Rangers vs. Celtic: Old Firm Preview, Prediction, Lineups & Odds

Having recently clinched the Scottish Premiership title in April, Celtic prepares to take their championship celebration on the road to Glasgow`s Ibrox Stadium for the latest installment of the iconic Old Firm derby against rivals Rangers. This season`s triumph marks Celtic`s 55th league title, drawing them level with Rangers in the all-time count for Scottish top-flight championships. With an impressive 17-point advantage over Rangers heading into this fixture, securing a win at Ibrox would be another notable achievement for Brendan Rodgers during his successful tenure leading Celtic.

Despite their European campaign in the Champions League not progressing further, Celtic demonstrated competitive spirit, particularly pushing opponents like Bayern Munich in the playoff stage. This reflects their ongoing efforts to re-establish themselves as a significant force both domestically and in European football. For Rangers, overcoming the significant points gap requires substantial improvement, but a victory in this home derby would undoubtedly be a positive step forward.

Match Details

Previous Encounter

In their most recent meeting at Celtic Park in March, Rangers managed to secure a victory despite trailing 2-0 in the first half. Breaking Celtic`s strong run of form at the time, Rangers completed a remarkable comeback, scoring an 88th-minute winner. The decisive goal originated from a long pass by goalkeeper Jack Butland, finding Hamza Igamane to set up the winner. Rangers will be eager to replicate this winning feeling when playing at home.

Coaches` Views

While it is a tradition for opposition teams to offer a guard of honor to the league champions, given the intense nature of the Old Firm rivalry, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers expressed skepticism about receiving one at Ibrox.

Rodgers stated, “The guard of honor thing, it`s not a rule… It`s not in the rules that you have to do it. And I think that when two clubs and the rivalry are so emotional, it`s always difficult for the team that comes up short.” He added that he is “relaxed either way” on the matter, acknowledging he is “a little bit of a traditionalist.” From Rangers` perspective, preventing Celtic from celebrating on their home turf by securing a win would offer significant satisfaction.

Predicted Starting Lineups

Player Spotlight

Daizen Maeda, Celtic: As the season draws to a close, the race for the Scottish Golden Boot is tight, with Daizen Maeda currently sharing the lead on 16 goals. This Old Firm clash provides an excellent opportunity for the Celtic forward to potentially surpass his competitors, who include his own teammates Nicolas Kuhn (13 goals) and Adam Idah (10 goals). Celtic`s attacking strength is evident, and Maeda`s ability to finish chances will be key to their performance.

Key Narrative

Can Rangers hold their ground at Ibrox? Beyond the potential guard of honor issue, Rangers` main focus will be preventing Celtic from securing a victory on their home soil. Historically, home advantage often plays a significant role in Old Firm matches, although Rangers` win at Celtic Park in the last fixture broke this trend. With the league title secured, Celtic will be playing for pride and the desire to defeat their historic rivals in their own stadium, providing them with strong motivation.

Match Prediction

Celtic is anticipated to take an early lead and maintain control for the duration of the match. Likely focusing on creating opportunities, potentially to aid Daizen Maeda`s Golden Boot bid, Celtic is expected to secure a victory. A win for Celtic would further emphasize the gap between the two Glasgow clubs as Rangers look ahead to the offseason facing questions about how to close the distance. Predicted Score: Rangers 1, Celtic 3