Seville Celtic v Manchester Gers

UEFA CUP FINAL
Venue: City of Manchester Stadium Date: Wed 14 May Kick-off: 1945 BST
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Scotland, full text coverage on BBC Sport website

By Clive Lindsay

Sutton and Larsson helped Celtic to the Uefa Cup final

Rangers are 90 minutes or so away from doing what Celtic failed to do five years ago - win a Uefa Cup final.

It is a comparison put in the spotlight by a traditional rivalry between two sides of Glasgow's Old Firm divide jealous of each other's success.

So, whether Rangers win or lose against Zenit St Petersburg, the arguments will still rage among rival fans about whose was the greatest achievement or which was the better team.

But BBC football pundit and former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin sees more similarities than differences between the two sides.

"Both are quite powerful, although Celtic were maybe slightly more so in terms of pure physique," he said of the Celtic side that lost 3-2 to Porto in Seville.

"Celtic played with two up front and were a wee bit more positive as an attacking force, while Rangers are based purely on defence.

It is not about who had the better players and better team. It is about who has the bigger prizes. BBC Scotland football expert Pat Nevin

"For Celtic, Henrik Larsson had a touch of genius and was the main man, closely followed by his strike partner, Chris Sutton.

"For Rangers, it is Carlos Cuellar and David Weir in central defence."

Nevin thinks Martin O'Neill's side were more talented than Walter Smith's Rangers.

"In particular, Rangers don't have anyone of the quality of Larsson," he said.

"But, for all that, what did Celtic win that year? Zip, if I remember clearly.

"Rangers have already won the CIS Cup and could have added three more trophies by the end of the season.

"Celtic might have had the better personnel, but Rangers have used it that bit better."

Weir and Cuellar have been vital to Rangers 2008 campaign

Nevin did not think that either side were great examples of the game at its beautiful best.

"The SPL was maybe stronger when Celtic were playing, because clubs were bringing in foreign players to power-up in an attempt to keep pace with Martin O¿Neill¿s side," he said.

"But it was more about physical strength and, now that there clubs have turned more to Scottish players, there is more football being played.

"I experienced it at the time myself when still playing with Motherwell and Kilmarnock and would have preferred to be playing now.

"I certainly prefer watching the football being played in the SPL at the moment."

Nevin thinks the managers were the most important ingredient for both teams.

"Walter has got so much from his group of players and played the right kind of game in the situation that he found himself in," he said.

"Martin managed phenomenal results in Europe, especially at Celtic Park, but he played in a very specific way.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Is tonight's final bigger than Celtic in Seville?

"Both were realistic about the finances and players available to them and maximised their potential.

"Maybe Rangers, whether they win or lose the Uefa Cup final, will have the greater achievement.

"It is not about who had the better players and better team. It is about who has the bigger prizes and that will become clear by the end of the season.

"If you were to put the two teams up against each other, although there would not be a great deal in it, I would back Celtic.

"But play this Rangers team against many Rangers teams of the past and you would back the sides that contained the likes of Paul Gascoigne and Brian Laudrup.

"That's not a criticism. It is meant as a compliment and highlights how Walter Smith's side has massively over performed."

Rangers v Zenit (likely): Neil Alexander, Kirk Broadfoot, Carlos Cuellar, David Weir, Sasa Papac, Brahim Hemdani, Steven Davis, Barry Ferguson, Kevin Thomson, Steven Whittaker, Jean-Claude Darcheville

Celtic v Porto (starting 11): Rab Douglas, Bobo Balde, Johan Mjallby, Joos Valgaeren, Didier Agathe, Neil Lennon, Paul Lambert, Stilian Petrov, Alan Thompson, Chris Sutton, Henrik Larsson