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Huge Old Firm clash in Scottish FA Cup
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Pressure mounting on Michael Beale
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Goals and a draw a likely outcome
Rangers v Celtic
Sunday, 13:30
Live on ViaPlay
Old Firm rivals clash in semis
Familiar foes Rangers and Celtic meet for the fifth time this season in another Old Firm Derby at Hampden. After Celtic won the League Cup final 2-1, the pair return for the semi-final of the Scottish Cup, and another dramatic match lies ahead.
Rangers beat Celtic at this stage last season before lifting the Scottish Cup with a narrow win over Hearts in the final. With Falkirk and Inverness playing in the other semi, it's expected the winner of Sunday's derby will progress to lift the trophy.
Will the champions defend, or can Ange Postecoglou's side better last season's double with a historic treble? Make your predictions at Betfair.
Pressure is mounting
Rangers' relentless form abandoned them when the club needed it most, and they are now 13 points behind Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic with five games left to play. They opened April with a 2-0 home win over Dundee Utd but lost by the odd goal in five at Celtic Park, hammering another nail into the coffin of their title challenge. Gers will now finish second and could end the campaign without a trophy. Fans are growing restless.
Pressure is mounting on new manager Michael Beale following a 3-2 loss to Celtic and a 2-0 defeat away to Aberdeen last Sunday. That left a bitter taste in the mouth of disgruntled supporters, with some critics suggesting Beale isn't the man to take the club forward and should be considered another failed experiment sooner rather than later. Others are more sympathetic, calling for the boss to get the funds needed for the following two transfer windows.
Whatever your view on the inexperienced Beale, Sunday's return to the national stadium is a must-win game for the cup champions. They must show the team has the character and stomach for a fight and the skill needed to compete with Celtic. Defending the Scottish Cup would help take the heat off those in the Rangers dressing room but won't change the need for new faces in summer.
Bhoys aim to bounce back
Celtic will win the Scottish Premiership, and it's now just a matter of when the trophy will be presented to Postecoglou and his deserving team. They have been emphatic this season, winning more games, scoring more goals, and keeping their conceded tally to a minimum. The Hoops sit top on merit and believe they can take the legs from under Beale by winning a treble.
Despite winning 30 and drawing two of their previous 33 games, Celtic finished level with Motherwell at Celtic Park last weekend. That game finished 1-1 after Callum McGregor broke the deadlock on 24 minutes before Kevin van Veen levelled things shortly after the interval. Two points dropped by the Hoops, and they know better is expected at Hampden.
Having already beaten Rangers at the national stadium in the final of the League Cup, Postecoglou will be confident of adding another victory and taking his side to another final. They are the favourites to win the tie in 90 minutes, without the need for extra time and penalties. Celtic's last Old Firm defeat was six games ago at this stage of the Scottish Cup. A win would prove what football fans north of the border already know; this team is improving.
Stick with the form side
Rangers have lost two of their last three league games, and to make matters worse, their two biggest rivals, Celtic and Aberdeen, inflicted those defeats. Failure to win on Sunday could spell the end for many of the Gers team that went to the final of the Europa League last year, including Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos.
The pre-match betting odds on the Betfair Exchange have Rangers priced at 3.259/4 for the win. That's attractive, but the 2.166/5 on another Celtic victory will be more popular. We expect a nervy game with a few goals, and with last season's Old Firm semi ending 1-1 after 90 minutes, we're happy to take a chance on the draw at 3.814/5.
When approaching this game from a different angle, we note both teams have scored in six of the last seven Old Firm derbies. All four games this season have produced three or more goals, making over 2.5 goals worth a spot in your weekend multiples at 1.728/11.
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