Kick-off: 1230, 08/04/2023
Stadium: Celtic Park
TV: Sky Sports
Glasgow is geared up for a lively lunchtime on Saturday when Celtic and Rangers meet in the first of three Old Firm clashes in the space of a few weeks.
This will be the third of four league encounters of the campaign – there is a Scottish Cup semi-final to come later this month – and with the Hoops nine points clear of their fierce rivals in the title race it will be celebration time in the east end if they win.
The visitors will be doing everything they can to spoil the party and a draw at 3/1 is our first Celtic vs Rangers prediction.
Celts on the march
Since a 2-2 draw at Ibrox in January, Celtic have won 15 games on the bounce including a 2-1 victory over the Gers in the League Cup final.
Their form was scary in the build-up to that Hampden match – in the nine games played, there were 31 goals scored and just two conceded.
Since then, they’ve still been winning but were not at their best last week when needing a Jota penalty and last-gasp Alexander Bernabei effort to see off Ross County.
Manager Ange Postecoglou said afterwards: “We were wasteful in front of goal and that keeps them in the game. It’s then edgier than it should be, but overall the lads handled it OK.”
It was the second game in a row that Kyogo Furuhashi failed to score and the division’s 20-goal leading marksman has not had a longer barren run since October.
The Japanese star is 10/3 to get back on track by scoring the opener in the Celtic vs Rangers odds.
Last Celtic line-up: Hart, Johnston, Taylor, Starfelt, Carter-Vickers, Iwata, O’Riley, McGregor, Furuhashi, Jota, Maeda
Gers banging them in
Michael Beale’s side have been almost as impressive since that January stalemate – winning every game bar the League Cup final.
They have scored 16 in the five games played after their short trip to Hampden but Beale, speaking after last week’s 2-0 win over Dundee United, said on RangersTV: “It was very comfortable throughout, but I’d like to see us score one or two more.
“The form is important. November was the last (league) defeat, so it is a long time in terms of doing well in the league.”
Beale did not say much about the defence although they have been breached by Kilmarnock, Hibs and Motherwell in recent weeks so it is hard to see them keeping out a Celtic side who have won 15 out of 15 on their own patch, scoring 47 goals in the process.
Both teams to score in both halves at 19/2 is worth a bet and is our final Celtic vs Rangers prediction.
Last Rangers line-up: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Barisic, Lundstram, Jack, Cantwell, Kent, Tillman, Morelos
Additional stats
Last result:
Ross County 0-2 CELTIC – Jota (pen), Alexander Bernabei
RANGERS 2-0 Dundee United – Mark Tillman
Head-to-head: Rangers 1-2 Celtic, Rangers 2-2 Celtic, Celtic 4-0 Rangers, Celtic 1-1 Rangers, Celtic 1-2 Rangers, Rangers 1-2 Celtic
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