The Glasgow Derby always draws out every emotion from the Celtic fans in the lead-up to the big.
All week we have brought you the build-up and opinion from pundits and former players as winners of the upcoming top-of-the-table clash would likely be labelled as favourites for the Scottish Premiership title.
Before yesterday’s win, Celtic had already beaten Rangers twice and drawn once. And on all three occasions, Brendan Rodgers went into every Glasgow Derby missing key players.
Yesterday afternoon was the first time this season the Celtic manager had gone into a game against our rivals with a full quota of first-team stars.
And that was one of the reasons why Michael Stewart believes the Parkhead club are so much better than Rangers.
Celtic’s intensity is unmatched
Speaking prior to kick off, Stewart was asked why he felt Rangers have managed to keep up with Celtic in the title race.
The BBC pundit was quite clear on the key factor of having those players back and what Celtic have that Rangers don’t that makes the Parkhead club so dominant in this fixture.
Stewart said [BBC Radio Scotland], “You can’t discount the fact that they didn’t have their key players playing. They looked fragile, psychologically, they were in a poorer place.
“They’re a different beast Celtic now.
“First and foremost, the biggest challenge that Rangers are going to have here today outwith any quality, is the intensity that Celtic can bring to the game and Rangers have got to match that.
“So first and foremost, Rangers have got to be able to go onto the park and match the intensity that Celtic have got.
“That’s a big ask though with this Celtic side because I think that’s the marked difference.
“When Celtic are on form, the full team that they have now, that intensity is something I’m not sure that Rangers are able to match.”
Celtic have proven this season that no matter what Rangers throw at them, they can cope with it and then some.
Just look back to the very first fixture. Going to Ibrox in September without Cameron Carter-Vickers and Reo Hatate and still managing to get a crucial 1-0 win was a superb piece of management by Brendan Rodgers.
Again, in the New Year fixture, Celtic were still without Hatate and Carter-Vickers and won and even without our captain, Callum McGregor, for the 3-3 draw, Rodgers’ side still bossed the Ibrox Glasgow Derby.
The fifth and final derby comes at the end of the month when Celtic face Rangers in the Scottish Cup Final and if Rodgers win that it will cap off a brilliant season where the Hoops boss has had to contend with so many injuries to his best players.