No away fans, Euro calamities & derby debuts - why Old Firm tie is crucial

What the report says

BBC Sport Scotland previews Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox, the first Old Firm meeting of the season. The match is due to kick off at 12:00 BST, and the article says it comes at a potentially pivotal moment for both clubs after mixed starts in domestic and European competition.

Celtic have opened their Scottish Premiership campaign with six wins from six, but BBC Sport notes that their season has also included a damaging Champions League play-off collapse against LASK, when they lost the tie after leading comfortably on aggregate. Rangers, meanwhile, had a slow start under manager Derek McInnes, with an opening draw and defeat in the league, before recovering with a run of wins in domestic competition. Their own European campaign also ended in disappointment, with defeat to Jagiellonia Bialystok and later elimination on penalties from the Conference League play-offs.

The report also highlights that there will be no away supporters at Ibrox, after discussions between the clubs and the SPFL following disorder at last season’s Scottish Cup quarter-final. Rangers had initially suggested a small visiting allocation, but that was not taken forward.

BBC Sport quotes McInnes as urging Rangers to use the home crowd, while Celtic manager Martin O’Neill says his team must cope with the atmosphere and try to get in front early. The article places the tie in wider context too: it is one of Scottish football’s most intense fixtures, and a win would send the victor into the semi-finals and provide an early statement in the season.