Hoops Hunt League Cup Conquest

Hoops Hunt League Cup Conquest
~~~~~~~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~~~~~~~


Kyogoooooaaaalllll!!!!! The striker nails the late equalizer when these sides met in January


Hampden Park Stadium, Glasgow
Sunday, 26 February 2023
15.00 GMT

The Hoops line up on the Hampden turf on Sunday looking to not only defend their League Cup title, with the knowledge that they could be potentially just 90 minutes away from lifting the first silverware of the 2022/23 season.

There really should be no additional motivation required than the prize that awaits at the end of Sunday's Final.

But when it is against city rivals in a derby match and the memories of the last time these sides went toe-to-toe at Hampden Park was in last season's Scottish Cup Semi-Final that will still sting for so many of this side and provide that little bit extra.

With the Bhoys sitting 9 points clear in the League, this is a great opportunity to secure more silverware and while both sides come into this in undefeated form since the World Cup break, it means that on Sunday with history and a packed Hampden looking on, something has got to give.


Make Mine a Double-Double: Reo Hatate has bagged back-to-back braces in the last 2 games

~~~ Road to the Final ~~~​

4-1 v Ross County
4-0 v Motherwell
2-0 v Kilmarnock


3-1 v Queen of the South
1-0 v Dundee
2-1 (a.e.t) v Aberdeen


Kyogo Furuhashi, Ange Postecoglou & Callum McGregor celebrate winning the League Cup last season

By the Numbers​

• The Hoops are chasing a 7th League Cup in 9 years & the 21st in the club's history.

• Both sides come into the Final on the back of 9 consecutive wins since the 2-2 draw between them at Ibrox in January.

• Celtic are 23 games undefeated across the 3 domestic competitions since the start of October.

• The Govan club are undefeated in the last 16 domestic games - 14 of which have come since Michael Beale took over during the World Cup break.

'Hampden in the Sun': Billy McPhail nets his second as Celtic triumphed 7-1 in the 1957 League Cup Final

Team News1

Ange Postecoglou will have spent the week determining what will be the best XI for Sunday, with the news both Aaron Mooy and David Turnbull have returned to training and preparing for Sunday in whatever capacity is required, while any concerns about Kyogo Furuhashi's participation were dispelled with his appearance from off the bench against Aberdeen, last weekend.

As for Sevco, much of the chatter has surrounded the fitness and potential availability of midfield trio, Malik Tillman, John Lundstram and Ryan Jack, who have been missing recently, however the first two it has been confirmed have resumed training ahead of Sunday.

Referee: Nick Walsh

This will be the 3rd time Walsh will take charge of a Glasgpw derby match with one win each from those previous encounters, including the Hoops' 4-0 demolition of the Govan club, back in September. This is the first time the 32yr old has been appointed to a League Cup Final, however he does have the experience of officiating the 2021 Scottish Cup Final to draw on.

Celtic's Overall Record
M: 27 W: 22 D: 4 L: 1

VAR: John Beaton​

~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~

Overall
P: 32 W: 17 D: 6 L: 9​

Last 5 Meetings
D W D L W

~~~~ 2022/23 Form ~~~~ ​

Overall
W W W W W ~ W W W W W​