Celtic 1
xG 0.87
(Jota 21)
Rangers 1
xG 1.82
(Sakala 67)
Rangers outperformed Celtic on expected goals in the match and this was largely down to the final spell of the game.
Throughout the season Celtic's performance in 60-75 minutes has been well documented and how it has dropped off in the majority of games. Celtic averaging 69% possession and 121 touches which is the lowest of the 6x 15 minute periods.
This game had 60-75 minutes again as the talking point however with a slightly different twist on it. Unlike previous games Celtic actually performed well in this period on the underlying stats but like previous games it wasn't productive in terms of goals for and against.
Celtic have scored 8 goals this season between 60-75 minutes (in the league) and that is the lowest of any of the 6x 15 minute periods. Prior to this game Celtic had conceded 6 goals during this period and this was the most of any of the 6x 15 minute periods. Therefore Celtic not scoring and Celtic conceding in this period was as per previous trends.
However in the 60-75 minute spell Celtic actually had 71% possession, 12 box touches v 4, 42 final 3rd passes v 8 and Rangers had 7 clearances to Celtic's 0. Celtic actually looked like they had kicked on a gear when the subs were made and then Rangers scored against the run of play.
But that goal galvanised Rangers and they finished the stronger team with an xG of 0.98 in those final 15 minutes. The goal definitely rattled Celtic and put them off their stride. In the final 15 minutes Rangers had 4 shots to Celtic's 1, 30 final 3rd passes, 8 box touches and no clearances (with Celtic having 4 clearances).
Two other noticeable trends where that there were very few box touches in the first 30 minutes with Celtic having 2 and Rangers 4 and Rangers having no corners in the first 30 minutes and Celtic having no corners in the 2nd half.
Celtic lined up with;
- Hart
- Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt and Taylor
- O'Riley, McGregor and Hatate
- Jota, Kyogo and Maeda
The exact same time that lined up against Ross County. Giakoumakis, Rogic, Bitton and Abada coming on as subs.
Joe Hart had 41 passes in the match and that was 10% of the team's total and the highest % in 2022. His previous highest was 7% and his average in 2022 is 5%.
Starfelt had the most passes at 80, Carter-Vickers had 98% passing accuracy, Maeda had the most xG at 0.35 (but 0 Post Shot xG) and Jota had the most xA at 0.5.
Lundstram had the most passes for Rangers at 55 and the best accuracy at 91%, Tavernier had 5 key passes and 0.37 xA and Sakala had 0.5 xG and 0.35 Post Shot xG.
McGregor had 33 passes which was 7.8% of Rangers total.
17% of Rangers passes were long balls with a 51% accuracy whereas only 10% of Celtic's passes were long balls but Celtic only had 40% accuracy.
Rangers won 81% of their tackles versus Celtic's 68% and aerial duels 59% v 41% in Rangers favour.
30% of the game was played in Rangers defensive third and 29% in Celtic's defensive third.
Although Celtic conceded in the 67th minute and rode their luck after that Carter-Vickers and Hart have still not conceded in the league in the last 20 minutes this season.
Celtic Trends 🍀📈⚽️
Tony@CelticTrends.com
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