Sun, Apr 27, 2003 - Page 23 News List

`Blood and thunder' in Old Firm derby

AP , GLASGOW, SCOTLAND

Celtic has no time to celebrate reaching its first European final in 33 years.

Just three days after beating Boavista 1-0 to reach the UEFA Cup final, Martin O'Neill's side plays archrival Rangers at Ibrox today in the final Old Firm derby of the season.

The UEFA Cup is Celtic's best chance for a trophy this season. Rangers lead the Scottish Premier League by eight points with five games remaining. But Celtic has a game in hand.

A Rangers win would give the club a great chance of regaining the title it lost to Celtic in 2000 and maintain its chance of winning the domestic treble.

``It wouldn't matter if there is nothing at stake -- both teams still want to win -- but there is everything at stake,'' Celtic manager Martin O'Neill said. ``We have to win, Rangers maybe don't have to win, but there will be blood and thunder.''

Celtic had pushed for the game to be switched to a later date because it comes so close after Thursday night's UEFA match. But the Scottish league and local police said the game must go ahead today for security reasons.

The league wants to avoid the fan violence which marred the Celtic-Rangers title decider in May 1999 at Parkhead. Referee Hugh Dallas was hit by a coin during the game.

Celtic was uninspiring in Thursday's victory in Porto, but Swedish striker Henrik Larsson's 80th minute goal -- his 40th of the season -- was good enough to secure the team's first European final since the Champions Cup loss to Feyenoord in Milan in 1970.

It's the fifth Celtic-Rangers meeting of the season.

The two sides drew 3-3 in October, Rangers won 3-2 in December, Celtic won 1-0 in March, and Rangers won 2-1 in the League Cup final on March 16.

Rangers have already won the Scottish League Cup and meet Dundee in the Scottish Cup final on May 31.

``As long as there are games to go and points to be won and lost, we have to keep going until the very end,'' Rangers manager Alex McLeish said.

``If we were to win the game on Sunday, it would make it very difficult for Celtic.

``But I feel there are some twists and turns yet. If we can get ascendancy on Sunday, it would fire the lads up for the games ahead. To be pitting our wits against a team as good as Celtic and competing against them as we haven't done in recent seasons, says a lot for the team this year.''

McLeish will have Mikel Arteta and Peter Lovenkrands back from injury, while Claudio Caniggia is doubtful.

This story has been viewed 1781 times.
TOP top