The Old Firm

This post is part of our series on the greatest football derbies.

If we could choose one stadium to be in this weekend it would be Celtic Park in Glasgow. For the 372nd time, Celtic and Rangers will meet in one of the world’s great derbies. Rangers holds the advantage with 147 wins to Celtic’s 133, but it is the home team this match that is considered the favorite. Celtic is atop the Scottish Premier League Table, 4 points clear of Rangers. A win on Saturday could put the men in hoops in the driver’s seat even this early in the season.

What makes the Old Firm so special is not necessarily the football, although both teams generally rise to the occasion against one another, but rather the passion – both good and bad – that the rivalry invokes. Politics and religion take the form of men wearing shorts and kicking a ball.

In recent years, efforts have been made to rid the rivalry of the violence and sectarian animosities in the stands. Perhaps this is why some see the derby as not being as fierce as it was in year’s past, but if you ever go to Glasgow during the Old Firm you’ll probably think otherwise.

If only we could be there on Saturday.

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Category: Scottish Premier League