Celtic should dish out Old Firm revenge, says Vidar Riseth
The former Celtic man played at Parkhead when Rangers won the title in 1999
Vidar Riseth says Celtic should be out for revenge for the Old Firm nightmare inflicted on his side by Rangers in 1999 by clinching the league title against them on Sunday.
The retired Norway international played as the Hoops lost 3-0 to Rangers at Parkhead in a game where Dick Advocaat's side secured the league.
Riseth was one of two Celtic players given their marching orders on a day of shame for the Scottish game - with referee Hugh Dallas being struck by a coin amongst ugly scenes in Glasgow.
So fearful have the game's authorities been of seeing those violent pictures repeated, Scottish Professional Football League chiefs have desperately tried to avoid scheduling an Old Firm clash with the title up for grabs.
But Celtic's defeat to Hibs on Saturday means they will now host the Light Blues needing only a draw to wrap up yet another championship.
And Riseth believes that will finally erase the pain caused by his team's notorious defeat.
The former midfielder said: "There was a lot of pressure on us that day with Rangers looking to win the title on our ground.
"In the end we could not stop them and it was a horrible feeling. It was the worst nightmare you could imagine for Celtic.
"Losing at home to Rangers is really bad on any normal occasion, but this was a hundred times worse.
"There was a lot of shame after that match. It wasn't a good performance from us and that is the worst thing you can do when you are playing Rangers at home.
"I remember it so well because I also got a red card. It was just a nightmare.
"After I got sent-off I just wanted to go straight to the shower and stand there for half an hour because it felt so bad knowing they were out there celebrating on our pitch.
"Afterwards I went straight home and just tried to think about other things because what happened was the worst thing ever.
"But thankfully that was a one-and-only. It's not going to happen this weekend.
"The boys can get some revenge for all that by winning on Sunday and creating better memories.''
Rangers are a shadow of the star-studded outfit that swept to a domestic clean sweep in Dutchman Dick Advocaat's first season in charge.
Now Brendan Rodgers' team are the dominant force as they look to complete an unprecedented double treble.
And Riseth says the Ibrox side have no chance of causing an upset on Sunday.
"Rangers won at Celtic Park back in '99, but that's not going to happen this time,'' declared the 46-year-old. "Celtic are definitely going to win, so that's good.
"Celtic at this moment is much, much better than Rangers.
"I see almost every Celtic game as I have Sky Sports at home and it's always good to see how well they are doing right now.
"These derbies are always tough games and you never know what is going to happen.
"But I'm sure Celtic will win this weekend as they have the better team and that's the best feeling you can have going into a big match like this.'