Vidar Riseth wants Celtic to avenge 1999 loss to Rangers.
Former Celtic defender Vidar Riseth has told BBC Sport that he expects his former side to beat Old Firm rivals Rangers on Sunday afternoon – and exact revenge on the Gers by holding aloft the Scottish Premiership trophy.
Riseth was part of the Celtic side that were beaten 3-0 by the Gers in 1999, which in turn saw the Light Blues hold aloft the league trophy at Celtic Park thanks to goals from Jorg Albertz and a brace from Neil McCann.
Brendan Rodgers’ side go into Sunday’s match with the chance to clinch the league at the hands of Rangers, just a fortnight after demolishing Graeme Murty’s side 4-0 at Hampden Park in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
Riseth, who played for Celtic for two years between 1998 and 2000, expects Rodgers’ side to win as Celtic are “much better than Rangers” at this point in time.
“Rangers won at Celtic Park in ’99, but that’s not going to happen this time,” Riseth said. “Celtic are definitely going to win, so that’s good. Celtic at this moment is much, much better than Rangers.
“These derbies are always tough games and you never know what is going to happen. But I’m sure Celtic will win this weekend as they have the better team and that’s the best feeling you can have going into a big match like this.”
Rangers come into the match after a tumultuous month that has seen the club suspend duo Kenny Miller and Lee Wallace following a dressing-room fracas after the 4-0 loss to Celtic.
The Gers are also suffering somewhat of a crisis at centre-back, with David Bates and Bruno Alves sidelined, while Wallace is suspended.
Murty’s side will find belief from their 2-1 win over Hearts last time out, while Celtic lost to Hibernian. However, the Hoops are unbeaten in their 10 meetings between the two sides since Rangers gained promotion back to the top tier of Scottish football.
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