Scottish League Cup Tips & Preview
There’s a bonus Old Firm clash to look forward to on Sunday when Celtic and Rangers meet in the Scottish League Cup final at Hampden Park.
The fierce rivals will generate a thrilling atmosphere in Glasgow and an intense showdown is guaranteed.
Tip 1: Rangers or draw double chance @ 49/50
There’s a cup classic brewing when Celtic and Rangers head to Hampden Park for Sunday’s Scottish League Cup final.
The champions are out on their own in the Scottish Premiership this season and the Gers will offer no threat to the Bhoys’ hopes of retaining their title.
Celtic hammered the Gers 3-0 at Parkhead, in what was one of the most dominant performances in an Old Firm contest for a while and on that evidence the Light Blues have little chance of upsetting their Glasgow rivals on Sunday.
However, for all of Rangers’ struggles this season, Philippe Clement’s men have put together their best domestic run of the campaign in the last couple of weeks and there are a few reasons to think Celtic may be a little too short at Hampden.
The Gers beat Ross County 3-0 in their latest Scottish Premiership clash and prior to the Light Blues went goal crazy in Govan when crushing Kilmarnock 6-0.
Those victories followed a narrow 1-0 success at St Johnstone, but that match followed a midweek European tie and Rangers were comfortably the better team in Perth.
The Europa League form is another indicator that Clement’s men are a far better side than they have shown in Scotland for much of the season.
The Light Blues have beaten Nice 4-1, Steaua Bucharest 4-0, Malmo 2-0 and avoided defeat against Olympiakos this term and those performances are enough to think Celtic may have a little more on their plate than the prices suggest.
The Bhoys’ domestic form is a cut above that of Rangers, but the Hoops failed to beat Club Brugge at Celtic Park in the Champions League, while Brendan Rodgers’ men were held to a 0-0 draw by a Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday night.
That makes the 7/10 on offer about Celtic winning in 90 minutes look a little skinny.
Taking Rangers or the draw on the double chance market looks the best play in what should be a fiercely-competive cup contest.
Tip 2: Over 2.5 goals @ 3/4
Intensity, tackles, aggression and bookings are almost guaranteed in an Old Firm derby and so are goals.
The latest Old Firm contest went over the 2.5 goals mark earlier this season and the last 16 meetings between the Glasgow giants are averaging 2.8 goals per game.
The run of high-scoring contests includes matches, which have finished 4-0, 3-3, 3-2 and 2-2.
Backing the goals to flow at Hampden Park on Sunday looks another wise wager.