Moore? One mistake could be fatal.

  2. The McGregor vs. Raskin/Diomande Battle: The midfield war will be decisive. If McGregor is swarmed, Celtic's link-up play will vanish like a mirage.

  3. Wing-Back Warfare: Tavernier's marauding runs against Yang Hyun-Jun will be a thrilling sub-plot. Who dominates the flanks controls the game's tempo.

  4. Nancy's Gamble: Will he trust his big-name bench players like Hatate early, or stick with his initial XI until desperation sets in?

🔮 The Final Verdict

The stage is set for a classic. Celtic, wounded and at home, possess a desperate energy that can be terrifying. Rangers, however, arrive with better form, a more settled side, and arguably fewer disruptive absences. Parkhead will be a bear pit, pushing Celtic to a performance that has been elusive under Nancy. This might be the moment his team finally clicks, but Rangers' consistency gives them a slight edge. Expect a ferocious, tense, and potentially scrappy affair with moments of individual brilliance deciding it. The prediction? A score draw that leaves the title race tantalizingly poised, like a suspense novel waiting for its final chapter. Prediction: Celtic 1 - 1 Rangers.

Regardless of the result, one thing is certain: Scottish football's greatest show will once again deliver drama, passion, and memories that will be debated in Glasgow for years to come. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⚽