Rangers’ performance in Europe gives them an advantage over Celtic in the League Cup final.

he Scottish League Cup final suddenly feels like less of a formality.

Rangers’ only regret will be the event, when they once again try to puncture Celtic’s domestic dominance,

does not take place on a Thursday evening. Their performance in holding

Tottenham served as the latest example of Rangers excelling in Europe.

The consistent problem has been bringing such form back to the Scottish scene.

However, the 6-0 trouncing of Kilmarnock and 3-0 win at Ross County before Spurs visited Ibrox suggested maybe,

just maybe, Clement can have the last laugh over his many dissenters. Rangers could,

and arguably should, have beaten Spurs. Focus on them and their woes was understandable;

Rangers played with a bravery that felt like a throwback.

Results depict Celtic as an immovable object but there was defensive frailty even

during last Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Hibernian. Brendan Rodgers bemoaned

bluntness as Dinamo Zagreb scratched out a scoreless draw with the Scottish champions.

Rangers will arrive at Hampden Park with tails up;

a situation that will be sufficient for Celtic to know their level of performance is far from immaterial this time.

recovered from a rocky opening to the campaign.

The potential filling of that gap provides motivation. Yet this is also an occasion that must sustain and fulfil Rodgers.

Celtic compete week upon week in a desperately non-competitive environment,

meaning even the sense of a meaningful scrap has to appeal.

Celtic are not involved in nearly enough of them, despite regular claims to the contrary.

“We never expect just to turn up and it is a formality,” he said. “It is definitely not that,

irrespective of form going into a final.”