The Celtic midfield masterclass that spoiled Malik Tillman Rangers return hype - the tactics behind Hampden clash

It was a very Celtic victory. A very Ange Postecoglou performance. Demonstrating all the strengths – and a few of the weaknesses – we’ve come to expect from his team.

The first major trophy of the season went to the Hoops because they had more of the ball, controlled key areas of a sticky Hampden pitch not overly suited to their style – and rode out the storm that hit once Rangers got a grip of themselves. Above all, Celtic looked the more rounded, better-drilled team. Especially in the department where so many games are decided.

The midfield three of Callum McGregor, Aaron Mooy and Reo Hatate ran through, around and over the top of the Rangers trio of John Lundstram, Glen Kamara and – especially – Malik Tillman to take control where it mattered. Time and again, Hatate and Mooy were able to get on the ball in the space between the Rangers midfield and defence.

Photo 1, from early in a move that ended with a poor Jota shot, showed just how ragged the Light Blues were controlling this key area.

The spacing between all three Rangers lines – back four, midfield three and forward trio – was all over the place, as Photo 2 (a snapshot replicated repeatedly in the game) shows. Giving Celtic captain McGregor that much time and space on the ball can’t have been part of Beale’s plan.

Celtic’s opening goal may have been scored by the irrepressible Kyogo Furuhashi, meanwhile. But it was made by a midfield that, in Ange-ball terms, has to include the full-backs.

Look at Photo 3 and you’ll see how easy it was for Hatate, who had ridden a challenge from Lundstram, to find Mooy in that golden zone in front of the defence.

From there, it’s a case of the Aussie turning and driving at the back four, before finding Taylor overlapping