The legendary Old Firm derby is set to electrify Ibrox Stadium as Rangers prepare to take on their formidable rivals Celtic in one of the most anticipated clashes in European football.
As the frequency of these monumental encounters increases, it is notable that Rangers have only hosted their rivals at home once in their last six encounters, often finding themselves playing away in tournament competitions. cut.
In their last battle, Celtic triumphed in a dramatic Scottish League Cup final, beating Rangers in a thrilling penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw at Hampden Park.
Read more:
Urgent: The Brazilian giant ready to secure Valentín Gómez de Vélez
Currently, Celtic have been the dominant force in this encounter, with a substantial 14-point advantage at the top of the Scottish Premiership table heading into this vital league clash. However, we can always expect a whirlwind of action when these two giants meet.
Star forward Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic is making headlines in the goalscoring charts, sitting second in the Scottish top flight with eight goals, just one behind Dundee United’s Sam Dalby. His teammate Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn is just behind him with seven goals, matching the tally of Rangers’ top scorer Vaclav Cerny.
Read more:
Dundee Derby: Celebrating 100 years of an unrivaled rivalry
-Although home advantage plays a crucial role in these heated matchups, it is hard to miss the fact that Celtic are currently the strongest team with positive odds.
Yes, Rangers displayed incredible resilience in their recent League Cup final, staging a surprising comeback before giving in on penalties. However, Celtic’s squad depth and consistency clearly stand out at this stage.
In the last 14 meetings, Rangers have only managed to beat Celtic once, in an isolated 3-0 defeat that came after Celtic clinched the 2022/23 league title. Although Rangers could be looking at a result in this match, Celtic’s dominant position in the league is no fluke.
For bettors looking for value, it’s worth noting the particular trend of second-half fireworks in this rivalry. In the last six Old Firm derbies, 13 of the 21 goals scored were after the half-time whistle, including a strange 2-1 Celtic victory where they dominated the game despite having a mid-point advantage. -time.
In a desperate desire to turn things around, losing teams tend to put more pressure on in the second half in these encounters, making the odds for second-half goals particularly attractive.
Daizen Maeda has a reputation as an up-and-down striker, yet his performances against Rangers tell a different story. The Japan international is brimming with confidence, having scored in his last two league appearances, meaning he should be fresh for this crucial derby.
Maeda has regularly caused problems for Rangers, finding the back of the net in three of his last four Old Firm encounters, including a memorable goal in the 3-3 league draw at Ibrox last season. His ability to shine in big matches, coupled with his defensive work ethic, makes him a key player to watch in today’s encounter.
