Celtic appear to have found rhythm quickly. A perfect start matters not only because of the points, but because it points to a team already comfortable with its tempo.
The big question is whether that clean domestic run translates seamlessly into a one-off knockout game at Ibrox, where the emotional temperature can distort even the best-laid plans.
Rangers looked vulnerable early, but a run of four consecutive league wins has altered the conversation. Form does not erase deeper questions overnight, yet it does harden a side for a fixture like this.
If Rangers make this game scrappy, physical and emotionally charged, their recent domestic improvement starts to matter even more.
The report says there will be no away fans after a ruling, and that changes part of the spectacle. The noise will still be fierce, but the usual split inside the ground will be missing. That could help Rangers lean harder into home energy, while Celtic must create their own calm without that travelling support behind them.
This is still the kind of tie that can shape a season’s mood long before trophies are handed out. The winners move a step closer to silverware; the losers face an early wave of scrutiny before the next chapter of the rivalry arrives.