On Sunday lunchtime Celtic will walk out on to the Ibrox pitch with 50,000 Rangers fans baying for blood. The stakes, as always, are incredibly high. A Celtic victory would put clear daylight between the Hoops and our nearest rivals in the title race, while a Rangers victory could see them open up a five-point gap at the top if followed up with a midweek win at Dens Park.
If recent history counts for anything, a close encounter should be on the cards with only two of the last 10 meetings of the clubs being decided by more than one goal. Both of this season’s two previous meetings have followed that trend with Celtic emerging victorious by a single-goal margin on each occasion.
The weight of expectation on Sunday to shift the fine margins of victory in Celtic’s favour will once again fall on the shoulders of Japanese forward Kyogo Furuhashi. Thankfully, the prolific striker has previous when it comes to putting our city rivals to the sword, scoring the decisive goal in both Glasgow Derbies so far this season.
Since breaking his derby duck in January 2023, Kyogo has become a constant thorn in the side of the Ibrox club, etching his name on the scoresheet six times in his last six appearances against Rangers. To give further context to his goal-scoring prowess against our city rivals, Kyogo has averaged a goal every 76 minutes throughout his last six appearances in this fixture. A phenomenal scoring return.
Predominantly utilised as a fox-in-the-box striker under Ange Postecoglou and often capitalising on near-post crosses and cut-backs, Kyogo’s game has altered this season, sometimes to the detriment of his goal-scoring capabilities.
However, when it has mattered, Kyogo has stepped up to the plate to answer Celtic’s rallying call. That both of his goals against Rangers this season have come from outside of the penalty area is an added threat to his already impressive game.
We take a look back at Kyogo’s match-winning strikes in the derbies so far this season.
Rangers 0 – 1 Celtic (Kyogo, 45+2)
One point ahead of Rangers going into the first derby of the season, Celtic started the game with a depleted backline as Gustaf Lagerbielke partnered Liam Scales at the heart of the defence. After a rocky start during which Rangers had two goals ruled out, one for offside and one for a foul on Lagerbielke, Celtic gradually crept into the game as the first half wore on.
With half-time fast approaching, Kyogo latched on to a headed pass from Matt O’Riley and, on the bounce, struck a half-volley past the despairing dive of Jack Butland and into the corner of the net to silence an already agitated Ibrox support.
Having defended stoutly for the opening 45 minutes, Kyogo's goal two minutes into first-half stoppage time could not have come at a better moment.
Celtic entered the second-half looking more composed with a lead to defend as Rangers, under Michael Beale, struggled to break down the Celtic defence. On the rare occasion when the defence was breached, the Rangers attack found Joe Hart in imperious form as the veteran keeper marshalled his goal in style.
By the time the final whistle blew, the Celtic defence consisted of Ralston, Lagerbielke, Scales and Bernabei. A defence that would normally put the fear of God into the Celtic support had come through a major test unscathed.
Thanks to Kyogo’s wonder striker, the Hoops extended their lead over Rangers to four points.
Celtic 2 – 1 Rangers (Kyogo, 47)
Going into the ‘New Year’ fixture at the end of December, Celtic found themselves five points ahead of Rangers but having played two games more. Victory would extend that lead to eight points and mitigate the prospect of Rangers winning their two games in hand.
With the full backing of a rocking Celtic Park, the Hoops took the lead midway through the first-half through a blistering strike from Paulo Bernardo. The young Portuguese midfielder made the sweetest of connections to blast past Butland following a Luis Palma corner.
Two minutes into the second period, O’Riley played the role of provider this time, laying the ball into Kyogo who arced a left-foot shot into the top corner to double Celtic’s advantage. The Japanese marksman made the most of the space afforded to him by some slack Rangers defending before unleashing a world-class effort into the back of the net.
Despite Rangers pulling one back late on, the points remained in Paradise and Celtic extended their lead at the top going into the New Year.
Kyogo has shown time and again in big games that he doesn’t need many chances to score, and sometimes only a half chance will do.
As with the opening two derbies of the season, Celtic go into Sunday’s fixture with a slender lead to protect in the title race. You would not bet against Kyogo being the man to enhance that advantage come Sunday tea-time.
Kevin McCluskie // @KevinMcCluskie1