Celtic (home)
- Celtic have won their last 5 games in all competitions, scoring 10 goals in that sequence.
- Celtic’s recent home form includes 3 consecutive wins and a 6-2 extra-time thrashing of Saint Mirren in the Scottish FA Cup.
- Celtic are still four points better off than 3rd-placed Rangers in the table and have won 13, drawn 1 and lost only 3 of their 17 home league fixtures this term.
Rangers (away)
- Rangers have won 3 and lost 2 of their last 5 matches, defeating Falkirk 6-3 but losing their back-to-back league games against Motherwell (2-3) and Hearts (1-2).
- The Light Blues have played with a fluid structure, switching between 3-4-3 and 4-2-3-1, pressing high and playing direct football when they have possession.
- Rangers have been excellent travellers this season, conceding just 1.00 goal per away game on average, but they have won only 1 and lost 1 of their last two Premiership road games.
Head-to-Head
- The Hoops have won 2, lost 1 and drawn 2 of the last 5 Old Firm games.
- It’s a classic tactical matchup between Celtic’s containment and set-piece prowess against Rangers’ high-tempo pressing and ability on the break.
Key Players
- With Maeda and O’Riley providing the spark for the home side and Dujon Sterling doing the same for Rangers, we’re expecting a fiercely contested game.
- Maeda is just as likely to get a goal as anyone on the field because of the way the Japanese playmaker unlocks defences.
- Sterling is Rangers’ highest Championship Round scorer with 1 goal in 2 appearances.
Betting Insights
- Celtic are slightly favored to win at 2.1, although we’d rather take Rangers at 3.2 with the draw available at 3.58.
- The two sides have averaged 2.0 goals per game in the last 5 meetings between these Old Firm rivals, which is why the Over 2.5 goals market is heavily favoured at 1.47.
Prediction
- It’s a fixture that carries far more psychological and league impact than an ordinary game, so that could influence the result, but we’re going to play the percentages on this one and go for an away win.
- Celtic have scored 37 goals in 17 home Premiership games this season and average over two goals per fixture at Celtic Park, so should outscore Rangers on Sunday.
