Chapecoense e Ceará buscam a redenção neste domingo, em jogo válido pela 3ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro da Série A. A Chape vem em situação delicada, haja vista que perdeu o Estadual de Santa Catarina, trocou de treinador recentemente, foi eliminada pelo ABC (equipe da Série D) e ocupa a última posição da tabela. O Vozão não fica muito atrás, já que sofreu duros golpes ao perder o Estadual e ser eliminado da Copa do Brasil pelo seu maior rival, além de ter perdido a Copa do Nordeste, dentro de casa, para o Bahia.
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Por falar em jogar em casa, o Verdão Oeste entra em campo amanhã para defender um pequeno tabu que existe desde quando estreou na Série A: a Chape nunca terminou a terceira rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro sem marcar pontos. E o treinador Jair Ventura terá problemas para manter esse retrospecto, haja vista que um jogador (seu nome não foi revelado) do time catarinense testou positivo para COVID-19. Outro problema de última hora é Geuvânio, que foi diagnosticado com uma lesão na coxa esquerda e está fora da partida.
Do lado do Ceará, Guto Ferreira também tem desfalques. William Oliveira, Jacaré, Pedro Naressi, João Ricardo, Messias, Jael, Mendoza e Gabriel Dias estão todos entregues ao Departamento Médico e não poderão atuar contra a Chapecoense. Mas nem tudo é notícia ruim para o lado do Vozão. Lima, Felipe Silva e Fabinho voltam e podem ser titulares neste domingo.
FICHA TÉCNICA CHAPECOENSE X CEARÁ Local: Arena Condá, em Chapecó (SC) Data e hora: 13/06/2021 – 20h30 (de Brasília) Árbitro: Vinicius Gonçalves Dias Araújo Assistentes: Evandro de Melo Lima e Fabrini Bevilaqua Costa VAR: Carlos Eduardo Nunes Braga. Onde ver: Premiere
CHAPECOENSE (Técnico: Jair Ventura) Tiepo; Matheus Ribeiro, Derlan, Laércio e Busanello; Moisés Ribeiro, Lima e Ravanelli; Fabinho, Mike (Fernandinho) e Anselmo Ramon. Desfalques: Geuvânio.
CEARÁ (Técnico: Guto Ferreira) Richard; Buiú, Messias, Gabriel Lacerda (Jordan) e Bruno Pacheco; Fernando Sobral, Geovane (Oliveira), Vina e Jorginho; Cléber (Saulo Mineiro) e Felipe Vizeu. Desfalques: William Oliveira, Jacaré, Pedro Naressi, João Ricardo, Messias, Jael, Mendoza e Gabriel Dias.
Whilst the majority of their focus will undoubtedly be on the Premier League title race with just eight games to go, reports suggest that Arsenal also have one eye on the summer transfer window and landing a player who is likely to be a champion himself come May.
Arsenal transfer news
The only guarantee of the Premier League title race seems to be that it's destined to go down to the final kick to create one of the most intense finishes to a campaign in recent history. After suffering heartbreak against a dominant Manchester City side last season, Arsenal are now on course to fall victim to Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool farewell tour, but just one bad result for the Merseysiders could change that.
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Away from the action, with or without silverware, Arsenal have set their sights on improvements this summer. Reports have mainly been centred around strikers with that killer instinct Gabriel Jesus so desperately lacks, with Viktor Gyokeres among those linked with a move to The Emirates. There's no doubt that he would add that clinical nature in front of goal after an incredible season at Sporting CP.
Sporting CP strikerViktor Gyokeres.
It's not just strikers being linked, however. According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, Arsenal are eyeing a move to sign Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen alongside Liverpool and Manchester United this summer following the right-back's impressive campaign.
Available for just £35m due to his release clause, Arsenal would be getting a player that clubs chiefs reportedly believe is a "bargain" this summer and giving current right-back Ben White plenty to think about in North London, despite his solid season. Frimpong, of course, has played a vital part in Xabi Alonso's unbeaten Leverkusen side and is on course to finally dethrone Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, only adding to the reasons why he's attracting the likes of Arsenal ahead of this summer.
"Incredible" Frimpong would add elements White lacks
Whilst there's little doubt about White's defensive ability, some questions can be asked about his capabilities going forward. After all, it's easy to forget that he is a centre-back by trade due to the incredible job he's done on the flank so far this season. But then the question should come the way of Frimpong. Is the Leverkusen man good enough defensively to step into Mikel Arteta's system and away from a back five in Germany? There's truly only one way to find out, though Frimpong's stats compared to White's still paint quite the picture.
Assists
7
4
Progressive Carries
130
29
Tackles Won
12
19
Interceptions
7
24
Frimpong's rise has been coming for some time too, with former Celtic boss Neil Lennon previously singing his praises. He said via the official Bundesliga website: "I've never seen a better kid than him. The quality of his play, the pace of his play, the end product. His fitness levels are incredible, I think that the fans have really taken to him."
Daniel Farke could well find he's put on the same pedestal as Leeds United icon Marcelo Bielsa if the Whites lift the Championship title at the end of his enthralling season, with the West Yorkshire side sitting pretty currently at the top of the perch.
Bielsa did manage to propel Leeds into a mid-table spot in the Premier League after winning promotion however, with Farke having to break his stage fright when it comes to managing in the top-flight – where he has relegated Norwich City previously – if the Whites do end up back there.
Still, not everything that that cult Argentine figure touched turned to gold with this one-time Leeds prospect, who was openly admired by Bielsa, now struggling to revitalise his career at the very bottom of League One.
Alfie McCalmont's time at Leeds
Despite being studied extensively by the South American manager – with the meticulous ex-Leeds boss revealed to have "spent close to 20 hours watching" clips involving the player, according to the Athletic's Phil Hay – Alfie McCalmont would never quite make the grade at Elland Road as a skilful midfield spark.
The Northern Irish midfielder would only go on to make two appearances in the first team ranks in West Yorkshire, having excited those who had watched him light up U21 pitches for Leeds.
Still, the now 23-year-old would go on to make just eleven appearances in the youth set-up at Leeds despite being hyped up.
It would result in McCalmont being routinely loaned out to cut his teeth elsewhere instead of ever flourishing at his boyhood club, succeeding all the way down in League Two with the likes of Oldham Athletic and Morecambe in short stints before the Whites then allowed for their highly tipped wonderkid to walk away as a free agent in 2023.
Now, McCalmont, who was once talked up as being "immensely talented" by former Leeds player Noel Whelan, is really struggling to get his Carlisle United team going right at the foot of League One with anonymous displays centrally.
Alfie McCalmont's time at Carlisle in numbers
It did start brightly for the ex-Leeds man relocating to Cumbria, the 23-year-old bagging two goals from just 16 appearances for Paul Simpson's men last year towards the end of their promotion-winning campaign from League Two.
But, coinciding with Carlisle collectively struggling to navigate the step-up to the third tier, McCalmont's performances have become less impactful consequently for his doomed team.
The 23-year-old hasn't even helped himself to a single assist from 28 league games in the third tier, with his goal output drying up also.
McCalmont's last strike for the Cumbrians dates all the way back to the start of this year versus Oxford United, where Simpson's men were unsurprisingly beaten 3-1 having lost 11 of their 13 games this year in the division.
28 games (15 starts)
1 goal
0 assists
2 'big chances' created
0.4 key passes per game
0.4 interceptions per game
1 tackle per game
37% total duels won
6.3x possession lost per game
6.63 avg. match rating
Whilst faces such as Archie Gray and even Joe Gelhardt in his prime have made the jump up to the Leeds first team look almost effortless from the youth sides, McCalmont will now be remembered for being the nearly man who never quite lived up to his hype in West Yorkshire.
In another reality, McCalmont might have catapulted himself into Leeds stardom like Gray and would now be a key performer for the Whites as they eye an immediate return to the Premier League.
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Instead, his lacklustre displays will see him back playing League Two football next campaign barring a miracle in Cumbria.
Goalscoring has long been a problem for West Ham United, with a consistent failure to sign a high-class centre-forward fit something of a problem for many years.
Jarrod Bowen has been in exceptional form this season and after scoring a hat-trick against Brentford at the start of March, David Moyes remarked that he could become the first Hammers player to reach 20 Premier League goals in a campaign. With nine games left to play, he would need six goals to achieve this feat.
Mohammed Kudus is also a sublime player and Michail Antonio thrives as the grizzled veteran dominating defenders with sheer power and deceptive movements.
The recent past, however, looks at high-profile moves for centre-forwards such as Gianluca Scamacca and Sebastien Haller and concludes that work still must be done to identify and acquire the best strikers to lead the line.
Danny Ings, Premier League-proven and innately effective in front of goal, was supposed to be that player, but the three-cap England international has failed to reach his former levels of success.
Why Danny Ings has struggled at West Ham
During the most fruitful period of his itinerant Premier League career, Ings plundered 46 goals and ten assists from 100 fixtures with Southampton, proving to be one of the Premier League's finest marksmen and being heralded as a "goal machine" by journalist Joe Prince-Wright.
Ings kept defenders on their feet, blessed with a strange, twisting sprinting style that sporting performance analyst Jonas Dodoo described as a "corkscrew action", allowing his body mechanics to lean into faster bursts of acceleration, effectively meaning he could weave round backlines and wreak havoc with his clinical shot-taking.
Former Southampton striker Danny Ings.
He left the south coast for Aston Villa but didn't spend much time with the Midlands side, transferring again to West Ham for £15m in January 2023, with the 31-year-old seemingly offering the steady goal flow that Moyes' side, hampered by the injury and absence of form to Scamacca, desperately needed.
Enduring one of the least potent spells of his professional career, Ings has only scored four goals from 46 appearances for West Ham, with his recent point-salvaging goal against Burnley in the Premier League – a good finish, mind – the striker's only strike of the season.
But why has this happened? While he didn't settle at Villa, Ings still posted six Premier League goals from nine starts for the club in the first half of the 2022/23 campaign.
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Moreover, he ranks among the top 20% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 25% for assists, the top 24% for successful take-ons, the top 12% for tackles, the top 10% for interceptions and the top 20% for clearances per 90.
He's not a dud, but The Athletic's Roshane Thomas has highlighted just why the £125k-per-week ace is flattering to deceive in east London, musing over stylistic issues within Moyes' tactical set-up.
West Ham's Highest Earners
Player
Salary
Kalvin Phillips (on loan)
£150k-per-week
Lucas Paqueta
£150k-per-week
Danny Ings
£125k-per-week
Kurt Zouma
£125k-per-week
Alphonse Areola
£120k-per-week
Jarrod Bowen
£120k-per-week
Sourced via Capology
“I don't think this system works for Danny Ings. He's often too isolated up front. Hasn't quite clicked barring his two goals against Nottingham Forest. Antonio has great work rate so he has no issues playing as a lone striker. But Ings has struggled in that role.”
Given Ings' high salary, it might be wise for West Ham to send him packing in the summer, and given the chequered track record with signing talented frontmen across recent years, Moyes may well turn to the academy, finding a prospect in Callum Marshall who would send Ings packing.
Why Callum Marshall could replace Danny Ings
While Divin Mubama is probably the highest-profile West Ham youngster right now, Marshall might just be the cream of the crop, with the 19-year-old Northern Irishman earning a loan move to West Bromwich Albion in January after some mesmerising efforts for the U21s, also penning a long-term contract with the Irons.
Indeed, Marshall plundered a ridiculous return of 16 goals and three assists from just ten appearances in the Premier League 2 this term, leading to praise from Thomas for his "brilliant form."
Admittedly, he's only featured three times for the promotion-chasing Baggies so far and has won just 33% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore, which perhaps illuminates the growth and development in regard to physicality that is still needed.
The Championship is tough, physical, unrelenting, but Marshall certainly has the trappings of a high-level goalscorer in the future and West Ham have moved diligently and prudently to secure him on a long-term deal and provide him with some invaluable experience at this maiden stage of his career.
U23 scout and reporter Antonio Mango has gushed over the "insane" attacking qualities at Marshall's disposal, and it does seem to be just a matter of time before he blooms into a centre-forward fit to lead the line at the London Stadium.
As he continues to absorb important lessons at the Hawthorns, cutting his teeth with West Brom, then he might just return to the capital with the confidence and level-up in his development to succeed in the Premier League.
Given Bowen's goalscoring prowess and Antonio's continuing success as a rock-solid presence in the final third, Ings isn't really needed, and if Marshall is provided with the platform to compete under Moyes' wing, he might just add the prolific dimension that Ings simply isn't offering.
Former England fast bowler hopes to become latest quick to rediscover form at Hove
ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jan-2020Stuart Meaker, the fast bowler who played four white-ball internationals for England in 2011 and 2012, has become the latest in a line of seamers to sign for Sussex in an attempt to get their career back on track.Meaker, 30, had a year left on his contract at Surrey, but director of cricket Alec Stewart agreed to let him move to Hove in order to pursue first-team opportunities.Once considered the fastest bowler in the country after being clocked at 95mph in ECB trials at Loughborough, Meaker has struggled due to a series of injuries, playing only one County Championship game in the last two seasons.Sussex has become something of a go-to destination for fast bowlers hoping to revive their careers in recent years. Chris Jordan, Tymal Mills, Ajmal Shahzad, Ollie Robinson, Aaron Thomason and Reece Topley are among the bowlers to join the club after struggling to realise their potential at their previous counties, while Ishant Sharma recently attributed his international revival to his time at Hove as an overseas player.Meaker made his England debut in 2011 as a 22-year-old, taking a wicket in ODIs at Mumbai and Kolkata, and toured India with the Test squad in their victorious 2012 series. He played two T20Is immediately after that series, but was soon “bordering on the yips” following various confidence-denting injuries.England have continued to monitor his progress. He has worked extensively with Kevin Shine, the former ECB fast-bowling coach, at the national performance centre in Loughborough, and played for the Lions as recently as the 2016-17 winter.”I am undoubtedly grateful to Surrey for the opportunities and memories I’ve had at the club since I was 13,” Meaker said. “I have been fortunate to have played alongside some of the greats of the game and in front of some of the best crowds the game has to offer.”While I’ve loved being a part of the wider squad and their successes the last few seasons, I feel now is the time for me to seek opportunities to get more regular game time and get back to enjoying the game that I love.””I look forward to being able to contribute to an already supremely talented squad of players as well as a team with direction and desire to achieve success and silverware in the future.”Jason Gillespie, Sussex’s head coach, said: “I’m really excited that Stuart has agreed to join us.”He gives us some real depth in our pace department and Stuart is very keen to show what he can do for Sussex.”As someone who has played international cricket in the past, we know what Stuart is capable of. Everyone at Sussex is really looking forward to working with him and seeing him perform strongly for our club.”
Shaw, meanwhile, has recovered from the shoulder injury he had sustained at the Ranji Trophy
ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jan-2020
Bhuvneshwar Kumar in his delivery follow-through•AFP
*Seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had been sidelined from the three-match ODI series against West Indies with a groin injury, has undergone a “successful” sports hernia surgery in London, according to the BCCI. He will return to India and will begin his rehab at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.Opener Prithvi Shaw, who was in doubt for the New Zealand tour after hurting his left shoulder in the Ranji Trophy, has now recovered and will join the India A squad there. The 20-year-old underwent rehab at the NCA, after injuring his shoulder against Karnataka earlier this month.Bhuvneshwar has been troubled by injuries in the recent past. During the World Cup, Bhuvneshwar had to limp out of the marquee contest against Pakistan in Manchester, with a hamstring strain, after bowling just 2.4 overs. He made a comeback in the semi-finals, but then missed the home series against South Africa and Bangladesh last year because of what the selectors had called a niggle.As for Shaw, he could also be in contention for the senior team’s Test tour of New Zealand, which follows the A tour. India A’s campaign will begin with a three-match one-day series followed by two four-dayers. Eleven days after India A finish their tour, the senior side will play the first of two Tests against New Zealand on February 21 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. This was the second time that a freak injury had disrupted Shaw’s career. In the lead-up to India’s Test tour of Australia in 2018, Shaw tripped on his ankle in the field, and was sidelined from the entire series. Shaw had gone to Australia brimming with confidence after a century on Test debut against West Indies. So far, he has just added one Test to his debut.Shaw had also suffered another setback in 2019, when he was suspended for a doping violation. He, however, returned to action in the 20-over Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and hit form for Mumbai.More recently, allrounder Hardik Pandya had been pulled out of the India A squad as his rehab was “taking longer than expected” and Vijay Shankar replaced him in the squad. Shaw will join Vijay in the A side in New Zealand as both players will look to make their cases for recalls into the senior team.7.10am GMT: *The story has been updated to reflect details about Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s surgery
At this stage, it's uncertain if fifth place in the Premier League will secure Champions League football next season, and while Tottenham Hotspur have a nine-point buffer over sixth-place Manchester United, jumping over Aston Villa will put any doubts to bed.
Ange Postecoglou has been vocal in his opinion that securing a place in Europe's top tournament is not the be-all and end-all, and while his words certainly ring true, supporters will yearn for a place in the Champions League to progress and compete against the best around.
After his fashion, Postecoglou will too. And in order to achieve this Spurs simply must defeat Nottingham Forest in north London this evening, having dropped points at West Ham United on Tuesday evening.
While he's a man bang in form, the Lilywhites manager might opt to move Brennan Johnson back to the bench; the Wales international has been a fitness concern after limping off at the London Stadium.
Why Brennan Johnson should be benched
Signed from today's opposition for £47.5m on transfer deadline day last summer, Johnson has been excellent for Tottenham and at just 22 years old, there is an exciting amount of room for growth.
He's been in a particularly brilliant showing recently but sustained a knock after opening the scoring against West Ham, and while he has been cleared, Postecoglou might be wary of aggravating the issue.
Brennan Johnson: Past Five Sub Appearances
Fixture
Result
Minutes played
Goals
Assists
Luton Town (H)
2-1 win
45'
1
0
Crystal Palace (H)
3-1 win
27'
0
2
Wolves (H)
2-1 loss
19'
0
0
Brighton (H)
2-1 win
28'
1
0
Brentford (A)
3-2 win
45'
1
0
Stats via Transfermarkt
Clearly, he's quite effective off the bench, and could make all the difference against his former outfit should the going get tough in the early stages – it certainly wouldn't be the biggest surprise.
Why take the risk after he felt discomfort last time out, especially with Dejan Kulusevski desperate to rekindle his finest form?
Why Dejan Kulusevski must be unleashed vs Forest
With Richarlison ruled out after tweaking his knee, Heung-min Son will serve as the focal frontman once again, meaning Timo Werner should retain his starting spot on the left flank.
Given that Johnson might not be handed a role from the outset, Kulusevski would be the obvious choice on the James Maddison's right after being benched in midweek,
Tottenham ace Dejan Kulusevski.
As per Sofascore, the Sweden international has scored six goals and supplied three assists from 28 Premier League matches this season, creating 12 big chances, completing 80% of his passes and averaging 2.0 key passes, 1.8 tackles and 4.1 ball recoveries per game.
Moreover, the 6 foot 1 star ranks among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for tackles and the top 20% for interceptions per 90, as per FBref, underscoring his prowess as a multi-functioning attacking player.
The 23-year-old has only posted a goal and assist apiece across his last 11 outings in the top-flight and this is a concern, but he's a veritable workhorse and will be determined to recover his form and enter a purple patch to close out the campaign.
Dejan Kulusevski for Tottenham.
Described as a "special, special player" by Sky Sports' Jamie Weir, he must be unleashed from the outset against Forest, bringing energy and dynamism to ensure his side hit the ground running.
Spurs were rinsed by star who earned more than Porro & Bentancur in 22/23
This stalwart bled the club dry at the end of his Tottenham career.
يلتقي فريق النصر، اليوم الجمعة، مع نظيره الرياض، ضمن منافسات مسابقة الدوري السعودي للمحترفين موسم 2024 – 2025.
وتقام المباراة بين النصر والرياض في الجولة العاشرة من مسابقة الدوري السعودي للمحترفين، على ملعب مدينة الأمير فيصل بن فهد الرياضية.
طالع..موعد والقنوات الناقلة لمباراة الهلال والاتفاق اليوم في الدوري السعودي.. والمعلقين
ويدخل النصر، بقيادة مدربه الإيطالي ستيفانو بيولي المباراة منتشيًا بفوز كبير على العين الإماراتي بخماسية مقابل هدف في بطولة دوري أبطال آسيا.
ويبحث النصر عن تحقيق الفوز على حساب الرياض لاستعادة الانتصارات في الدوري السعودي بعد السقوط في التعادل آخر مباراتين.
ويتواجد النصر، في المركز الرابع من جدول ترتيب مسابقة الدوري السعودي للمحترفين برصيد 19 نقطة من الفوز في 5 مباريات والتعادل في 4 لقاءات حيث سجل 20 هدفًا وتلقى 8 أهداف. موعد مباراة النصر والرياض في الدوري السعودي
وتنطلق المباراة بين النصر والرياض في تمام السابعة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والثامنة بتوقيت مكة المكرمة. القناة الناقلة لمباراة النصر والرياض في الدوري السعودي
ومن المقرر أن تنقل المباراة على قناة SSC EXTRA 2 HD. معلق مباراة النصر والرياض في الدوري السعودي
وأسندت القناة مهمة التعليق على المواجهة لـ مشاري القرني.
Manchester United legend and assistant coach Ruud van Nistelrooy has opened up about the most valuable lesson he ever learnt under Sir Alex Ferguson.
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Van Nistelrooy hired as Man Utd asst. coach
Summarises most valuable lesson from Ferguson
Tipped to take over from Erik ten Hag at Man Utd
(C)GettyImages
WHAT HAPPENED?
Van Nistelrooy worked under the legendary Manchester United coach, Ferguson, between 2001 and 2006 as the Dutchman claimed the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award for the 2001/02 and the 2002/03 seasons. The former striker is now working under Erik ten Hag as Manchester United's assistant coach and he has revealed a few valuable lessons he learned from Ferguson.
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WHAT VAN NISTELROOY SAID
Speaking to The Guardian, Van Nistelrooy said: "As a player, the most important thing I took from working with Sir Bobby Robson and Sir Alex Ferguson was their relationships with the individual. It’s not a football player; it’s a person. When you reach that connection, you get the best out of people – and from there on you can help them build their careers. I never let that thought go out of my mind.
"Sometimes you have to be tough on them and sometimes you have to get your arm around them. That mixture is important, but the most important thing is to always be honest and straight. When you have knowledge about the game and what is necessary at the highest level, you must share it.
"As a coach, you just try to help players reach their goals. And it is something that makes you feel really proud when you see young players develop. Gakpo went on to Liverpool and Noni to Chelsea, but there are a couple more from that time who are now in the PSV first team. The feeling I get when I see this is comparable with winning a league, really.
Getty/GOAL
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Van Nistelrooy started his coaching career as the assistant manager of the Dutch national team under Guus Hiddink and his latest job as PSV head coach was his first experience as the manager of a senior team. Former Manchester United star Dwight Yorke has also tipped the 48-year-old to take over from ten Hag in case of the Dutchman's untimely sacking
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WHAT NEXT FOR VAN NISTELROOY?
The Dutchman will now travel back to the United Kingdom with the Red Devils following the end of their United States tour as they look to begin preparations for the start of the Premier League.
Glasgow Rangers came back from the brink not once, but twice, to avoid defeat in the third Old Firm clash of the season at Ibrox on Sunday.
The first-half performance was as dismal a display that the Ibrox faithful have been witness to this term, offering absolutely nothing going forward, while looking shaky defensively.
Whatever Philippe Clement said at half-time clearly had the desired effect. Fabio Silva won a penalty which James Tavernier converted to make it 2-1, before Cyriel Dessers had a goal disallowed somewhat controversially.
Abdallah Sima did make it 2-2 with five minutes to go, yet Celtic went straight up the other end of the pitch and restored their advantage.
Enter Rabbi Matondo. The Welsh winger replicated his stunning strike against Hibs last weekend, but to a much greater magnitude, and it was worthy of winning any game, never mind securing a share of the spoils.
It was perhaps a missed opportunity, but considering how bad Rangers were in the first half, a point isn’t bad.
Several members of the starting XI delivered abysmal performances, however, most notably Scott Wright, who it was a surprise to see actually start the match.
Scott Wright’s game in numbers vs Celtic
The Scot had started only six Premiership matches prior to the Old Firm clash over the weekend. Considering Clement had Dujon Sterling, Ross McCausland, and a returning Sima ready to be deployed on the right wing, the decision was rather strange.
The former Aberdeen player had played just 20 minutes against Celtic this season, further evidence of his inclusion being peculiar, but Clement had obviously seen enough in training to warrant giving him a start.
Wright looked off the pace from the very first whistle, failing to contribute anything meaningful going forward as he and Tavernier struggled down the right flank, as you can see from the table below.
Goals
0
Assists
0
Key passes
0
Successful dribbles
0
Possession lost
4
The occasion clearly got to the winger as he completed just eight passes during the first half, taking 18 touches and losing possession four times.
In terms of providing Dessers with some service, Wright failed to deliver a single cross or attempt a dribble, while failing even to make a key pass throughout a dismal opening 45 minutes.
It was perhaps no surprise that he was hooked at half-time by Clement, with the manager unleashing Sima, who had a much greater impact.
Rangers winger Scott Wright.
This was the third occasion since the end of January that Wright had started a league match, before being subbed at half-time. It is clear he cant be trusted in games of this magnitude and with a title to fight for, he shouldn’t be in a Rangers' jersey again.
The 26-year-old was even given a dismal match rating of just 4/10 for his display in the match by the Scottish Sun, who said Greg Taylor ‘dealt with him comfortably’ throughout the first half.
Scott Wright’s statistics this season
It's fair to say Wright hasn’t had the desired impact since failing to secure a move to Turkish side Pendikspor last summer as he looked to fight for his place in the side under Michael Beale.
Since then, Wright has made a total of 28 appearances (18 from the bench) while scoring just two goals and registering zero assists, hardly the form of a player who deserves a start in the most important Old Firm clash in years.
Rangers winger Scott Wright.
When compared to his teammates, Wright currently ranks in a lowly 17th spot for shots per game (0.9) in the top flight, along with ranking 22nd for big chances created (one), 18th for key passes per game (0.6) and 16th for successful dribbles per game (0.4).
These are poor numbers across metrics which a winger should be excelling at, but Wright has been ordinary, not just this campaign, but his whole spell at the Ibrox side.
With seven Premiership games to go, plus a Scottish Cup semi-final clash (and potential final), every game is now a must-win if they are to win the league title this season.
Clement must make better choices with regard to who starts matches and, given his options on the wing are much better than they were due to injuries, Wright must be dropped for the subsequent games.
The players who can replace Scott Wright
McCausland is the obvious choice given how much he has played this season. Since making his first appearance of the 2023/24 campaign against Aris Limassol in October, the Northern Irishman has featured 30 times for the Light Blues, scoring twice and grabbing three assists in the process.
The youngster has also registered more successful dribbles per match (0.8) and more key passes per game (1.5) than Wright, showcasing how impressive he has been since becoming a first-team regular under Clement.
Rangers forward Ross McCausland.
While Sima has been typically deployed on the left wing this season, could he be an option on the right-hand side of the attack?
Matondo deserves some more game time after his heroics against Celtic, which could see him given a start against Dundee on Wednesday. Sima also had a wonderful impact when coming off the bench and certainly has earned a first start since recovering from his hamstring injury.
The on-loan Brighton and Hove Albion starlet has already scored 16 goals during his time at the club, offering a dangerous threat from the wide areas.
A wide duo of Matondo and Sima, combined with Dessers leading the line, could cause Dundee all sorts of problems, although they could be stifled by having to play on what resembles an Olympic swimming pool, judging by the state of their pitch.
At this stage of the season, performances simply don’t matter, securing three points is the main thing. Clement would quite happily see his side win the remaining seven games 1-0 if they were to go on and win the league title.
The Belgian will have found out a lot about his team following the 3-3 draw against Celtic. Starting Wright in any of the remaining fixtures shouldn’t even be considered, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him depart Ibrox in the summer.