Betfred Cup final: Rangers v Celtic, betting tips & preview for Old Firm derby

Football tips, best bets and predictions for Rangers v Celtic in the Betfred Cup final.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 3pm Sunday

Best bets

Celtic to win in 90 minutes
1pt 11-8 Betway
A penalty to be awarded
1pt 9-4 bet365, BoyleSports

Team news

Rangers
Veteran midfielder Steven Davis is unlikely to make it after picking up a knock. Borna Barisic should recover, but Jordan Jones remains out.

Celtic
The Bhoys are set to be without the injured Hatem Elhamed, Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo, Vakoun Issouf Bayo and Jozo Simunovic.

Match preview

Celtic can make it ten trophies in a row this afternoon and put a massive puncture in Rangers' deflating season in the Betfred Cup Final at Hampden Park.

Having known nothing but success for the past three seasons, the Treble Treble winners are expected to face their biggest challenge this season from a resurgent Rangers.

But Neil Lennon's side look stronger all over Hampden's massive pitch and the size of that surface could play into their hands.

Rangers have massively improved this season and look a solid unit under Steven Gerrard, who utilises his favoured 4-3-3 formation to great effect.

But they have major problems in the centre of their defence. When they get exposed there, they suddenly look alarmingly flakey.

Neither Connor Goldson nor Filip Helander are the quickest and the last team you want to be facing is Celtic, whose lightning-quick forward line of Ryan Christie and James Forrest is poised to exploit any lack of pace.

There's no better team at breaking at speed than the Hoops and, while Rangers could well have a lot of the ball, that could play into Celtic's hands.

Celtic were surprisingly comfortable winners when the sides met at Ibrox and although Rangers' hopes will be pinned on striker Alfredo Morelos and his 37 goals in 2019, he's yet to score against the Bhoys. The expected loss of injured midfielder Steven Davis is also a huge blow.

Rangers have a puncher's chance. If Celtic have too many players who aren't up for it, then the Ibrox side can take advantage. But it's hard to escape the conclusion that the Hoops are course-and-distance specialists and usually bring their A Game to the National Stadium.

And don't be surprised if excitable ref Willie Collum awards a penalty. The higher the profile of the game, the more Collum loves to point to the spot.

Key stat

Celtic have won their last 32 domestic cup ties.

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport