Considering how both teams have started the season, the last thing Rangers fans wanted was another Old Firm fixture. Well, that is exactly what we are getting. Over the weekend, as the European representatives entered the League Cup, Celtic demolished Dundee United 4-0 at Tannadice.
The next days, Derek McInnes, belatedly, earned his first win as Rangers manager at the fifth attempt, with the Gers swatting aside holders St Mirren 5-1. Straight after full time, the draw for the quarter-finals was made and, first out of the hat, was an Old Firm derby. On Tuesday lunchtime, the SPFL then confirmed the dates and kick off times for the last eight matches
Scottish League Cup quarter-final confirmed fixtures
Friday 11 September
- Stenhousemuir vs Heart of Midlothian: Ochilview Park. Kick off 7:45pm. Premier Sports 1.
Saturday 12 September
- Ross County vs Hibernian: Global Energy Stadium. Kick off 3pm. Premier Sports Player.
- Kilmarnock vs Aberdeen: Rugby Park. Kick off 5:45pm. Premier Sports 1.
Sunday 13 September
- Rangers vs Celtic: Ibrox. Kick off Noon. Premier Sports 1.
The Glasgow derby will conclude the weekend's League Cup action on the Sunday, with a noon kick off. Given the scenes when Celtic visited Ibrox in the Scottish Cup last March, with Celtic supporter given the entire Broomloan Stand, but invading the pitch after victory in the penalty shootout, Police Scotland were never going to allow kick off to be any later.
So, how does this fit into Celtic's fixture schedule, and why does the outcome of the Champions League play-off against LASK majorly effect this?
Celtic's current potential fixture list
- Wednesday 19 August: LASK - Parkhead. UEFA Champions League play-off round first leg. Kick off 8pm.
- Tuesday 25 August: LASK - Raiffeisen Arena. UEFA Champions League play-off round second leg. Kick off 8pm.
- Saturday 29 August: Falkirk - Parkhead. Scottish Premiership. Kick off 3pm.
- Wednesday 2 September: Aberdeen - Parkhead. Scottish Premiership. Kick off 7:45pm.
- Saturday 5 September: St Mirren - The Marbill Coaches Stadium. Scottish Premiership. Kick off 8pm.
- 8, 9 or 10 September: Potential UEFA Champions League matchday one.
- *Wednesday 9 September: St Johnstone - McDiarmid Park. Scottish Premiership. Kick off TBC.
- Sunday 13 September: Rangers - Ibrox. Scottish League Cup. Kick off noon.
- 16 or 17 September: Potential UEFA Europa League matchday one.
- *15 or 16 September: St Johnstone - McDiarmid Park. Scottish Premiership. Kick off TBC.
- Sunday 20 September: Rangers - Parkhead. Scottish Premiership. Kick off noon.
As already alluded to, Glasgow's two giants will go head-to-head on back-to-back Sundays. Following their League Cup clash at Ibrox, the pair will meet again at Parkhead in the Premiership exactly a week later. However, what the Hoops' midweek fixture around that time look like remains unclear.
If Celtic beat LASK, their Champions League league phase opener will be the week before the cup tie. Their rearranged clash with St Johnstone in Perth would therefore be in-between the two derbies.
Were Celtic to be ousted by LASK, they would travel to McDiarmid Park during the first of these two midweeks, before commencing a Europa League campaign in-between these two clashes with their city rivals.
Rangers need to fit in a game against St Mirren at home, but will not have a European fixture in September. The Light Blues were dumped out of the Europa League by Jagiellonia Białystok so, even if they overcome Jablonec and get into the Conference League, that league phase does not begin until 15 October.
This could be something of an advantage for Rangers, especially if Celtic do get into the Champions League, and have just had to take on one of Europe's best. Nevertheless, based on what McInnes and O'Neill's team have shown so far, the Celtic have to be massive favourites to prevail.
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