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Scottish League Cup | Final

Feb 26, 2023 at 3pm UK

Ibrox Stadium

Rangers
1 - 2
Celtic

Morelos (64')
Lundstram (50'), Kamara (58'), Barisic (90'), Kent (90'), Colak (90+1'), Cantwell (90+4')

FT(HT: 0-1)

Furuhashi (44', 56')
Taylor (70'), Oh (79'), Abada (83'), Johnston (90+1')

Michael Beale: 'Rangers vs. Celtic is the biggest rivalry in the world'

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 24 February 2023

Michael Beale labels the Old Firm derby between Rangers and Celtic as "the biggest rivalry in the world" ahead of Sunday's Scottish League Cup final between the two clubs.

Michael Beale has labelled the Old Firm derby between Rangers and Celtic as "the biggest rivalry in the world" ahead of the two teams locking horns in the Scottish League Cup final on Sunday.

The two Glaswegian giants will face off at Hampden Park for the first piece of silverware in Scotland in what will be the 433rd meeting between the two clubs.

Both teams, who are still separated by nine points in the Premiership table, enter the showpiece event in excellent form, with Rangers winning 13 of their last 14 games across all competitions since Beale became head coach at the end of November.

Ange Postecoglou's Celtic, meanwhile, have won 16 and drawn one of their last 17 matches in all tournaments and are seeking to claim their 10th successive victory on Sunday.

Rangers have won a record 27 League Cups across its 77-year history, but Beale is tasked with leading the Gers to their first success in the competition for 12 years, and he has expressed his excitement ahead of the "huge game" in Glasgow.

"It is a huge game for our football club and everyone involved, the fans, the players, myself and my staff, it is a huge privilege to be involved in this game," Beale told reporters at a press conference.

Rangers manager Michael Beale with Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou before the match on January 2, 2022 © Reuters

"A rivalry like this that is world renowned, and I believe is the biggest rivalry in the world, and we are privileged as a country to have it here.

"I think it is a fantastic final for the neutral, I don't remember a game when the two teams went into in such fine form as well, I am really looking forward to it, I can't wait for Sunday to finally arrive and all the preparations to be out of the way."

Beale is keen for his Rangers side to use their experience in recent finals to get themselves over the line on Sunday – the Gers won the Scottish Cup final last season under former boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst four days after losing on penalties to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final.

"There is a lot of respect between the two sets of players and the management teams, it is two very good teams going head to head, both teams have got a lot of experience in these types of games," Beale added.

"If I look at my own squad, it wasn't so long ago we were playing a European final and very quickly a Scottish Cup final, and we have played here last month in a semi-final.

"In that sense we are well versed in this type of game and the build-up of the week, and it is about just going to perform on the day."

Rangers captain James Tavernier scores against Celtic on January 2, 2022 © Reuters

Meanwhile, captain James Tavernier is hoping to complete his collection of major Scottish trophies by lifting his first League Cup this weekend.

The 31-year-old right-back, who has recently been inducted into the club's Hall of Fame, has won the Premiership title and Scottish Cup during a spell of almost eight years with the Gers, in which he has also recorded 95 goals and 112 assists in 387 appearances.

"It's a true honour (to win a trophy) and words can't really describe how much you feel. It's so much enjoyment, Tavernier told reporters via BBC Sport on Friday. "That's what we all signed up for to play for Rangers, to win trophies, and we will be doing everything possible on Sunday to make that happen.

"The first one [league title] was behind closed doors and the Scottish Cup final was in front of our fans and it was a different experience. It was amazing to do that in front of your own fans. To have that feeling, you just want to continue to have more of that and what a great opportunity we have to play in a cup final this early in the season and try and get our hands on it.

"Personally it would mean completing all three trophies, it's something I want to do and we've got a great opportunity to do that at the weekend."

Rangers beat Celtic 2-1 after extra time in the Scottish Cup semi-finals last season, but they have since failed to win each of their last three Old Firm meetings with the Hoops, including a 2-2 league draw at Ibrox in January.