GLASGOW — Rangers and Celtic will renew one of the fiercest feuds in soccer on Sunday when they meet — for the first time in nearly three years — in the semifinals of Scotland’s League Cup. The rivalry, which has spanned 127 years, surely has seen better days.
Without doubt, Celtic have had the upper hand in the years since the clubs’ last meeting, winning two straight Scottish league titles after Rangers were relegated to the third division in 2012 as a penalty for serious financial problems. Rangers were expected to complete their climb back to the top division this spring, and thus reignite the clubs’ dormant intracity feud, but lately a new fight over money has imperiled even that long-awaited goal.
Two weeks ago, a large crowd of Rangers fans stood outside their club’s half-empty Ibrox Stadium, chanting into the night as snow collected under their feet. Around them, police officers stood at attention, camera crews followed every move and food vendors watched with feigned interest.
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Until then, fans of each side will relish Sunday’s rare reunion. They will gather in Hampden Park, and for 90 minutes the troubles in Rangers’ board room and the numb success at Celtic will momentarily vanish. From start to finish, the two sets of fans, who hate and secretly cherish each other in equal measure, will shout, scream and abuse each other as in the days of old.
A version of this article appears in print on February 1, 2015, on page SP9 of the New York edition with the headline: 127-Year-Old Rivalry Of Celtic and Rangers Resumes in Scotland . Order Reprints| Today’s Paper|Subscribe
