The Old Firm derby takes place this weekend in the Scottish Premiership as the year comes to an end, and both teams are highly motivated ahead of this clash. Celtic holds the advantage, but they have not been as impressive as Rangers in the last few weeks, and they risk losing their lead at the top. Brendan Rodgers beat Rangers away from home back in September, and he would be eyeing another league win over his arch-rivals. Can Rangers bag their eighth consecutive win at the Celtic Park or will the Bhoys get the job done at home?
| ℹ️ Tournament: | Scottish Premiership 2023-24, Round 21 |
| 🏟️ Venue: | Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland |
| 🗓️ Date: | 30 December 2023 |
| ⏰ Time: | 12:30 p.m. UTC on Saturday |
The home advantage plays a key role in this derby and Celtic is the favorite to win with a value of 2.15 (23/20) on a home win. Rangers have been exciting towards the end of the year and a win for the visitors is valued at 3.00 (2/1) on the Scottish Premiership betting odds. Betting on a draw on the Celtic vs Rangers odds is worth 3.60 (13/5). Try offshore accounts betting options for this.
Both teams have met six times in 2023, and Celtic has come out on top with four wins while Rangers grabbed only one win, which came at the Ibrox Stadium. Celtic leads in the overall head-to-head record, winning more than half of the Old Firm derbies. Kyogo Furuhashi was the star of the show the last time these two teams met as he gifted his side all three points with a first-half strike. Celtic remains the favorite to win the league on the SPFL 23/24 predictions.
Celtic made it two consecutive wins with a 3-0 victory over Dundee FC to retain their spot at the top of the table. The Bhoys have won the last two editions of the Scottish Premiership and are bidding for a third successive title. Celtic failed to qualify for the knockouts of the UEFA Champions League, finishing at the bottom of Group E, and now they have to focus on domestic commitments. Brendan Rodgers’ team knocked out Rangers from the Scottish FA Cup to reach the finals, and they have been at the top of Scottish football this season. Celtic dropped points to Kilmarnock and Hearts this month, but with two wins in a row, they can be confident of a result against Rangers.
James McCarthy and Liel Abada are the only players absent from the Celtic squad for this derby, and they do not have a major role in the team. Brendan Rodgers is expected to line up in his usual 4-3-3 with the impressive Luis Palma up top alongside Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furihashi.
Rangers are currently second in the league, and they sit just five points behind Celtic despite playing two games less. The Teddy Bears have won their last seven games in all competitions, and they can go top of the league if they win their outstanding games. Rangers pulled off an impressive win in the UEFA Europa League, beating Real Betis 3-2 away from home on the final day to finish top of Group C. Philippe Clement’s team finished the campaign as runners-up last season. Still, with Celtic dropping points recently, they have a good chance to add to their trophy cabinet. Rangers need to end their poor run at Celtic Park as they haven’t won here in the league since October 2020.
Philippe Clement’s team has been battling with injuries, and they have eight players on the sidelines ahead of this derby against Celtic. John Lundstram is the biggest name absent from the Rangers squad and his return date is set for January next year.
3 (100%)
0
Celtic and Rangers are the two best teams in Scotland, and they are the main contenders for the title each year. They arrive in this fixture in good form, and this game has the potential to serve up an exciting encounter. Celtic has scored 48 goals in just 20 league games, and they are the league’s leading scorers. Rangers aren’t far behind on the scoring charts, and they are averaging 2.05 goals every 90 minutes in the league. The last Old Firm derby at the Celtic Park ended in a five-goal thriller as Celtic claimed all three points in a 3-2 win. Backing both teams to score and this game to end with 3+ goals is a very good option in the Celtic vs Rangers betting tips.
0
(100%) 1
Celtic took all three points the last time both teams met in a narrow 1-0 win, but the game was evenly balanced, with both teams creating equal chances. Rangers has gotten better since then and their main aim would be to avoid a loss at the Celtic Park. The Gers are in very good form, and they haven’t lost in their last 17 games in all competitions, but playing away at Celtic Park is a very tough task for any team in the league. While the Rangers are in good form to earn a result here, the Celtic can also match their efforts, and both teams will likely settle for a point. A bet on the Old Firm derby to end in a draw has outstanding value on the Celtic vs Rangers odds.
1 (100%)
0
Luis Palma is one of the best players in the Scottish Premiership this season, and he has bagged five goals and nine assists for Celtic in 15 league games for the club. The Honduras forward has had three assists in his last two games, and he is the most important player for the hosts right now. Luis Palma is on course to hit double digits in assists for Celtic, and with most of the play going through him, he should be able to get a goal contribution in the derby. The football sportsbook has good offers on Luis Palma to score or assist, and you should consider this in the Celtic vs Rangers predictions.
Celtic hosts Rangers for the second time this year, and both teams are in dire need of all three points in the derby. There are great offers in this game and you can make extra cash by using our expert betting tips and predictions. BetZillion’s winning bets decoded here.
