‘No doubt in my mind’ – Brendan Rodgers told of Rangers’ fear of Celtic amid huge call

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Celtic and Rangers now know their Champions League fate.

Brendan Rodgers’ side will face Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan, if they want to secure their ticket to the league phase of Europe’s elite competition, whilst Rangers have to see off Club Brugge over two legs.

The second leg of these ties (26/27 August), both Celtic and Rangers will be playing away from home, falls during the week of the first Glasgow derby of the season at Ibrox.

Scottish football introduced a rule this season, whereby teams are allowed to postpone a domestic fixture in order to help themselves out in Europe.

And it seems as though new Rangers boss Russell Martin has already got the fright.

• READ MORE: ‘Scary’ – Kris Boyd is absolutely sweating about upcoming Rangers vs Celtic game

Rangers’ fear of Celtic after opting against St Mirren postponement

Celtic play Livingston at home, in between their Champions League qualifiers, whilst Rangers face a tricky tie at St Mirren.

It had been suggested that the Gers were going to use their card and postpone that St Mirren match, but Hugh Keevins feels Celtic’s lead at the top of the table has put a stop to that.

Speaking on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, Keevins stated that there is ‘no doubt in my mind’ that Rangers were fearful of postponing that St Mirren game, and then heading into the Glasgow derby ‘seven points behind’ their rivals, hence the call to play the St Mirren match.

“With regard to the playing of the St Mirren game,” said Keevins.

“I have absolutely no doubt in my mind, the decision was taken because Rangers don’t wish to have that potential scenario, whereby they kick off against Celtic on August 31, seven points behind Celtic. They absolutely want to avoid that. And Djiga’s suspension comes into the equation as well.

“However, if you are Stephen Robinson and St Mirren, you are thinking, ‘they have assumed that they will play us and win, and therefore, remove the seven-point deficit scenario’, so over to Stephen Robinson and the St Mirren players.”

Celtic and Rangers fixtures before the Glasgow derby

You sense these final few weeks of August, and you also have to bear in mind that the 2025 summer transfer window will close on September 1, is huge for the rest of the season.

These are pressure situations that separate the men from the boys, and Celtic have produced the goods time and time again over the years; that’s why they have won 13 out of the last 14 titles.

This is the fixtures leading up to the Glasgow derby, for both Celtic and Rangers.

• Celtic: vs Falkirk, League Cup (Aug 15), vs Kairat, Champions League qualifier, first leg (Aug 20), vs Livingston, Premiership (Aug 23), vs Kairat, Champions League qualifier, second leg (Aug 26), vs Rangers, Premiership (Aug 31).

• Rangers: vs Alloa Athletic, League Cup (Aug 16), vs Club Brugge, Champions League qualifier, first leg (Aug 19), vs St Mirren, Premiership (Aug 24), vs Club Brugge, Champions League qualifier, second leg (Aug 27), vs Celtic, Premiership (Aug 31).