CELTIC AND RANGERS will resume their explosive rivalry for the first time in almost three years after the Old Firm enemies were drawn to meet in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals.
The clash, which is scheduled for January 31 or February 1, will be the first time the Glasgow clubs have met since the financial collapse of Rangers in 2012.
While Celtic are the reigning Scottish champions, Rangers have been on a long journey back from oblivion after being relegated from the top-flight into the fourth tier as punishment for their cash crisis.
The Ibrox outfit have risen back to the second tier Championship this season and their clash with Celtic will be an opportunity for the fallen giants to prove they are a force to be reckoned with again.
The last Old Firm meeting came in April 2012 when Celtic celebrated their title triumph with a 3-0 victory against a Rangers team that had been deducted 10 points and were battling for survival off the field.
The last meeting between the teams in the League Cup was also the last time Rangers won a cup competition — Nikica Jelavic’s extra-time winner giving them a 2-1 triumph at Hampden in 2011.
Holders Aberdeen will face Dundee United in the other semi-final, with both matches likely to be played at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
Meanwhile, John Guidetti’s rich vein of form in front of goal continued as his solitary strike sealed a 1-0 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle that moved the Hoops up to third in the Scottish Premiership.
The Scottish champions dominated the first half but a well-disciplined Inverness defence limited the hosts to long-range efforts from Virgil van Dijk and Scott Brown.
However, it took just three minutes of the second half for in-form Swedish striker Guidetti to fire Celtic in front for his ninth goal in nine games since joining the club on-loan from Manchester City on transfer deadline day.
A nervy-looking Celtic then survived a late Inverness surge to record their third consecutive clean sheet in the league.
