Sunday 12th March 2016 Kickoff: 1200hrs Celtic v Rangers Football – Scotland – Scottish Premiership It is the fourth Glasgow derby of the season on Sunday with runaway league leaders Celtic welcoming rivals Rangers to Celtic Park. Brendan Rodgers’ team have dominated the fixture so far this season and will be hoping to continue that as they attempt to wrap up a sixth consecutive league title. For Rangers it is all about restoring some pride against Celtic and impressing the likely new manager Pedro Caixinha who is expected to take over after this match. There may be 33 points between the two but you can still guarantee that the atmosphere and anticipation will be electric come kick off amongst both sets of fans.
Celtic remain on course for a domestic treble having already won the League Cup and being 27 point clear at the top of the Premiership. As it’s only a matter of time before they clinch the title, it makes the Scottish Cup the priority in order to become the first Celtic team to lift all three trophies since 2001. Nevertheless, there will be no let up from the hoops in the league as they continue to chase a historic unbeaten season with 11 games to go. Celtic have not dropped any points in the league since the middle of September which illustrates just how consistent and dominant they have been in Scotland this season. That dominance is emphasized by their form at Celtic Park where they are a perfect 14 from 14, scoring 36 goals and conceding only four. It really has been an exhibition at times and although they have not put as many teams to the sword recently, they’ve won their last seven to nil at home in the league, conceding just once in their last 11 – a hugely impressive defensive record for a team who are so often praised for their attacking football.
Rangers have been under the care of caretaker manager Graham Murty for over three weeks now following the departure of Mark Warburton. It has been a decidedly tricky spell for the interim manager with defeats to Dundee and Inverness before recouping somewhat with two home victories against St Johnstone and Hamilton. Only one of those wins have come in the league and it’s there where Rangers struggles have been most apparent. They currently sit in third place and are six points adrift of Aberdeen who sit in second. For a team who were confident of challenging Celtic for the title, it has been a hugely disappointing campaign and one that the new manager Caixinha will have to improve on next term. The short term goal is of course trying overturn the margin with Aberdeen and finishing second best but if they are to do that then it’s their away form that has to improve markedly between now and the end of the season. Rangers have managed only five wins from their 14 games on the road and have a negative goal difference. They come into this one having lost three straight in the league and with just two wins in their last seven – can they add to that on Sunday?
Celtic v Rangers Betting Tip
It’s hard to remember a time when Celtic were a shorter price to win a game against Rangers but that is an indication of how superior they have been in matches against them already. The first fixture at Celtic Park back in September set the tone when the Champions ran out 5-1 winners and although the following two have ended 1-0 and 2-1, the score line has not reflected just how dominant Celtic were in those games. Rangers have to try and find a way to upset Celtic’s attacking threat which has been overwhelming for them at times but that is only allowed to happen with their midfield getting on top. The two will meet again in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup next month and with the final league meeting also still to come, it could be an even longer season for Rangers unless they find a way to upset Celtic.
I just can’t advise backing Celtic to win at their current odds and happy to look elsewhere for a better selection. I have alluded to how good Celtic have been defensively at home and that has so often been the bedrock for their success as opposition teams tend to sit very deep and are seemingly happy to avoid a heavier defeat. I’m not sure that will be the approach Rangers take as they are a team built to try and go forward but that has played into Celtic’s hands in the previous meetings. Murty has a decision to make in terms of how to set his team up but, for me, I’m not sure it matters. A stat that has stood out from Celtic at home this season is that they have been leading at half time in 11 of their 14 games, going on to win them. That’s a record I can see continuing on Sunday and the odds against should be mopped up.
Celtic HT/FT 21/20 @ Coral
