You sense there will be added spice when Celtic and Rangers meet later this month.
It’s not that this fixture ever needs it, but with Barry Ferguson in the other dugout and Celtic closing in on the title, then there is a lot to look forward to.
Celtic are 16 points clear of their so-called title challengers at the top of the Premiership table and now everyone is counting down the days before Brendan Rodgers lifts another trophy in Scotland.
From Rodgers’ first spell in charge to the current day, it has been pure dominance from the Celtic manager as he looks to make it 55 titles in the club’s rich history.
Not forgetting that, in December, Celtic won trophy number 119 when they downed Rangers on penalties in an epic League Cup final at Hampden.
The Celtic Park faithful have made sure those in Rangers colours know about it, but on March 16, they can share that message in an even better manner because away fans return to the Glasgow derby.
READ MORE: Celtic captain Callum McGregor eyes return of 7,000 away fans for derbies but makes one thing clear
Graeme Souness is delighted away fans will return when Celtic host Rangers
Celtic and Rangers both released statements last week sharing that away fans will be at Parkhead and Ibrox for the upcoming derby matches.
It is said that ‘four per cent of saleable capacity’ will be in attendance and the news has delighted Graeme Souness.
The former midfielder stated how ‘it’s only a good thing’, before explaining the ‘ferocious’ nature of this fixture and how nothing else can match it, as he told PLZ Soccer.
“I played in lots of big derbies,” said Souness. “The most ferocious and passionate one is still the Glasgow derby, for me.
“So, for the players, it will be like a Glasgow derby, in terms of the atmosphere and they have to deal with it.
On away fans returning: “I think, in any game of football, and especially Celtic vs Rangers. The home team, then it’s a challenge for them to make more noise than the away team. It’s only a good thing.”
What Celtic and Rangers said about away fans returning for the Glasgow derby
Rodgers previously made it clear that no away fans being in attendance was a ‘Rangers thing’ and, hopefully, the bitterness has now gone away from the other end.
Either way, this is what Rangers wrote in a statement regarding the away fans: ‘Rangers supporters will be able to attend our match with Celtic on 16 March, with the two clubs agreeing for a reciprocal percentage of tickets to be allocated to away fans.
‘Approximately four per cent of saleable capacity at both stadiums will be given to the visiting club, with everyone at Rangers looking forward to having the backing of our supporters in the East End of Glasgow in just over a fortnight’s time.
‘The arrangement will then be repeated for the Old Firm derby at Ibrox following the split’.
Unfortunately, Celtic can’t win the title against Rangers in front of their own supporters, but barring an absolute miracle, the title will be in hand for the trip to Ibrox after the split.
That will be the chance for the Celtic away fans to really rub it in and this is what the club said itself in a statement:
‘We can confirm that, following the previous SPFL determination from last year and with necessary requirements being addressed, away supporters will be present at the next two Glasgow derby matches this season at Celtic Park and Ibrox’.
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