Rangers vs Celtic Preview: Tired hosts to lose in Old Firm derby at Ibrox
Rangers vs Celtic: Predicted score
- Rangers 1-2 Celtic
Rangers vs Celtic: Suggested bets
Rangers vs Celtic Preview:
You can’t win the title in the fourth game of the season, but defeat in this particular fixture could certainly contribute to losing it.
Michael Beale’s side were dumped out of the Champions League by PSV on Wednesday as they were thumped 5-1 at the Philips Stadion on Eindhoven.
Celtic have had the week off to work on their finishing after a 0-0 draw at home to St Johnstone was preceded by a 1-0 loss away to Kilmarnock in the League Cup.
It was the first time they’ve failed to score in back-to-back games since losing 2-0 to Bodo/Glimt days before drawing 0-0 away to Kilmarnock in February 2022.
Both sides are wounded and below their usual standards in the early stages of the season, but the visitors are surely set to benefit from the additional rest.
It’s worth noting that Celtic have won three of their last five trips to Ibrox and they’ll be keen to avenge the 3-0 defeat suffered here in May.
Given that the visitors haven’t failed to score in three consecutive matches for more than 16 years, it seems a certainty they’ll find the back of the net in this match.
The momentum of the atmosphere can only carry you so far and the visitors are going to be the fresher side of the day, which could help them start fast and finish strong.
Celtic produced a combined xG in excess of three goals during their previous two matches and deserved to win both, so we’re expecting things to even themselves out here.
