NIR BITTON is so young that he can't even remember his countryman scoring in an Old Firm game.
Eyal Berkovic, in fact, got a double for Celtic in that 4-2 victory for Rangers back in November 1999 when his fellow Israeli was just eight years old.
Bitton, though, is well versed on the overall history of the fixture, with the Old Firm derby capturing the imagination of the Israeli football-watching public who would apparently look forward to it the way the rest of the world tunes in to Barcelona versus Real Madrid. The 23 year-old is now looking forward to his first experience of the rivalry tomorrow when the sides meet in the League Cup semi-final at Hampden.
"I was too young to remember the Berkovic goals," he admitted, making a room full of reporters feel very old indeed. "I just remember the game Beram [Kayal] played in his first season. Everyone knows this is one of the biggest games in the world.
"I remember when I was in Israel and the game was live when Rangers were in the [Premier League] and everyone was like, 'oh my God, Celtic versus Rangers'.
"All over the world people watch this - a lot of people have asked me for tickets for this game and everyone is looking forward it. Everybody is looking forward to it. It is a big game for the fans, for the club and there has been great competition between the two clubs since before I was born."
Bitton admitted he did not know a great deal about this Rangers side but still expected a difficult match.
"We just know that in one game everything is possible. Even if you are playing against a team in the [Championship] it is going to be difficult for us. Everyone expects us to win but it will not be easy the way that everyone is thinking."
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