Football Bet of the Day: Celtic & Rangers to entertain again at Hampden

The Scottish Cup final rolls back around on Saturday with two rivals going at it in Celtic and Rangers. The Bhoys finished eight points clear of the Gers to win the Scottish Premiership, but the runners-up did lift the Scottish League Cup in December and will be looking to make it a cup double this weekend.

The 15:00 kick-off at Hampden Park features as my football bet of the day for Saturday, May 25.

These two great rivals have already met four times this season, all of which came in the league, and it's Celtic who hold the bragging rights after winning three of them.

Kyogo Furuhashi scored the only goal of the game in the first head-to-head at Ibrox in September, and the Japanese striker was on target again at Celtic Park over three months later as the Bhoys won 2-1 on December 30, Paulo Bernardo scoring their other and Rangers captain James Tavernier netting a consolation.

The third match, on April 7, was a real thriller as the sides played out a pulsating 3-3 draw. Daizen Maeda and Matt O'Riley sent Celtic into the lead at half-time, but Tavernier and Abdallah Sima struck in the second half to level the scores. Adam Idah then put the visitors back in front at Ibrox before Rabbi Matondo equalised deep into added time.

The latest match between the pair, on May 11, was the real killer for Rangers, as it put paid to their title hopes. O'Riley opened the scoring and a John Lundstram own-goal added to the Gers' pain at Celtic Park. Cyriel Dessers got one back on 40 minutes, but a red card for Lundstram ruined the visitors' chances of a comeback.

Now, Phillipe Clement's side go in search of revenge, as they look to beat Celtic for the first time this season and win the Scottish Cup in the process.

That's easier said than done, however, with Celtic certainly in the groove of late. Brendan Rodgers' team won their final six matches of their Premiership campaign and haven't lost in any competition since March 3, going unbeaten in their last 11.

Rangers, meanwhile, drew 3-3 at Hearts on the final day of their league campaign, and haven't beaten Celtic since May 2023 in a match that was ultimately meaningless as the Bhoys won the league by seven points.

 The Gers have been able to find a way past Celtic's defence, though, scoring in each of the last three head-to-heads, netting five times.

It's at the other end where they have had issues, shipping seven across the same period.

Celtic have won with both teams scoring twice already this term, and I can see them making it a hat-trick on Saturday.

Rodgers' side have won three of their last five games with both sides finding the net, while the Gers scored in all four of their Premiership defeats this season.

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