Celtic vs Rangers Prediction, Lineups and Odds: Maeda tipped to shine in double bet

Old Firm rivalries are renewed for the fourth time this season at 12:30pm on Sunday when Rangers make the short trip across Glasgow to Celtic Park for the 445th Old Firm Derby, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, and Sky Sports Ultra HDR in the UK.

After 444 Old Firm Derbies over 137 years, Celtic and Rangers are locked on 170 wins apiece heading into Sunday’s lunchtime clash, but it is champions-elect Celtic who could edge in front in Glasgow.

The Bhoys are 16 points ahead of second-placed Rangers in the Scottish Premiership and hold both the best attacking record (87) and the best defensive record (17) in the division, although the latter of these records has been dented recently.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have kept just one clean sheet in their last five competitive games and, with both teams scoring in each of Rangers’ last 10 competitive away games, we should expect goals at both ends on Sunday.

Celtic are unbeaten at home in the Old Firm Derby since 2020 and have won seven of their 11 meetings here since then. They have dropped just two points - against Aberdeen back in October - in 14 home league games and should be backed to take the points.

Daizen Maeda is Celtic’s top goalscorer this season, with his opener against Hibernian in the Scottish FA Cup last weekend being his 27th of the season across all competitions.

Incredibly, 22 of these have been scored at Celtic Park, including a goal in each of Celtic’s two home meetings with Rangers this season. That notch against Hibs made it 12 goals in Maeda’s last nine competitive starts and he has only failed to find the net in one of those, so back him to propel the Bhoys to victory on Sunday.

Unsurprisingly for one of the most heated, long-running, and intense rivalries in world football, the cards tend to flow when Celtic and Rangers lock horns, and it has been the Gers getting their hands dirtier in recent times.

They have been carded 21 times in the last four Old Firm Derbies and have been shown at least four cards in three of those, including an eight-card haul in their last trip to Celtic Park in December.

Celtic vs Rangers Lineups

The starting lineups for Celtic vs Rangers will be displayed in the graphic below once the team news has been announced.

Celtic vs Rangers Team News

Celtic

• Brendan Rodgers may name an unchanged starting line-up on Sunday, with James Forrest and Paulo Bernardo the only injury doubts for Celtic. Jota could start on the left of the Hoops’ attack again, with the Portuguese attacker preferred to Adam Idah last time out.

Rangers

• Interim Gers boss Barry Ferguson may be forced to rotate some players after being taken to penalties by Fenerbahce on Thursday, but as far as injuries go it’s a relatively clean slate for the visitors, with Neraysho Kasanwirjo the only doubt.