Celtic and Rangers' matches this weekend highlight gulf between Old Firm clubs

The distance between Peterhead and Philadelphia – culturally and in miles – graphically illustrates the gulf that now so spectacularly separates the Old Firm clubs.

Celtic and Rangers' matches this weekend highlight gulf between Old Firm clubs
Swede dreams: Celtic will face Swedish side Helsingborg in the Champions League play-off round Credit: Photo: ACTION IMAGES

Rangers, who have been forced to accept a near-pariah status within the Scottish game since they were placed in administration on Feb 14, begin their first ever league campaign outside the top flight against Jim McInally's side in the third division at lunchtime in the austere North Sea fishing port, better known for its grim maximum security prison.

A few hours later in Pennsylvania, Celtic will meet Real Madrid in a glamorous friendly which will swell the Parkhead club's coffers whilst affording Neil Lennon's players a taste of the rarefied delights which could await them in the Champions League group stage if they successfully negotiate their play-off round against Helsingborgs.

Even Friday's draw in Nyon was benevolent to Celtic, who got the shortest trip possible from the five potential opponents, with the bonus of visiting a ground which has a statue of Henrik Larsson – idolised by the fans of both clubs – at the entrance.

Celtic, the only former European Cup winners in the draw, were afforded the novelty of meeting Swedish opposition for the first time in Europe, in contrast to Rangers' fortunes in the Ramsdens and Scottish League Cup where, in both cases, they will meet Falkirk, the team who ejected them from the latter competition less than a year ago. Well, them's the breaks, as the saying goes – and the contrast is likely to be maintained for some time to come.

The universal assumption is that Rangers will coast through the divisions en route to a return to the Scottish Premier League, although the reality of fulfilling fixtures at venues which are far less well equipped than their training ground at Murray Park is that it will be more of a trudge, especially in winter when exposure to the elements will be keenly felt at grounds like Balmoor Stadium.

Still, Peterhead's home will bursting at its modest seams on Saturday, with a media contingent of some 60-plus and, it appears, representatives from New York and France, if the club's accreditation roster is to be believed.

It should represent something of a culture shock for Rangers' latest acquisition, Emilson Cribari, the Brazilian central defender who formerly played for Napoli and Lazio. Registration papers permitting, the 32 year-old will make his debut against the Blue Toon in a side which will otherwise be similar to the team that beat East Fife 4-0 at Ibrox in the Scottish League Cup on Tuesday.

Ally McCoist was chipper enough about the prospect on Friday and his only doubt concerned Ross Perry, who has not been able to overcome a niggling calf problem. “The squad is very much the same but Ross is struggling a bit. He went for a scan and there’s a slight tear there so he’s going to be out for a couple of weeks,” said the Ibrox manager.

In the SPL, the absence of Celtic and Rangers prompted calls for fans in the rest of the division to show their solidarity by turning out in numbers this weekend. Aberdeen are hopeful of a substantial gate for the visit of Ross County but the most obvious attraction is the first Edinburgh derby of the season tomorrow at Easter Road, where Hibernian must face not only their city neighbours and rivals but also the team who crushed them when they met in May in the first Scottish Cup final meeting of the two capital clubs since 1896.

Hibs were unimpressive in their opening league outing – a 3-0 defeat by Dundee United at Tannadice last Sunday and their manager, Pat Fenlon, was scathing and bemused in equal parts afterwards. Hearts, by contrast, were comfortable winners in their 2-0 home victory over St Johnstone and go into this encounter confident that they can continue to set the pace in Edinburgh.