In this article…
Celtic v Rangers
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Kick Off: Saturday 25th May at 15:00
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Competition: Scottish Cup Final
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Watch Live: BBC Scotland / BBC iPlayer
The Scottish Cup Final will have an Old Firm flavour for the first time in 22 years when Glasgow rivals Celtic and Rangers meet at Hampden Park to battle it out for the season’s last piece of silverware on Saturday.
Brendan Rodgers’ Bhoys have already landed the Scottish Premiership title ahead of Rangers and Celtic will be determined to rub salt into the Gers’ wounds by pipping them to the cup this weekend.
Rangers meanwhile, are chasing a double of their own having already bagged the Scottish League Cup earlier in the campaign, however, having lost three of their four encounters with Celtic this term, optimism in the blue half of the city is low.
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Celtic v Rangers Best Bets
Celtic are priced well to beat Rangers for the fourth time in five Old Firm Derbies this season and in the circumstances, backing Celtic to win at 1.85 with Betfair is a sensational price for the Bhoys to win the cup final at their rivals’ expense.
With John Souttar and Connor Goldson key absentees, Rangers are likely to pair Ben Davies with youngster Leon King at centre-back for the third game running.
That duo found the going tough at Hearts (3-3) last time out and a Celtic frontline with title-winning calibre could take full advantage of Rangers’ weakened centre.
Alongside backing Celtic to win, a wager on Matt O’Riley to score or assist at 2.50 with Betfair offers excellent value. The Danish international scored in the last Old Firm Derby on May 11th and notched again in the club’s last encounter before that in early April.
O’Riley also registered an assist on derby day in late December and the 23-year-old created the game’s only goal when Celtic and Rangers met for the first time in 2023/24 back in September.
Having chipped in with a goal contribution in four separate Old Firm Derbies already this season, O’Riley could be the man for the big occasion again in the cup final.
📂 Celtic v Rangers Cheat Sheet
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⚔️ Celtic v Rangers Head-to-Head
Celtic have had the upper hand on rivals Rangers in Old Firm derbies this season, winning three and drawing one of their four matches with their bitter antagonists since September.
The Glaswegian neighbours locked horns as little as two weeks ago in the Premiership with Celtic scoring a crucial 2-1 win in a typically heated derby that featured 31 fouls and a red card for Rangers midfielder John Lundstram.
Aided by that first-half dismissal, Celtic clocked 22 attempts to Rangers’ eight and controlled 67.5% of the possession. The Premiership champions also earned twice as many corners as their adversaries (10-5).
Celtic managed to extract 10 points from 12 in the clubs’ four league meetings in 2023/24, with Rangers’ only point from four fixtures rescued at the death when the sides drew 3-3 at Ibrox Stadium in April. All three of Celtic’s wins over Rangers this term were achieved via a one-goal margin (2-1, 2-1, 1-0), however.
Last year, Celtic ousted Rangers in the FA Cup semi-finals, however, again margins were tight (1-0) and in total, six of the last eight meetings between the clubs have been decided by a single-goal swing.
Rangers’ fans have become used to derby day disappointment and the Gers have managed to win only once in their last 11 attempts against Celtic, with that solitary triumph coming in a dead-rubber encounter last season after the Hoops had already clinched the title.
📊 Celtic Form and Stats
Celtic lifted their 12th Premiership title in 13 years last week in their final league fixture of the campaign against St. Mirren and all the momentum will be with the Bhoys at Hampden Park on Saturday as a consequence.
Brendan Rodgers’ outfit finished a healthy eight points clear of Rangers at the division’s summit, losing just three times in 38 assignments overall while netting a superb 95 goals along the way.
Celtic have also won five of the last seven editions of the Scottish FA Cup, including last year’s tournament when they conquered Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the final (3-1). That success earned the Hoops a 20th domestic double and number 21 could be secured this weekend.
Celtic exited Europe at the group stage of the Champions League before Christmas, though their continental failure strengthened their hand domestically and in 24 matches in Scotland since December 23rd, the Bhoys have lost only once (2-0 vs Hearts, March 3rd).
Rodgers’ side have been typically free-flowing in attack this season and while they were unable to breach 100 Premiership goals for the second year running, they still managed to average 2.5 goals per game in the league.
21 different players chipped in with goals of some description across Celtic’s Premiership campaign, though midfielder Matt O’Riley was undoubtedly the club’s star performer as the 23-year-old lodged 35 goal contributions in all competitions (19G, 16A).
📊 Rangers Form and Stats
While Rangers’ 2-1 loss at Celtic on May 11th put the final, fatal dent in their Premiership title bid, the Gers’ form had been fading before that.
Indeed, since the end of February, Rangers have won only six of the 14 matches they’ve contested in all competitions and the rigours of competing on multiple fronts seemed to have stretched their squad too thin.
Defeat at the Last 16 stage of the Europa League at the hands of Benfica coincided with a major drop-off in league results and of the last 24 points on offer in the Premiership, the Gers collected only 12.
Rangers were good value in the entertainment stakes at least, and 15 of their last 16 league matches featured over 2.5 goals with both teams notching in a further 12 of the same contests.
Defensively, things have started to unravel a little for manager Philippe Clement and Rangers conceded seven times in their last three games alone and kept just three clean sheets in their last 15 fixtures combined.
With central defensive regulars, John Souttar and Connor Goldson, both injured and in the treatment room, Rangers look vulnerable at the back again ahead of Saturday’s Cup Final and it’s easy to see why the club’s supporters are expecting the worst.
Rangers will be looking to captain James Tavernier for inspiration. The 32-year-old, who has already scored in two Old Firm Derbies this season, has provided an incredible 21 goals and ten assists from his berth at right back in all competitions, though 12 of his 17 efforts in the league were dispatched from the penalty spot.
* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.
* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.
Written by an Andy verified content writer
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