Celtic v Rangers: How narrative has flipped in just a couple days ahead of gargantuan match

Celtic can be excused if they feel somewhat confused at Hampden Park this afternoon. After all, were they not supposed to be facing an enervated Rangers side? The old rivals were meant to be down on their luck, on their uppers and set to be left begging for mercy by their swashbuckling opponents.

Celtic, meanwhile, had been cast as the ones in clover having established a six-point lead over their rivals with a 2-1 win at Ibrox earlier this month. Seven goals in their last outing only intensified the feeling that this was a team getting into their stride at a crucial stage of the season. Pity the wretches with the misfortune to get in their way.

Instead, it’s Rangers who will be waltzing towards Mount Florida with the ice baths and nutritional drinks presumably having had the desired effect after a strength-sapping Europa League quarter final second leg against Braga, when the hosts put themselves through an unnecessary extra 30 minutes’ work following a late lapse at a corner. It might be too early for the beach balls and sombreros – after all, they haven't reached Seville quite yet – but the Rangers fans will likely have something up their sleeve to recognise their status as last four European representatives. Their team are in an elite band of 12 clubs still involved in European football as they look forward to a semi-final meeting with RB Leipzig. Few saw that coming.

The expectation was that Braga would have enough to finish off the job they started at the Estadio Municipal de Braga two Thursdays ago. Out of Europe, needing snookers in the league, today’s Hampden appointment might well have signified a desperate last chance for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men to salvage something from the season. Players rarely