Celtic vs Rangers predictions: Refreshed Bhoys to overpower rivals
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- Celtic hold a 16-point lead over Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership
- Rangers have lost four of their last seven matches across all competitions
- Recommended bet: Celtic to win with a -1 handicap
Celtic appear to have the Scottish Premiership already wrapped up as they prepare to welcome nearest challengers Rangers to Celtic Park for the fourth Old Firm derby of the season on Sunday.
The Bhoys can move 19 points clear at the top of the standings with victory over their fierce rivals, who are a distant second and will go into this game following an ultimately successful, but energy-sapping Europa League clash with Fenerbahce.
Team news
Celtic have no fresh injury concerns heading into this game, although James Forrest (foot) and Paulo Bernardo (ankle) remain sidelined and are not expected to return until later this month.
Rangers' injury list is also looking pretty light given we are entering the business end of the season, with Neraysho Kasanwirjo (knee) their only confirmed absentee, although Connor Barron was forced off during extra-time against Fenerbahce on Thursday and must now be considered a doubt.
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The stats
Celtic have a near-perfect record on home soil this season, winning 13 and losing none of their 14 Premiership matches at Celtic Park, scoring 48 goals and conceding just three in the process.
Brendan Rodgers' side have not lost a domestic match on their own patch since going down 2-0 to Hearts in December 2023.
The Bhoys are unbeaten in their last eight meetings with Rangers at Celtic Park, winning the last five, including a 3-0 success earlier this season.
Rangers won the last meeting between the two sides 3-0 at Ibrox on January 2.
The Gers held a 3-1 first-leg lead heading into Thursday's Europa League round-of-16 return match against Fenerbahce on home soil, but they lost that game 2-0 before progressing to the quarter-finals on penalties.
Interim boss Barry Ferguson replaced Philippe Clement as manager last month and he has lost two of his four matches in charge.
Ferguson won 14 of the 40 Old Firm derbies he played in as a Rangers player, scoring three goals.
Prediction
Celtic have once again been the dominant force in Scotland this season and victory on Sunday would all but seal a fourth Premiership title on the bounce, as they would move 19 points clear with eight games remaining.
With the Scottish League Cup already in the bag following December's penalty shootout success over Rangers at Hampden Park and a Scottish Cup semi-final against St Johnstone to come, a second treble in three seasons is also on the cards.
Given that they will have had eight days to prepare for this game, while Rangers were involved in a physically and emotionally draining clash with Fenerbahce on Thursday, a refreshed Celtic should take some stopping in this one.
A near-perfect home record also makes it hard to envisage anything other than a comfortable win for Celtic and they could be worth siding with in the handicap market.
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