You would have to travel a long way across the footballing world to witness a rivalry better than Celtic v Rangers.
Copa90, who have a social media following of nearly 5 million, have been travelling across the world to try and find out just that for over a decade.
From South America to Glasgow, they have been to every part of the world and have tasted the best derbies first-hand, as well as football matches of all shapes and sizes.
For Celtic’s League Cup semi-final win over Rangers at Hampden last month, which was also Martin O’Neill’s return to the dugout, they did just that, and it produced the expected results.
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Copa90’s lowdown of Celtic and Rangers’ rivalry
At the start of the video, Copa90 gave a brief explanation to their millions of followers about what the Glasgow derby is all about.
“I am visiting every major derby in the UK this season to find football’s fiercest fixture,” explained Copa90 creator Eugéne Noble. “So, I am in Glasgow for Celtic v Rangers.”
Celtic v Rangers rivalry rated 20/20
It then began rating the rivalry, from different categories, out of five. From ‘rivalry origins’ to ‘Matchday atmosphere’, and it came out with the expected results.
On ‘Rivalry Origins’, Copa90 explained: “Both clubs were founded by brothers. Rangers were brothers of blood. Celtic were brothers of God.
“In the 1910s, sectarianism was on the rise through World War I. The Easter uprising and a new wave of Irish immigration to the city, stoking tensions about employment. Football was the battleground.
“Protestant Rangers standing for loyalty to the Union of Great Britain, and the Catholic rebels of Celtic standing for a 32-county united Ireland. Once the derby became more about cultural divisions than football. There was no turning back. 5/5.”
After Rivalry Origins, and the backdrop of what Celtic and Rangers is all about, was rated 5/5, the next topic was ‘On-Pitch Drama.’
It mentioned all the controversies over the decades, from the ‘riot on the pitch at Hampden in 1980’ to Mo Johnston’s controversial move to Ibrox, various spats on the pitch, including Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist’s post-match square-up.
Once again, and to no surprise, the ‘On-Pitch Drama’ category was rated 5/5.
Attention turned to ‘Off-Pitch Tales’, with the narrator starting: “There have been moments between both clubs that are too dark to mention.” Before rating it 5/5.
Then, the main event, and the action on the pitch. Remember, this was from Celtic’s extra-time win over Rangers at Hampden, which included many controversial moments and added tension in the stands.
The narrator stated about the ‘Matchday Atmosphere’, “Nothing has felt more like a derby day than this. I could sense that early on that, even with both teams’ immense trophy cabinets, nothing compares to winning the derby.
“Inside the ground, I haven’t felt much like it. Even with a ban on the Green Brigade. The noise was all-consuming. It’s a five again. 5/5.”
Copa90 then had a list of where Celtic v Rangers ranks, starting from the highest, pure hatred, then proper derby, regional tiff, friendly grudge, and tin pot.
Of course, to nobody’s surprise, the Celtic v Rangers rivalry was slapped into the ‘pure hatred’ category, and the narrator finished off by saying:
“This is one of the world’s best. 20/20. For that reason, it’s going into ‘pure hatred.’”
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