CELTIC VS RANGERS TIPS: 7/1 BET BUILDER FOR SEISMIC OLD FIRM CLASH
The Scottish Premiership title race hurtles towards a dramatic conclusion as Parkhead hosts the sixth Celtic vs Rangers match of the season.
Danny Rohl’s Light Blues saw their tilt at the trophy all but ended with a 2-1 defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle on Monday evening – a result that restored the Jambos’ three-point advantage over Celtic at the summit but, crucially, extended the gap on Rangers to seven and knocked them out to 50/1 title shots.
With Derek McInnes and co. heading to Motherwell a day before Celtic host Rangers, the pressure on a Hoops home win could be monumental by kick-off time even by this historic fixture’s standards.
With the championship hanging in the balance, this sixth and final Old Firm of the season feels seismic on a weekend that could determine the entire campaign for both teams.
Here’s our best bets for the occasion…
CELTIC VS RANGERS: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Kick-off time: 12:00 BST
- Match date: Sun 10th May
- Venue: Parkhead, Glasgow
- Competition: Scottish Premiership
- How to watch: Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Football
- Form (last five league): CEL WWWWW / RAN LLWWW
- Match market: Click here
Tip 1 – Draw @ 14/5
The sheer frequency of draws in this fixture this season makes a compelling case for another stalemate.
Four of the five encounters between these sides have ended level after 90 minutes, a clear indicator of how finely balanced the contest has become.
While Celtic have twice emerged victorious in cup competitions after extra time or penalties, Rangers have proven to be a stubborn opponent to break down.
In fact you’d have to go back 10 meetings to September 2024 for the last time the Hoops actually secured a victory over their rivals within regulation.
Rangers will also draw confidence from their recent league successes at Celtic Park. They have won on their last two visits including a 3-1 triumph in the New Year derby fixture; the game that ultimately ended the ill-fated Wilfried Nancy era at Parkhead.
While Celtic still possess the division's second-best home record, this has been a season of uncharacteristic fragility.
Indeed the Hoops have lost eight league games, their most in a campaign since 1999/2000.
With both sides desperate to avoid a blow to their title hopes – one that will be fatal for Rangers after two successive post-split defeats – a share of the spoils seems a logical conclusion at a little under 3/1.
Tip 2 – Daizen Maeda to score or assist @ Evens
There are few players who embody the ferocious intensity of this fixture better than Daizen Maeda.
And the Japanese forward is hitting form at the perfect time – after a frustrating 17-game spell without finding the net Maeda has exploded back to life with an impressive four goals and two assists in his last three appearances.
His style of play, built on relentless pressing and intelligent movement, has consistently caused Rangers problems throughout his time in Glasgow and two of his most recent goals have been the direct result of defensive errors forced by that tireless work rate.
With 10 goal contributions against Rangers already on his CV, he is a proven performer on this particular stage and will be vital in deciding how the latest instalment plays out.
Whether deployed through the middle, as he has been recently to great effect, or from his arguably more dangerous position on the left wing should Kelechi Iheanacho prove ready to start up front, Maeda's renewed confidence makes him a prime candidate to either find the net himself or create a crucial goal for a team-mate.
BetMGM’s 7/1 Celtic vs Rangers Bet Builder
- Maeda to score or assist
- Over 2.5 total goals
- Over 5.5 total cards
- Over 9.5 total corners
- Celtic most shots on target
For those looking for a bigger price, combining the Maeda goal or assist selection with several key statistical trends into a Bet Builder offers an attractive proposition.
This season’s meetings, the recent goalless Scottish Cup tie aside, have been goal-laden affairs.
Rangers’ recent games have been a hotbed for goals with 28 across their last five while 11 of Celtic’s 16 home league games have seen over 2.5 goals land – a mark also surpassed in four of their last five matches in all competitions.
The five meetings this term have contained 23 yellows and one red, no doubt making the over 5.5 cards line a popular choice on many a Bet Builder.
Stretch that back to the last 10 meetings and it becomes an even more convincing selection: 5.3 yellows per match albeit only that sole sending off for Theo Aasgaard in the League Cup semi back in November.
Add in the importance of this particular fixture and that referee Nick Walsh has dished out 24 yellows and a red in his last five games while averaging more than four yellows a game this season and this line more than merits its inclusion.
Corners have also been a reliable feature. The last four meetings have produced an average of 14.2 corners per game and, with both teams’ league matches averaging over 10 corners each, the over 9.5 corners line looks well within reach.
Finally, Celtic's attacking pressure in these derbies is a notable trend.
Barring that anomalous cup tie, the Hoops have registered more shots on target than Rangers in every meeting this season.
Combining these well-supported statistical angles with that Maeda goal contribution creates a big 7/1 Bet Builder shout for the derby day action.
BETMGM’S 7/1 CELTIC VS RANGERS BET BUILDER
- Maeda to score or assist
- Over 2.5 total goals
- Over 5.5 total cards
- Over 9.5 total corners
- Celtic most shots on target
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
