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The Old Firm derby is the most important sporting event in Scotland, one of the biggest in the United Kingdom, and always draws a global audience. Celtic Park in the east end of Glasgow will be packed to capacity in time for kick-off as the Hoops aim to ensure home advantage counts. An away win for the Gers would make the title race even more exciting.
The latest reliable stats available at Flashscore show these warring neighbours have met 447 times in competitive action since 1890. In that period, Celtic have 170 wins, with 106 games ending in a draw, and Rangers claiming 171 victories. The clashes are always fast-paced, dramatic, and great fun to follow, but which side will land all three points?
The leading online bookmakers featured on the Flashscore app and website offer pre-match and in-play betting on Celtic vs Rangers. You can predict the winner or play one of the many specials, including both teams to score and first scorer. Glasgow-based football writer Frank Monkhouse brings Flashscore readers his Celtic vs Rangers predictions and best bets.
Celtic vs Rangers tips
Both teams to score @ 7/10 (bet365)
Over 2.5 goals @ 8/11 (bet365)
Odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
Follow the form and back BTTS
In such a high-pressure derby match, it often pays to stick with the stats. Flicking through the latest trends at Flashscore makes for interesting reading. Celtic last played Rangers at this venue in March, with the pair serving up a stunning five goals. The light blues won that day, taking the points with a 3-2 victory, thanks to goals from Raskin, Diomande, and Igamane.
Since that memorable win for the team from Govan, Celtic and Rangers have met three times. First, there was a 1-1 result at Ibrox in the Premiership late last season. Next was another level finish, a rare goalless draw on a forgettable afternoon. The most recent clash came in the semi-finals of the League Cup in November, which Celtic won 3-1 at Hampden.
Placing a bet on both teams to score would've landed you a profit in the previous Old Firm. It was also a smart approach in three of the last four and four of six. Switching to the form of both clubs, Celtic lost 3-1 to St Mirren and 2-1 at Dundee United, before beating Aberdeen 3-1 and Livingston 4-2. Rangers drew 2-2 at Dundee United and lost 2-1 at Hearts.
Tip: Both teams to score @ 7/10 (bet365)
Bet explanation: You need both Celtic and Rangers to score at least one goal each.
Plenty of goals expected in Glasgow
Having made a strong case for a bet on both teams to score, we switch to our second prediction from Parkhead. With an entertaining match expected, we play the total goals market, backing over 2.5 goals. With this wager, it doesn't matter which team wins, who gets the goals and when. If Celtic vs Rangers produces more than two goals, your bet lands.
A 3-0 home win pays the same as a 3-0 away win or a 2-2 draw. With this bet, you can celebrate every attack and cheer every goal. If things go to plan, you'll bank a profit before the end of the derby. Why are we so confident that Celtic vs Rangers will produce more than two goals? In a word, stats. Results in December show there are lots of goals in both camps.
Celtic opened the month of December with a narrow 1-0 home win over Dundee. They then lost 2-1 when hosting Hearts and 3-0 when Roma came calling. That 3-1 loss to St Mirren in the cup final followed, before the 2-1 reverse at Tannadice. The Hoops then beat Aberdeen 3-1 and Livi 4-2. Gers scored two at Tannadice, three at Rugby Park, and one at Tynecastle.
Tip: Over 2.5 goals @ 8/11 (bet356)
Bet explanation: If Celtic vs Rangers ends with more than two goals scored by both teams combined, your bet wins.
Visitors a value bet
For our third and final pick in Glasgow, we jump down off the fence to pick sides, and we're taking the value about an away win. As mentioned earlier in this preview, Rangers claimed all three points when last visiting Celtic Park. Wins certainly don't come easy here, but manager Danny Rohl and his men have a real opportunity to blow the title race wide open.
Rangers are no world beaters, certainly not this season, but they are moving in the right direction. Since Rohl replaced Russell Martin, the Gers have become stronger in defence, making fewer mistakes, and finally looking like a team that's pulling in the same direction. The visitors arrive with confidence, following solid wins over both Motherwell and Hibs.
New Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy suffered a nightmare start to life in Glasgow. The Frenchman replaced stand-in Martin O'Neill and immediately ended the Irishman's winning run. Nancy opened with four defeats on the bounce, beaten by table-topping Hearts, Roma in the Europa League, St Mirren in the League Cup final, and Dundee United on the road.
Tip: Rangers win @ 15/4 (bet365)
Bet explanation: Rangers must beat Celtic to secure a profit.
Celtic vs Rangers
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The odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change.