ALTHOUGH the underlying numbers paint a picture of overperformance, Rangers were well beaten by Celtic in yesterday’s 4-0 Old Firm humiliation.
Much like the 3-0 defeat at the same venue in February, when Ange Postecoglou’s side scored three goals from 1.15xG, Celtic retained a clinical edge and recorded four goals from 1.55xG yesterday.
Mistakes and a severe lack of intensity played a huge factor in each concession. However, Rangers never boasted control or made their hosts feel an ounce of sustained discomfort.
Antonio Colak headers from Borna Barisic crosses were the only attacking weapon that threatened to burst the net. Taking away those two Colak headers, the visitor's xG stood at 0.34.
In fact, Rangers made just 11 successful open play entries into the opposition penalty box throughout the whole game as shown in the below action map.
Only five of those arrived by the hour mark with the cluster of slide-rule passes towards the right side of the box coming in the final 30 minutes.
By comparison, Celtic made 28 successful open play penalty box entries on the day. Their pass and carry map below highlights dangerous cut-backs, which created two goals.
Rangers did try to play the game high up the pitch and press from goal-kicks, but Celtic’s quick rotations usually provided a forward passing option.
As demonstrated by their first-half pass network, which provides an average location of where each player distributed from, Matt O’Reilly created overloads high up the pitch from midfield and both full-backs often remained wide to stretch the play.
The visitors were far less staggered in the opening, and decisive, 45 minutes. Barisic saw the majority of the ball, Glen Kamara dropped ahead of Ryan Kent and there appeared a lack of real structure to break down the hosts.
The best opportunities Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side fashioned fell to Colak, shown as the yellow and slightly paler coloured circles closest to goal below.
One open play cross from Barisic (0.19xG) and another delivery from a corner (0.11xG) provided for the Croatian who was unable to capitalise.
Contrastingly, Celtic scored three goals from 10-yards or more.
Liel Abada’s opener had an xG of 0.13, Jota’s goal 0.07, Abada’s second 0.21 and David Turnbull’s late fourth 0.42.
Van Bronckhorst’s side recorded 115 pressures to their opponent's 125 and 24 counterpressures…
…to their hosts’ 32…
Counterpressures are an attempt to win the ball back within five seconds of losing it. As the above action maps illustrate, Celtic's attempts often took place closer to goal.
The home side also made 58 regains through defensive actions, winning the ball back within five seconds of a defensive action, to Rangers’ 43. They were more aggressive out of possession throughout.
Van Bronckhorst said his team "prepared" for the quick restarts and general intensity they would face yesterday but failed to be "ready" in-game.
In deciding moments, Celtic made the most of their opportunities and throughout the 90 minutes, they completely dominated their opponents.
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