Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
On Sunday, December 15, the final of the Scottish League Cup will feature Celtic and Rangers. The match kicks off at 16:30 CET, and here's a breakdown of key facts and a goal-scoring prediction for the game.
Celtic vs Rangers: Match Facts and Head-to-Head
- Celtic is on an impressive run, unbeaten in their last 15 matches.
- Rangers are not far behind, with a nine-match unbeaten streak.
- Celtic has kept clean sheets in their last four games, while Rangers have conceded just one goal in their previous four.
- Celtic scores more than 1.5 goals per match in 88% of their games, compared to Rangers’ 77%.
- The Hoops score in both halves in 50% of their games.
- Celtic has won 54% of their matches without conceding, while Rangers have done so in 46%.
- The Old Firm rivalry is Scotland’s fiercest. In their last five meetings, Celtic has won four times, with one draw. Rangers last beat Celtic in May 2023.
Celtic vs Rangers: Match Preview
The Old Firm, as this rivalry is famously known, is one of the most storied in football. As of September 1, 2024, the two teams have faced each other 442 times: Rangers have 169 wins, Celtic has 170, and 103 matches ended in draws.
In recent years, Celtic has dominated the domestic scene. Since the 2011/12 season, Celtic has won the league title 12 times, while Rangers have claimed it only once.
Both teams come into this final in excellent form. Celtic is unbeaten in their last 15 matches, while Rangers haven’t lost in nine. Their paths to the final were relatively straightforward. Celtic advanced with a combined score of 14–5, while Rangers progressed with a 7–1 aggregate. Rangers faced a tough semi-final, earning a hard-fought 2–1 comeback victory.
In the Scottish Premiership, Celtic sits at the top with 43 points from 15 games, while Rangers have 32 points, leaving an 11-point gap between the two sides.
Probable Lineups
- Celtic: Schmeichel; Johnston, Trusty, Carter-Vickers, Valle; Hatate, McGregor, Engels; Maeda, Furuhashi, Kuhn
- Rangers: Butland; Tavernier, Balogun, Propper, Jefté; Barron, Raskin; Cherny, Diamonde, Yilmaz; Igamane
Prediction
This historic clash in the Scottish League Cup final promises intense drama and an exciting contest. Celtic is the favorite heading into the match, but Rangers are likely to put up a strong fight. I expect both Celtic and Rangers to find the back of the net, and my prediction is a bet on both teams to score, with odds of 1.66.
