SPL Betting preview: Goals expected when Celtic host Rangers

Celtic play host to bitter rivals Rangers on Sunday as Scotland’s Old Firm meet for the final time this season.

Neil Lennon’s side have already wrapped up the league title, and this match seems at first glance less significant than previous meetings between the clubs.

However, the fierce and passionate rivalry that exists between these two clubs will ensure that neither side goes into this match anything less than fully committed to picking up all three points and, of course, bragging rights.

 
Celtic, as newly-crowned Scottish Premier League champions, enter the match as favourites, with Paddy Power chalking the Hoops up at 4/5 (1.80) to rub salt into their rivals’ wounds.
 
Rangers have had their troubles this season but manager Ally McCoist knows how much of a boost that players and supporters alike would receive from beating Celtic. McCoist’s men are rated as a 7/2 (4.50) shot with Paddy Power to do just that. The draw is a 5/2 (3.50) chance with the same firm.
 
Gary Hooper has again been the main man for Celtic in front of goal this season and the SPL’s joint top scorer will be desperate to add to his impressive tally when Rangers visit on Sunday. Hooper has scored 18 league goals this term and he is priced up at 4/1 (5.0) with Paddy Power to break the deadlock in this match. A price that is worthy of consideration.
 
Rangers have missed the presence of Nikica Jelavic since the Croatian striker made the move to Goodison Park to join Everton.

However, they scored three when Celtic visited Ibrox in March with former Aberdeen star Sone Aluko getting the opening goal that day. The 23-year-old also bagged the opener for Rangers as they cruised to victory over Heart of Midlothian at Tynecastle at the weekend.
 
Aluko will be a key man for Rangers if they are to win on Sunday and he can be backed at 9/1 (10.0) with Paddy Power to score first.
 
This fixture has produced 12 goals in three meetings this term so Paddy Power’s 4/6 (1.67) for both teams to score should be backed here, while the best bet is Paddy Power’s 8/11 (1.73) quote for three or more goals to be scored on Sunday.

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Willie Duncan is a freelance sports journalist. Willie, from Edinburgh, has covered Scottish football for over 10 years and he specialises in football betting markets from across Europe. You can also follow Willie on Twitter here.

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