Shame about the one that got away...

ERIK SVIATCHENKO still rues the Old Firm goal that got away.

Six months on from his very first Celtic strike at Hampden, the Dane thought he had repeated the trick by scoring a near identical header against Rangers in the 2016-17 League Cup semi-final (above). As he ran off to celebrate he was halted by the sound of referee Craig Thomson’s whistle for a disputed foul on Clint Hill.

‘I always say that I scored two goals against Rangers at Hampden,’ laughs the Midtjylland captain. ‘Unfortunately the second was disallowed when the defender dived.

‘Clint Hill did the right thing — he earned his team a free-kick — but there was nothing wrong with the goal.’

The game was eventually settled by a sublime Moussa Dembele finish that simultaneously took out Rob Kiernan and Matt Gilks.

‘It was a frustrating day but we went on to win with a wonderful goal,’ recalls Sviatchenko. ‘I remember it started with a long ball out of defence from Jozo Simunovic. Leigh Griffiths put it across and Dembele scored a back-heel double nutmeg through both the defender and the goalkeeper.’

Initially it seemed like the national stadium might be a cursed venue for Sviatchenko.

His Celtic debut ended in defeat to Ross County in another League Cup semi and then came that penalty shoot-out defeat to Rangers in the Scottish Cup towards the end of Ronny Deila’s reign.

The appointment of Brendan Rodgers changed the outlook and Sviatchenko went on to raise two League Cups and a Scottish Cup.

He added: ‘There is something charming about Hampden. It is one of the oldest stadiums in the world so for me to play at such a historic venue was a privilege.

‘To be part of something special there was even better.

‘It’s not the most modern ground in the world but, even with the running track dividing the crowd and the pitch, it generates a lot of atmosphere. The split between Celtic and Rangers fans means there will be a special atmosphere this weekend.’