Baur Must Drive The Midfield Game | Predicted 4-2-3-1 Celtic Lineup To Face Rangers

Baur Must Drive The Midfield Game | Predicted 4-2-3-1 Celtic Lineup To Face Rangers Despite a blistering start to the campaign, back-to-back defeats against Rangers and Ferencvárosi have put Celtic under immense pressure ahead of hosting their bitter rivals in the second Old Firm derby within a week. However, they are yet to drop a point in the league, and revenge for the Ibrox humiliation would bring their season back on track before the international break. The Light Blues were lethal last weekend, clinching a thumping 3-0 League Cup win against the Hoops. An SPFL ruling bars visiting supporters from Old Firm matches for the season, and Celtic, on the receiving end last Sunday, must take advantage of the home support. Predicted 4-2-3-1 Celtic Lineup To Face Rangers Martin O’Neill restored Viljami Sinisalo between the sticks against Ferencvárosi after Sam Johnstone conceded three goals at Ibrox. The Finnish custodian had a tough night in Europe, but should keep his place for his composure and commitment since succeeding Kasper Schmeichel as the Celtic ‘number 1’. GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MAY 10: Luke McCowan of Celtic vies with Tuur Rommens of Rangers during the Premier League match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park on May 10, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) Colby Donovan struggled against the Hungarian heavyweights, yet the young right-back could get the nod over Jordan Lotomba and Anthony Ralston due to Alistair Johnston’s injury. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales conceded six goals over the past two games as the preferred central defensive pair, and the gaffer must bring Auston Trusty back to the starting XI, replacing Scales to restore the left-foot/right-foot combination. The Irishman is also comfortable as a left-back, but a player of Kieran Tierney’s profile can’t be left out in such a high-voltage encounter. Midfield The Bhoys decided not to sign a deep-lying playmaker to challenge and cover Callum McGregor. The skipper, 33, is on the decline but remains irreplaceable, with no like-for-like alternative, even though the club brought in three new midfielders this summer. New Germany boss Jurgen Klopp has  rewarded Mika Baur with a sensational international call-up, and the young midfield ace must maintain his impressive run in the middle of the park. Benjamin Nygren must reclaim his ‘number 10’ spot, and the likes of Oliver Sorensen, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Luke McCowan and Joel van den Berg might come on as second-half substitutes. James Forrest was handed a rare start this midweek, but O’Neill should drop him and try versatile Camilo Duran on the left, given Yang Hyun-jun’s absence for the Asian Games. Haissem Hassan must showcase his flair and finesse from the right, with Sebastian Tounekti brought on from the bench alongside Forrest. Attack Kasper Høgh has been a disappointment up top, but a scoring spree against Rangers should ease the pressure off the Danish hitman. Shim Mheuka deserves more minutes as a ‘super sub’ with Callum Osmand ruled out with an ankle injury.