---
title: "Opinion: Rangers have closed the gap on Celtic this week"
canonical: "https://readrangers.com/2019/08/19/opinion-rangers-have-closed-the-gap-on-celtic-this-week"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "Articles and Opinions"
published: "2019-08-19T08:17:02Z"
modified: "2019-08-20T14:31:40Z"
---

# Opinion: Rangers have closed the gap on Celtic this week

It was a week of footballing contrasts in Glasgow – Rangers in the blue half had a brilliant seven days with progression in two competitions; Celtic, on the other hand, had a bit of a nightmare crashing out of the Champions League and struggling in the Betfred Cup.

Celtic lost to Romanian side [CFR Cluj](https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/champions-league/celtic-crash-out-of-champions-league-after-rollercoaster-night-1.3985473), and they have missed out on the [Champions League money](https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/champions-league/celtic-crash-out-of-champions-league-after-rollercoaster-night-1.3985473) – they will now face [AIK Athens](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49365407) in the Europa League play-off round.

In the Betfred Cup Celtic required[extra-time](https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/sport/football/late-forrest-strike-ensures-celtic-16772784) to overcome Ladbrokes Championship side [Dunfermline](https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/sport/football/late-forrest-strike-ensures-celtic-16772784)– so they have had a week to forget.

It is very early in the season, but this could have been a significant period for both sides.

For Rangers, it lays down a marker to Celtic – that they are going to be [competitive](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4427034/rangers-steven-gerrard-europa-league-premiership/) on all fronts this year.

They cruised past Midtjylland[7-3 on aggregate](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49324007) with [Alfredo Morelos](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49324007) and [Sheyi Ojo](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49324007) standing out for Steven Gerrard’s side.

Then they showed their strength in depth – as Gerrard made [ten changes](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-match-reports/east-fife-0-rangers-3-18958029) to his side for the Betfred Cup game at East Fife, on a [plastic pitch](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-match-reports/east-fife-0-rangers-3-18958029) with a howling gale.

Perfect conditions for an upset but the Gers’ now have serious [strength in depth](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/glasgow-rangers/kader/verein/124) in most positions, and they ended up cruising through [3-0](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-match-reports/east-fife-0-rangers-3-18958029) thanks to goals from [Jermain Defoe](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-match-reports/east-fife-0-rangers-3-18958029), [Joe Aribo](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-match-reports/east-fife-0-rangers-3-18958029) and [Filip Helander](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-match-reports/east-fife-0-rangers-3-18958029).

The fact that Gerrard could leave both [Defoe and Aribo](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49324007) on the bench against [Midtjylland](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49324007) shows just how far [his squad](https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/rangers-fc/2019/2/) has come in the past year.

They now look ahead to [Legia Warsaw](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49324007) with a place in the [Europa League](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49324007) group stages up for grabs – if they can see off the challenge of Warsaw, then they have made a great start to the season and laid down a real marker to Celtic.