Rangers v Celtic
Sunday 1st September 1200hrs
Football – Scotland–Premiership
Pick Both teams to score
Bookmaker Marathon Bet
Odds: 5/6 (odds taken 16.00 GMT, Saturday 31 August)
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13/10 | 23/10 | 2/1 |
* (Betting Odds were taken from 22Bet on August 31, 2019 at 16.00)
It’s arguably the biggest derby in Europe and coming so early in the season makes this particularly interesting. Both Rangers and Celtic have 100% records coming into this but something will have to give at the end of what will be a pulsating 90 minutes.
Scottish Premiership Betting at Marathonbet
Rangers Preview – Can Rangers go top by winning their third straight home game against Celtic?
It’s been a really strong start to the season for Steven Gerrard’s men who have yet to be behind at any stage domestically or in Europe. Having finished nine points behind Celtic last season there was plenty of hope around Ibrox that this could be the year and their first league title since being liquidated in 2012. Three wins has them level on points with the champions and they have a chance to go top alone if they can win on Sunday. There will be a lot of confidence that they can get all three points having beaten Celtic at home twice in the last campaign.
Their only home game in the league so far this term was a 6-1 thrashing of Hibernian but they have won all four Europa League qualifiers as well. The most recent of this was the nervy 1-0 success at home to Legia Warsaw on Thursday – a win that qualifies them for the group stages for a second year in a row.
What Gerrard has going into this game that he perhaps did not have last season is plenty of options. They may not have the same quality of player as Celtic but they have a lot of depth. Whoever gets the nod will be expected to deliver and take Rangers top.
Celtic Preview – Will Celtic continue excellent start to league campaign with a win at the home of their biggest rivals?
Like their arch rivals, Celtic also clinched a place in the group stages of the Europa League but done so in much easier circumstances as they beat Swedish champions AIK 6-1 on aggregate. It was further indication of how good and potent Celtic are going forward. But there was also evidence of how vulnerable they can be in defence. The goal the Hoops conceded means they have now kept just one clean sheet in their last eight games which will be concerning for Neil Lennon. The Celtic manager could well be without his best defender for this game as well as Kristoffer Ajer went off injured in midweek. There are also likely to be two, if not three, of the back four making their Glasgow derby debut.
Going forward this is as good as Celtic have looked in a while. The form of Odsonne Edouard and James Forrest particularly will be pleasing for Lennon whilst Ryan Christie also continues to impress. All three will be crucial to the champions chances of ending their Ibrox hoodoo from last season and getting what would be a valuable three points to go into the international break with a lead over Rangers.
Key-Facts – Rangers v Celtic
- Rangers have won their first three league games and can replace Celtic at the top of the table with another victory on Sunday
- Celtic continue to set the pace in Scotland courtesy of a better goal difference but they continue to look suspect in defence
- The Ibrox club won both home fixtures against Celtic last season and will be looking to make home advantage count again
Rangers v Celtic Betting Advice
Since the away allocations for supporters was limited to just a few hundred this fixture has went the way of the home team all four times. Rangers were by far the better team in the two Ibrox games last season and got real joy in flooding the midfield, essentially outnumbering Celtic in that area. Lennon will have to find a way of countering that otherwise a similar outcome is likely. Rangers have been defensively sound for the most part this season and have kept four consecutive clean sheets. This is going to be their biggest test in that respect as well though.
Although Celtic had another clean sweep of the domestic trophies last season they would have been wounded by the performances here at Ibrox. They never scored a goal and turned in two turgid displays. The form their forward players are in suggest they can trouble their opponent’s much more. At the other end, though, they look vulnerable. Putting that together and both teams to score looks the best bet at noon on Sunday.
