McInnes will be in hysterics over the Rangers supercomputer prediction against Celtic.

Derek McInnes will have every reason to feel confident when Rangers make the short trip to Parkhead to face Celtic on Sunday, particularly after the way his side dismantled their Old Firm rivals in the previous meeting.

Rangers produced a commanding performance against Celtic at Ibrox, securing a convincing 3-0 victory and booking their place in the semi-finals of the Premier Sports Cup. That result gave McInnes and his players a significant psychological boost ahead of another meeting with their city rivals.

However, the two teams will meet again just days later, with Celtic now preparing to host Rangers in what promises to be another highly anticipated Old Firm clash. All eyes will be on Martin O’Neill as he attempts to find a response following a difficult period for his team.

Celtic’s recent results have done little to ease the pressure surrounding the club. Following their heavy defeat to Rangers, O’Neill’s side returned to Parkhead for their first Europa League league-phase fixture against Ferencvaros.

Instead of producing the reaction their supporters were hoping for, Celtic suffered another setback as Ferencvaros left Glasgow with a 3-1 victory.

That result means Celtic enter Sunday’s derby on the back of two disappointing performances, while Rangers appear to be gathering momentum under McInnes.

The contrasting form of the two teams would naturally lead many neutral observers to expect Rangers to enter the fixture as favourites. The Ibrox side have already demonstrated their superiority in the most recent meeting, while Celtic have struggled to find consistency.

Yet, according to Opta’s supercomputer, the numbers tell a very different story.

Supercomputer backs Celtic against Rangers

Opta’s prediction model has surprisingly placed Celtic as the favourites to win Sunday’s Old Firm derby despite Rangers’ emphatic victory in the previous encounter.

According to the supercomputer, Celtic have been given a 49.9 per cent chance of claiming all three points at Parkhead.

Rangers, meanwhile, have been assigned only a 24.8 per cent probability of securing another victory over their rivals.

The model also gives a 25.3 per cent chance of the match finishing as a draw.

Those figures will certainly raise eyebrows, particularly among Rangers supporters who witnessed the previous meeting between the sides.

McInnes’ team did not merely edge Celtic at Ibrox. Rangers controlled the game and emerged with a comprehensive 3-0 victory. Their performance exposed weaknesses in O’Neill’s side and demonstrated the effectiveness of McInnes’ approach.

Celtic have since suffered another defeat against Ferencvaros, making the supercomputer’s prediction even more difficult for some observers to understand.

Of course, statistical models are based on a range of factors and probabilities rather than simply reproducing the result of the previous fixture. Home advantage, historical data, player availability and numerous other variables can influence such calculations.

Nevertheless, seeing Celtic given almost a 50 per cent chance of victory will undoubtedly provide plenty of material for discussion ahead of Sunday’s encounter.

From Rangers’ perspective, McInnes and his players will be hoping the prediction proves to be little more than an interesting statistic.

The Rangers manager will also be aware that another Old Firm fixture can produce an entirely different contest, regardless of what happened in the previous meeting.

O’Neill searching for answers

For O’Neill, the challenge is straightforward but significant. Celtic need to respond.

The Hoops were thoroughly beaten by Rangers in the last derby, and their subsequent 3-1 defeat to Ferencvaros only intensified concerns about their current form.

O’Neill’s pre-match press conference before the European fixture also attracted attention, with the Celtic boss appearing visibly frustrated following the defeat at Ibrox.

The Celtic manager now has an opportunity to change the narrative, but the task will not be easy.

Rangers have already shown that they know how to hurt Celtic, and McInnes will likely be looking for another disciplined performance from his players.

The key question is whether Celtic can make the necessary adjustments in such a short period.

Home advantage could provide O’Neill’s team with an important boost, particularly with the Celtic support expected to create an intense atmosphere inside Parkhead.

However, Rangers will arrive knowing that they have already demonstrated they can handle the pressure of the fixture.

Naderi doubt creates Rangers selection issue

McInnes may also have a selection dilemma to solve before the match, with Ryan Naderi emerging as a doubt for the return fixture.

Naderi was one of Rangers’ standout performers during the 3-0 victory at Ibrox. His movement, energy and determination caused problems for the Celtic defence throughout the contest.

The Germany-born forward played an important role in McInnes’ tactical approach, helping Rangers maintain pressure on Celtic and contributing to the intensity that allowed the hosts to dominate large periods of the match.

His potential absence would therefore represent a challenge for the Rangers manager.

McInnes will need to determine how best to replace the 23-year-old if he is unavailable for Sunday’s fixture.

One possible solution could involve moving Minsu Kim into a more central position. The change would allow Kim to operate behind the main striker while providing Rangers with another player capable of linking midfield and attack.

Kevin Kelsy could then be used as the central attacking option, giving Rangers a physical presence at the top of the pitch.

On the right flank, Badredine Bouanani could also be handed an important role.

Bouanani possesses the technical ability and attacking quality to create problems for Celtic’s defence. His pace and willingness to take on defenders could be particularly useful if Rangers look to exploit spaces in wide areas.

McInnes will therefore have to decide whether to maintain the structure that worked so effectively in the previous derby or make adjustments based on Naderi’s potential absence.

Another huge Old Firm test

Sunday’s fixture promises to be another fascinating chapter in the rivalry between Celtic and Rangers.

The previous meeting produced a decisive Rangers victory, but Celtic now have home advantage and an opportunity to respond.

The contrasting circumstances also make the supercomputer’s prediction particularly intriguing.

Opta’s model may favour Celtic with a 49.9 per cent chance of victory, but Rangers will enter the match with the confidence gained from their recent 3-0 success.

For McInnes, the prediction can simply be treated as another talking point. His attention will be focused on ensuring his players reproduce the qualities that earned them such a convincing result at Ibrox.

O’Neill, meanwhile, must find a way to prevent another damaging result and restore confidence among the Celtic supporters.

With the two sides meeting again so soon after their previous encounter, there will be little time for either manager to make sweeping changes.

Rangers will want to prove that their 3-0 triumph was no fluke, while Celtic will be desperate to show that they are capable of producing a completely different performance.

Whatever happens, another intense Old Firm contest awaits at Parkhead, with tactical decisions, team selection and individual performances likely to play decisive roles.

The supercomputer may have its prediction, but the outcome will ultimately be determined on the pitch.

For McInnes, that is where Rangers will have the opportunity to provide the most convincing response to the numbers.