Ex-Celtic striker Chris Sutton says he believes that tomorrow’s Scottish Cup semi-final tie against Rangers could well go to extra-time and penalties.
Whilst the Hoops have had the beating of their Glasgow rivals in the past two league meetings, Sutton feels Rangers’ form in the Europa League suggests that the cup clash at Hampden tomorrow will be a tightly fought contest:
“I think it could go all the way to extra time and penalties. There really isn’t much between the sides, despite the last couple of results. Rangers have stumbled but they have shown in Europe they are a more than decent side and anything can happen on the day. It will be down to who produces the goods when it matters, but it could come down to anything from a moment of magic or a moment of madness. It’s impossible to predict.”
Having the game at a neutral venue, with a 50/50 split in terms of supporters, does add a new element, which makes predicting the result much more difficult.
Whether it will be as close as Sutton predicts, though, we shall have to wait and see. Celtic do have injury concerns going into the match with Giorgos Giakoumakis having been ruled out with a hamstring problem.
It raises the prospect that Kyogo Furuhashi could start. The Japanese international has been out for the best part of four months so it would be a risk, but he could be the difference-maker in such a tight game.
