This is the first of two Old Firm derbies coming your way in May, with Glasgow’s big two also set to clash in the Scottish Cup Final in a fortnight, doing so for the first time since 2002 no less, but this Premiership fixtures could prove to be even more decisive.
Celtic vs Rangers match preview
In exactly seven days time, the Scottish Premiership champions will be crowned, with this top-of-the-table Old Firm determining whether or not we will get a title race in the final week of the campaign.
Hosts Celtic currently hold all the aces, sat top of the table, targeting a 12th title in just 13 seasons.
Last weekend, the Hoops faced a tricky fixture with Hearts visiting Parkhead, not taking the Jambos lightly, having already lost to them not once but twice already this season.
Well, this time, Brendan Rodgers’ side cruised to a 3-0 victory, with Kyōgo Furuhashi at the double, before Matt O’Riley made the points secure with a late spot-kick.
Since suffering back-to-back defeats in December, the Celts have accumulated 42 points out of a possible 51, their sole defeat in 2024 coming at Tynecastle, winning three on the spin.
After this, their remaining fixtures are Kilmarnock (A) on Wednesday and St Mirren (H) next weekend so, should Celtic claim victory here, they could have the title wrapped up even before making the mid-week pilgrimage to Rugby Park.
As for Rangers, this is simply must win, following a catastrophic three-days period in mid-April that could cost them only a second top division title since 2011.
The Gers failed to win any of their final three pre-split fixtures, drawing the most-recent Old Firm, suffering a shock 3-2 defeat to relegation-threatened Ross County in the Highlands, before a dismal goalless draw at Dens Park with Dundee.
Since, Philippe Clement’s team have got back to winning ways, leaving St Mirren Park 2-1 winners before a come from behind 4-1 victory over Kilmarnock last Sunday, but they were made to work hard in both.
Last weekend produced a very frustrating first half for the home support, seeing James Tavernier score an unfortunate own goal, before the captain also had a penalty saved, albeit Killie’s Joe Wright was sent off for handling on the goal-line.
It took until the eighth minute of first half injury time for Fábio Silva to equalise, before second half goals from Ben Davies, Tom Lawrence and John Souttar ultimately secured three potentially priceless points.
So, with three games to go, Rangers remain three points adrift with a marginally inferior goal difference: +53 compared to +58.
As a result, every game is must-win for the Light Blues, welcoming Dundee to Ibrox on Tuesday, before concluding their campaign with a trip to Hearts next Saturday lunchtime.
So far this season, Rangers have yielded just a solitary point from Old Firms, their lowest tally since 2017/18, the same year Pedro Caixinha’s team were dumped out of Europe by Progrès Niederkorn; a fair amount has changed since then.
If the Gers can claim a victory at Celtic Park, the title race will be well and truly one, while a Celtic victory would all but mathematically clinch the club’s 54th title, one shy of their fierce rival’s historic tally.
With 60,000+ supporters roaring on the Hoops, we think a home win is the most-likely outcome.
Celtic vs Rangers Tips
As alluded to, Celtic have already won two Glasgow derbies this season, 1-0 winners at Ibrox in September before claiming a 2-1 victory at home just after Christmas, while the pair played out a thrilling 3-3 draw just 34 days ago, with the Hoops twice throwing away the lead in Govan, frustrated not to leave victorious.
Back at Parkhead, the Hoops are unbeaten in six derbies, winning each of the last three, a streak we’re forecasting will continue, aiming to win four successive home Old Firms for the first time since 2005.
All the form is with Brendan Rodgers’ side, scoring 34 goals in their last 11 matches in league and cup, winning four on the spin, including that shootout victory over Aberdeen at Hampden.
Philippe Clement’s team meantime have won only three of their last seven in the Premiership, and will really need to raise their performance levels to keep the title race alive.
In terms of both teams to score, this has been the case in eight of the last 12 Old Firms, with their most-recent encounter ending 3-3, making it the highest-scoring derby since a 5-1 Celtic win in 2017.
Meantime, both teams have scored in ten of Celtic’s 15 fixtures since the start of February, with the Hoops only failing to net in three of their last 63 home Premiership fixtures, dating back to January 2021.
On the flip side, both teams have scored in 13 of Rangers’ 23 outings since Christmas Day.
As Ian Crocker articulately himself put it back in December, “derby day is Kyōgo day”, and we’re expecting more of the same here.
Kyōgo’s double last weekend takes his tally to 18 for the season, while the Japanese striker has also netted seven times in his last seven Old Firm starts, so we’re forecasting he will add to this here.
In stereotypical Glasgow derby fashion, we’re expecting referee Willie Collum to brandish plenty of cards.
The last 13 Old Firms have witnessed 70 yellow cards and one red, an average of 5.46 cards per game, with both teams collecting multiple cards in eight of these fixtures.
Rangers left-back Borna Barišić has collected six yellow cards so far this season, and he has a habit of being booked in derbies.
To date, the Croatian has collected nine cautions in 16 appearances against Celtic (minimum 45 minutes) a ratio we’re expecting to rise.
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