Sunday's Glasgow derby might not be the title-decider we've come to expect from these epic clashes, but don't let that fool you—this could be the most pivotal match of Celtic's entire season. With only four games left to play, manager Martin O'Neill and his squad have everything to fight for at Celtic Park.

At stake is a tantalizing double prize: a guaranteed spot in next season's Champions League qualifiers and the sweet satisfaction of knocking arch-rivals Rangers out of that same competition. That's the kind of motivation that gets players fired up and fans on the edge of their seats.

Here's how it breaks down: a win on Sunday secures Celtic at least second place in the table. That not only boosts their chances of catching league leaders Hearts but also pushes Rangers down to third. For the new American ownership at Ibrox, missing out on Champions League funding would be a major blow to their rebuilding plans—a scenario Celtic fans would relish.

Let's be honest, after a season of ups and downs, the nightmare for Celtic was watching Rangers walk away with the Premiership title and a direct path to Europe's elite. But with Rangers trailing by seven points and only three games left, that threat has faded. Still, settling for second place wasn't exactly the plan when the season kicked off, but in football, you take what you can get.

The stakes could get even higher if Hearts drop points at Motherwell on Saturday evening. That would make Sunday's derby even more critical—a chance for Celtic to seize control of the title race before facing Hearts head-to-head the following week. O'Neill knows that beating Rangers is essential if they want to shift the pressure back to Tynecastle.

For fans heading to the stadium or watching from home, this isn't just another derby—it's the game that could define the final chapter of the season. And for a club like Celtic, there's nothing quite like doing it at the expense of your oldest rivals.