Hoops' Derby Day Hoodoo
~~~~~~~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~~~~~~~


May: Adam Idah scores the equalizer in the 1-1 draw when these sides last met at Ipox


Ipox Stadium, Glasgow
Sunday, 31 August 2025
12.00 BST

Here we go again!

Sunday is derby day in Glasgow, with the Hoops looking to maintain the 100% start to the Premiership campaign, when they take on their southside neighbours at Ipox.

Celtic will need to set aside the frustration of missing out on a place in the Champions League after an ultimately futile 7,000+ mile roundtrip journey to Kazakhstan and back again, prior to preparing for this match.

While it is not quite the same level of financial rewards or the prestige of Continental Champions League adventures at stake, the best thing that Celtic can do is to win their next game - and it just so happens that it's the Glasgow derby, which carries it's own pressures and means much, for so many reasons.

Sure, there are bragging rights in the city up for grabs, and for all the solid start to the League campaign so far, a win will open a gap can be extended to 9 points before the end of August, or that same gap could be substabtially cut, and considering the recent results between these sides, that is a possibility.

Brendan Rodgers' side will be looking to maintain their perfect start to the League season, after wins over St Mirren (1-0), Aberdeen (2-0) and Livingston (3-0), they will be looking to extend that successful trend as well as maintaining the run of clean sheets also. But that is only telling part of the story.


Liam Scales has had to show some versatility at both central defence and at left back this season

There has been a pronounced worrying trend in both performance and results in these derby clashes since the last time that Celtic actually beat the Govan club - the 3-0 win at the start of September, last year - which, come Sunday will be just 1 day shy of an entire calander year ago!​

There have been 4 meetings between these sides in that time. The Hoops were fortunate to get their hands on the League Cup in December, which finished 3-3, and required the lottery of apotkicks, and since then there were back to back losses before finally scraping another draw in the post-Split fixture in May.

In fact, Celtic have won just 2 of the past 6 League meetings between these sides.

All too often in the media conferences and pre-match interviews before this fixture, both Rodgers and skipper Callum McGregor would trend some variation of the line that they had prepared for this game rthe same as they would for any other. Perhaps that approach has needed to change.

This is not just another game. That belies the rivalry, the level of anticipation and expectation that this fixture merits and demands.

The pressure will be on the manager to find the solution to getting this sorted and back on track, to make the adjustments that can inject some much needed energy, creativity, determination and cutting edge, not just for this match, but for the season ahead.


Brendan Rodgers once vice-like grip on this fixture has seriously slipped over the past year

That said, Sevco are now under new ownership and management, with Russell Martin already feeling the heat from the Ipox crowd. The new manager has been busy in the transfer market, and think it is fair to say that so far it has been a bumpy ride for both he and a majority of these signings in convincing they can produce.

The hosts are still searching for their first League win of the season, having drawn 1-1 in each of their opening three games (v Motherwell, Dundee and St Mirren respectively), and are coming into this match on the back of a punishing 9-1 aggregate defeat over two legs at the hands of Belgian side, Club Brugge.

So as always there is a lot of expectation for both clubs going into this derby, and considering the circumstances and relative form of each, there is a lot of intrigue swirling, when nothing less than a win for either team will be considered acceptable, and so much more than the 3 points up for grabs at stake here.​

Stats and Facts​

• Celtic are looking for their first win at Ipox since September 2023.

• Brendan Rodgers will be looking to get back to winning ways as his dominance against Sevco has slipped, with just 2 wins in the past 6 League meetings, but has still won 15 of 23 overall (P23 W15 D5 L3).

• Both teams are so far undefeated in the Premiership this season - with Celtic having won all three games, while the hosts have drawn all of theirs.

• The Bhoys will be looking to add another clean sheet to the current run in the League this season - but since Rodgers' return have kept just 2 in this fixture in the past 9 meetings.

Reo Hatate strikes earllier this year. Celtic are searching for a first win against Sevco in 2025

Team News

Celtic will be without Alistair Johnston (hamstring) and Jota (knee), while new arrivals Michel Ange Balikwisha and Marcello Saracchi could also be available to potentially make their first appearances for the club, while Adam Idah, who has previously scored 3 goals in this fixture and appeared to be set for a move away, has been recalled.

As for the hosts, only Dujon Sterling remains sidelined through injury, meaning that the remainder of the squad are available to Russell Martin to select from. Given their 6-0 capitulation in midweek against Club Brugge, there is a very low chance of him going with the same starting XI, and anticipate changes.​

Referee: Don Robertson

The highly rated 38y.o. recently took charge of his 200th Premiership match earlier this month. This is the 3rd time he has been appointed to a match between these teams, with each side having secured one victory each.

Overall Record
M:46 W:38 D:4 L:4

VAR: Andrew Dallas



~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~

Overall
P:46 W:25 D:9 L:12

Last 5 Meetings
D L L D W

~~~~ 2022/23 Form ~~~~

All Comps
D W D W W ~ L D L W L

SPFL
W W W ~ D D D​