Celtic v Glasgow City: More than a cup final
One side is chasing history, while the other wishes to avoid an unwanted record in Sunday's Scottish Women's Cup final
On Sunday, Celtic attempt to make history, while Glasgow City bid to avoid a trophyless season for the first time since 2005.
Silverware is up for grabs in what will be the 50th Scottish Women’s Cup final. But this weekend at Tynecastle will also answer a question of both Glasgow sides.
For the first time ever, Rangers are league champions. City, usurped from top spot for the first time in 14 years, finished best of the rest, seven points behind.
Yet if Celtic can add a second trophy to the SWPL Cup they won against City in December, it completes a very successful campaign for Fran Alonso’s side and leaves the once mighty City very much in the shade behind their west coast rivals.
It’s a competition that hasn’t given either side much joy in recent years.
City have been holders for over two years now after a 4-3 win over Hibs in 2019, with covid postponing the competition since then. But that was their first win since 2015.
Once part of a domestic treble, it now offers their only chance of a trophy. That’s not something City players are used to. For the past 17 years they have won 14 league titles, eight Scottish Women’s Cups and six SWPL Cups. And it likely would have been more had covid not wiped out a number of competitions.
They marched to the final with a 9-0 thrashing of Queen’s Park, a 6-0 win over Hamilton Academical, an 8-0 romp over Stirling University before a more difficult 3-1 win in the last four against Partick Thistle.
Celtic had a tougher route to the final. Although Edinburgh City were dismissed 12-0, Rangers (2-1), Aberdeen (2-0) and Hearts (2-0) all stood in their way.
Alonso landed the club’s first trophy since 2010, and now he is eyeing their first ever cup double, in a competition they have never won.
The two Glasgow sides have met four times already this season with Glasgow City winning two of the matches. Celtic drew with Glasgow City in their first meeting then Celtic went on to win the SWPL Cup final at Firhill 1-0.
Both teams have been in fantastic form all season with Glasgow City being undefeated in 15 games. Celtic on the other hand suffered their first defeat in nine games after losing against Old Firm Rangers on the final day of the season. Both keepers also kept eight clean sheets between February and now.
Who to watch out for
Prisicilla Chinchilla and Laura Davidson will be Glasgow City’s biggest attacking threats. The forwards have a combined goal tally of 52 and 31 assists across all competitions this year. The duo have been integral to Glasgow City this season and it is hard to picture where they would be without them.
Both players made the score sheet in their 3-1 win against Partick Thistle in the semi-final and will be hoping to do the same on Sunday.
Celtic’s Jacynta Galabadaarachchi has been sensational since her arrival in February 2021. The 20-year-old’s pace alongside her ability to effortlessly glide through defences earned her not only the status of player of the year at Celtic but at the PFA awards as well.
Her attacking is relentless, and she could be a huge thorn in Glasgow City’s side.