Rangers v Celtic
Saturday 29th December 1230hrs
Football – Scotland – Premiership
Pick: Celtic
Bookmaker: Marathon Bet
Odds:103/100 (odds taken 16.15 GMT, Friday 28 December)
Scottish Premiership Betting at Marathon Bet
There’s no bigger game in Scottish football and it’s easy to make a case for the Glasgow derby as being the biggest game in the whole of the UK, and one of the fiercest derby games there is. Saturday’s game at Ibrox is shaping up to be the most important match between these two rivals for many years with just three points separating them at the top of the table. There’s always huge pressure and expectation surrounding this fixture so continue reading for a match preview and a best betting tip as Rangers face Celtic.
Rangers Preview
If you offered Steven Gerrard when he arrived at Rangers back in the summer a scenario whereby his team would be only three points behind Celtic in the finale game before the winter break then it’s a sure fire certainty he would have taken it. As it is, however, it could have been an even more positive situation had Rangers been able to take all three points at home to Hibs on Boxing Day. They were unable to do so, conceding a late equaliser, and it now makes Saturday’s derby game at home to leaders Celtic, that bit more important. Gerrard will be under no illusions that falling six points behind their rivals – who also have a game in hand – would make it extremely difficult for his team to land the title and although a win would be the ideal result, it’s now in the category of a must not lose. Alfredo Morelos was once again the player to get on the scoresheet for Rangers taking his tally to 20 goals before the turn of the year and if they are to get the win they need, then he will carry the expectation on his shoulders.
Celtic Preview
It looked for long spells of Celtic’s clash with Aberdeen on Boxing Day that Brendan Rodgers men would be dropping yet more points on their travels in the league. A game that was 1-1 for the majority of the time then erupted in the last 15 minutes, and when Willie Collum awarded the Dons a second penalty with just over five minutes to go the game looked destined to end in a 2-2 draw. The Hoops are champions for a reason, though, and they proved once again why by securing a 4-3 win. It should give the players great confidence and belief travelling to Ibrox on Saturday with a chance to further extend their lead at the top of the table. Rodgers will be anxious in relation to the fitness of influential full back Kieran Tierney who has missed the last number of games but he was able to recall a handful of key players for the trip to Aberdeen and it looks likely he will have the majority of his squad to choose from. The one exception to that is Tom Rogic who has left to join the Australian international team for the Asian Cup. He has scored three times against Rangers already in 2018 and his absence will be felt.
Rangers v Celtic Betting Advice
Celtic won the first Glasgow derby of the season, winning 1-0 at Celtic Park back in early September. It was Gerrard’s first experience of this fixture and he will no doubt have learned a lot from it. The Rangers boss has not been helped with injuries to several of his more senior players but he will give them every opportunity to be fit as the importance of this game and it’s bearing on the title race will not be lost on him.
Football is a game of fine margins and for a period of 10 minutes on Boxing Day, Rangers were top of the league. Celtic showed their class to earn the win away to Aberdeen whilst the Ibrox club ended up dropping a couple of points in their own game meaning that unless there is a very unlikely result on Saturday, Celtic will end the year on top. Neither manager will admit it but there is bound to be an effect of how both games finished carrying over into this match.
Rangers were passive in the first meeting of the season but they can not afford to adopt a similar approach to this game. Being at home and trailing Celtic in the league they’ll have to come out and take the game to their opponents, but that is likely to play in Celtic’s hands. The visitors thrive on space to break into and they have goals coming from all over the pitch at the moment which may just prove decisive. A key feature of this Celtic team is their ability to win crunch games and they can do so again here.
