ON Sunday we witness the first meeting between Celtic and Rangers in three years. Our Scottish football expert Willie Duncan (@Willie_Duncan) gives us his view on the game.
Celtic v Rangers | Sunday 13:30 | BBC Scotland
Whether you view Sunday's Scottish League Cup semi-final at Hampden Park between Celtic and Rangers as the first meeting between the two clubs since 2012 or the first ever meeting between the clubs, (believe me, there's no chance of me getting involved in that debate for fear of my Twitter timeline melting!) it is certainly a match to whet the appetite – and I've found a delicious bet for you.
Celtic have had their critics this season and, at times, they certainly haven't been at their best but they are back at the top of the Premiership – and I'll be astonished if they don't finish the season there.
At Ibrox, it's all doom and gloom off the pitch, but things aren't great on the field either. Kenny McDowall's side are miles behind Hearts in the Scottish Championship title race and, to be honest, on the two occasions that I've seen Rangers in the flesh this term, they have not impressed me at all.
Their defence is vulnerable, with Lee McCulloch, Bilel Mohsni and Darren McGregor all badly lacking in pace, while Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller have been bitterly disappointing up front.
I've also seen Celtic twice in the flesh this season – and there is a significant gulf in class between these two teams, in my opinion. Celtic have kept a clean sheet in each of their last five domestic fixtures and have conceded just three goals in their last 10 competitive games.
Whichever way you look at it, that's a tough nut for Rangers to crack and the Hoops look like excellent value at -1 in the handicap market ahead of Sunday's showdown at Hampden!
Best Bet
Celtic v Rangers – Celtic -1 (Evens Paddy Power)
