Where today’s semi could be won and lost
GREG TAYLOR V JOE ARIBO Taylor has been a whipping boy for a section of the Celtic support, who seemingly can’t forgive him for not being Kieran Tierney.
Yet the Scotland left-back has buckled down and thrived since the arrival of Ange Postecoglou.
The Australian’s system gets the best out of Taylor, whose energy and sheer doggedness have made him a perfect fit for “Angeball”.
Using Aribo (left) as a winger – as Giovanni van Bronckhorst did against Braga on Thursday – helped the Nigerian rediscover the spark which has mostly been missing since he returned from a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations in January.
The 25-year-old was Rangers’ best player in the first half of the season, but has scored just once in his last 13 games. So the assists he provided for James Tavernier and Kemar Roofe against the Portuguese couldn’t have come at a better time.
CALLUM MCGREGOR V AARON RAMSEY
Some players struggle with captaincy, finding the armband a burden. Mcgregor, though, has been inspired by it, leaving behind the lows of last season when it seemed he was carrying the world – or at least half the team – on his shoulders.
At 28 and approaching his peak years, Calmac is once again looking like the complete modern midfielder, always demanding the ball in the tightest situations.
Ramsey hasn’t had the impact Rangers fans had hoped for when he arrived on loan from Juventus, with fitness issues predictably leading to a lack of game time.
He scored a superb opener in the 2-1 defeat by Celtic at Ibrox a fortnight ago, only to fade out of the game.
But a solid 80 minutes against Braga suggested that the Welshman could be ready to make an impact today.
DAIZEN MAEDA V CALVIN BASSEY
With leading scorer, Kyogo Furuhashi, not yet ready to play 90 minutes, and in-form Giorgios Giakoumakis crocked, Maeda (below) could take centre stage at Hampden.
The 24-year-old has seven goals from 14 starts since arriving in January, while making a claim for the title of the hardest working man in showbusiness by relentlessly tracking, pressing and generally making a nuisance of himself to opponents.
With Connor Goldson still seemingly out of sorts, Bassey has had to accept more responsibility since moving inside. His pace and strength are his biggest assets and, now that Borna Barisic seems to have regained his confidence, he might remain in the heart of the Rangers rearguard.