There feels inevitability around Celtic winning – or at least not losing – the first Old Firm meeting of the season. What will follow after dust settles on a crash, bang, wallop occasion at Celtic Park is more surprising – outbreaks of sense and sensibility on either half of Glasgow’s football divide.
Brendan Rodgers appears to have realised the world outside Scotland shrugs shoulders when Celtic prevail on the domestic scene. The manager has placed Champions League competitiveness, or progress, at the forefront of his aspirations for this campaign. He has directly stated he wants his team to aim for a playoff place from the new format.
