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Scottish Premiership preview and tips: Celtic and Rangers ready to serve up Old Firm thriller

Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi

Old Firm bragging rights are on the line this Saturday and Celtic will feel like they have one hand on the trophy if they can beat Rangers at Celtic Park.

Date, KO time and TV coverage:

Scottish Premiership, Saturday, April 8, kick-off 12:30pm, Sky Sports.

Predicted score:
Celtic 3-1 Rangers

Suggested bet:

Celtic win and Over 2.5 goals

Key stats

Team news

Celtic will be at full strength in the attacking department and the return of Aaron Mooy provides extra midfield options. James McCarthy is out, while James Forrest, Anthony Ralston, and Liel Abada are all doubts.
Steven Davis, Filip Helander, Kemar Roofe, and Tom Lawrence all miss out. Nicolas Raskin is also a doubt, but Rangers should be able to field a nearly full-strength XI.

Verdict

Celtic are flying in all competitions at the moment after winning all their last 15 matches and with just seven games left, victory here could end Rangers' title hopes.
Since losing 5-1 to Real Madrid in November, Celtic have beaten all-comers, the only exception being when Rangers held them to a 2-2 draw on January 2. Goals from Ryan Kent and James Tavernier cancelled out Daizen Maeda's opener, but an 88th-minute winner from Kyogo Furuhashi earned Celtic a point.
It extended the Hoop's unbeaten run against Rangers to five matches in all competitions, a run which included Celtic eliminating their rivals from the League Cup in February.
Rangers haven't put a foot wrong themselves with 10 consecutive victories in the league, but when they have slipped up this season, it's often been away from home.
Hibernian, St Johnstone, and St Mirren have all taken points from Rangers, and most notably Celtic thrashed them 4-0 early in the season.
Celtic's goal-scoring prowess has been a theme all season and their current run has seen them find the net in 19 consecutive games. It feels like it would be quite an achievement for Rangers to limit them to one or fewer.
Rangers have netted at least three goals in each of their last five away league games. They'll fancy their chances of finding the net on current form, and it's worth noting both teams have scored in five of the last six meetings.
Even if Rangers do find a way through, Celtic should have the lion's share of the chances. And even if they don't, Celtic are prolific enough to run away with it. A high-scoring home victory could be on the cards.

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