Both Rangers and Celtic have had far from ideal preparations for the first Old Firm derby of the season at Ibrox on Sunday. The Light Blues have been hampered by Covid issues while Celtic will have no official supporters at Ibrox for this Scottish Premiership clash.
With 23,000 fans allowed into Ibrox, Rangers can begin the new Scottish Premiership campaign by again celebrating last season’s stunning title triumph. Steven Gerrard’s side ended Celtic’s dominance north of the border when topping the table by 25 points.
Celtic can put a heart-breaking Champions League exit behind them to start their Scottish Premiership campaign with a win at Hearts. The Jambos easily earned promotion from the Championship and have done well in the Premier Sports Cup but now step up in class.
Aberdeen’s players appear to have come together through adversity and we’re backing them to battle for a draw at high-flying Hibernian. The hosts have only dropped two points from five Scottish Premiership matches but recent evidence suggests they may be flattered by a lofty position.
Hamilton ended a run of seven straight losses to Rangers when securing a surprise 1-0 Scottish Premiership success at Ibrox in March. In fact, the Accies have managed to score in three consecutive encounters with the Light Blues and are rated a value bet to keep that run going.
Celtic enjoyed a fine Champions League victory over KR Reykjavik in midweek and are also expected to ease past Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership. The Terrors have shown great spirit since returning to the top flight but we fear this clash may provide them with a reality check.
Scottish Premiership high-flyers Hibernian have found McDiarmid Park a happy hunting ground in recent years and can beat St Johnstone there again on Sunday. The Edinburgh outfit are unbeaten in their last five trips to this venue, picking up maximum points from the two most recent visits.
Aberdeen return to action for the first time since falling foul of coronavirus protocols and face a tricky trip to St Johnstone on Thursday. Saints have made a solid start to the new Scottish Premiership campaign, picking up four points from three away fixtures and only losing to Rangers.
Rangers have hit the ground running this term and should prove too sharp for St Johnstone in Wednesday’s Scottish Premiership clash. With even Alfredo Morelos getting back on track over the weekend, Steven Gerrard’s men have already built up some strong early momentum.
Celtic suffered an early setback in their quest for a 10th straight Scottish Premiership title on Sunday and will be keen to tighten up when visiting St Mirren. The Hoops have won the last five head-to-head encounters between these teams, with Saints scoring in only one of those fixtures.
Celtic have claimed six straight Scottish Premiership wins over Kilmarnock and are worthy favourites to extend that sequence at Rugby Park. However, Killie did at least manage to get on the scoresheet in all three meetings last term and are fancied to grab a consolation goal again here.
Celtic begin their quest for a 10th straight Scottish Premiership title by hosting Hamilton and a routine win is expected at Parkhead. The Hoops have come out on top in their last 12 head-to-head meetings with Sunday’s opponents, who finished second from bottom last term.
The new Scottish Premiership campaign kicks off with an intriguing clash, as last season’s runners-up Rangers travel to fourth-placed Aberdeen. Pittodrie has proved a tough place to visit for the Light Blues, who have only picked up one win from their last five trips to this venue.
With COVID-19 causing havoc among the sporting world, we are taking a look at the latest football coronavirus news in terms of fixtures being postponed. Major leagues and competitions have been shut down around the globe, with a number of high-profile players and managers already affected by the disease.