Who Has The Creative Derby Edge?

In tight matches the ability to create chances under pressure is key.

With the Derby approaching, which squad has the most creative threat?

This chart is a hybrid of xA data taken from Opta/FotMob and Key Chances data from Statsbomb. Both are per 90m.

I’ve included all full backs, midfielders, wingers and strikers likely to feature.

Tavernier remains, by a distance, The Rangers greatest creative threat. He has 0.14 Assists per 90m vs Celtic since 2015/16. Of course, like Turnbull who also features prominently, he generates a lot of these chances from set plays as opposed to open play. That will skew O’Riley’s data as well to a lesser extent.

Where The Rangers are struggling slightly to get productivity in the wide areas. Kent has 0.16 xA per 90m, Wright is peripheral, Sakala used as an impact sub despite good data, and Diallo not quite the “wonderkid” we were all told to expect.

In contrast, Celtic have Jota and Abada available. I suspect Maeda will play if fit which won’t add much to the wide creativity, but adds significant goal threat. Forrest will likely be on the bench.

With Barisic badly out of form and Bassey preferred, the home side will lose a lot of creativity from the full back area but gain physical strength and defensive solidity.

For Celtic, Juranovic and Taylor have been only slightly less creative than billion-pound man Kent.

Summary

Celtic appear to have the edge creatively especially against a midfield of Jack, Lundstram and Aribo. (By the way, I assessed the striker in this piece).

If it comes down to a set play creative battle, then Celtic may struggle on that score.

If Celtic have Turnbull and one of Rogic or O’Riley to come on from the bench, that may swing it if tight to the end.