It is a story of mutual contempt and loathing.
Two sets of fans teetering on the brink of delirium while in the grip of an unseasonal fever created by animosity and acrimony. But the players on the park at Ibrox on Monday will be required to rise above the excesses of a rivalry that can only be accurately described as bitter in the extreme. Rangers and Celtic have to deal with reality over rumpus. And negotiate the game that is a separate life form. It’s not the case that form goes out the window when these sides meet. You simply have to dismiss the idea you first thought of about the match and prepare yourself for any eventuality.
For instance, in the calendar year now gone, Celtic played 37 games for a total of 111 league points and dropped just nine of them in all of 2022. The idea that Ange Postecoglou’s side might drop 10 points – and lose the league title they are seeking to defend – between now and May is therefore a fanciful prospect for their fans and a still-achievable target for their opponents.
