Celtic vs Rangers prediction, betting tips and odds: Rangers likely to adopt guarded approach

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Where to watch Celtic vs Rangers

You can watch Celtic v Rangers in the William Hill Premiership at 12.30pm on Sunday, September 1, 2024, live on Sky Sports Football

Match prediction & best bet

Under 2.5 goals
1pt 13-8 bet365, Betfair 

Recommended

4/5

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Celtic vs Rangers odds

Celtic 13-20
Rangers 4-1
Draw 7-2

Odds correct at time of publishing

Celtic vs Rangers predictions

Celtic will move six points clear of Rangers at the top of the William Hill Premiership table if they claim victory in the first Old Firm game of the season and the champions are well fancied to get the job done. 

The Bhoys are 13-20 chances to win at Celtic Park, and while the Hoops are certainly the most likely winners of the Old Firm derby, there is little juice in that offer. 

Of course, it has been a tricky start to the season for Rangers, who dropped points at Hearts, failed to impress against Motherwell and St Johnstone and suffered a Champions League playoff defeat to Dynamo Kyiv. 

However, it may not be quite as bad as the prices suggest and Philippe Clement’s men may prove tough to crack. 

The Light Blues put in two solid and robust performances against the Ukrainians in the Champions League, and had it not been for an extremely unfortunate red card shown to Jefte, the Gers may have qualified from that tie. 

Incomings were in short supply in the summer and Rangers certainly haven’t strengthened their squad, but Celtic lost their best player and most creative forward force, when Matt O’Riley left for Brighton, and that won’t help their attacking output.

The Bhoys have been brilliant when slamming Kilmarnock, Hibernian and St Mirren in the Scottish top-flight this season, but a clash with Rangers still represents a major step up in class for Brendan Rodgers’ men.

Celtic registered only 21 shots on goal in two matches with Hibs this season and that number may fall against a more competitive Gers side. 

Two of last season’s five Old Firm matches finished 1-0, and although three games bust the 2.5-goal mark, two of those games saw Rangers reduced to ten men.

The Ibrox side are likely to be guarded given the danger of a thumping at Parkhead, and backing under 2.5 goals looks the play. 

Key stat

Under 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in four of Rangers' six matches this season. 

Celtic v Rangers team news

Celtic
Cameron Carter-Vickers should be fit to start and £11 million record signing Arne Engles could make his Hoops debut. Kyogo Furuhashi and Adam Idah will battle to lead the Celtic line.

Rangers
Nicolas Raskin and Ridvan Yilmaz are out for the visitors but defender Robin Propper should be fit to return after missing Rangers' 6-0 win over Ross County last weekend. Leon Balogun is unlikely to play a part but deadline-day signing Nedim Bajrami could be named in the squad.

Probable teams

Celtic (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; Bernardo, McGregor, Hatate; Kuhn, Furuhashi, Maeda
Subs: Engles, Forrest, Idah, Holm, Ralston, Palma, Yang 

Team B (4-2-3-1): Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Jefte; Diomande, Barron; Cerny, Lawrence, Matondo; Dessers
Subs: Sterling, Danilo, Bajrami, McCausland, King, Dowell, Fraser

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