Old Firm Betting - Celtic vs Rangers Tips and Odds
You may know that the Old Firm is one of the biggest derby matches in the UK, pitting the two Glasgow teams, Rangers and Celtic, against each other in the Scottish Premiership. But what else do you know about it? Is it a match worth betting on? What sort of odds will you get? And how often does it come around?
About the Old Firm Derby
Like many local teams, Celtic and Rangers have a long-held rivalry that goes beyond football itself and shapes the identity of the two sets of fans. The Old Firm Derby has a history so long that it’s not even quite clear why it’s called that. It probably dates back to a comic published in the Scottish Referee newspaper, prior to the 1904 Scottish Cup Final, which showed a man with a sandwich board reading: ‘Patronise The Old Firm: Rangers, Celtic Ltd.’ It has also been speculated that it refers to match commentators who have described the rival teams as “two old, firm friends”.
What we know for certain is that the Old Firm is usually the most common Scottish derby, as the teams tend to play each other up to four times in a season. Perhaps due partly to the national character of the Scottish people, it’s also one of the most passionate football rivalries in the world, sometimes compared to the famous El Clásico derby between Barcelona and Real Madrid. While the clubs’ rivalry has been consistent over time, many Celtic fans no longer consider Rangers to be the same club, due to its financial collapse and subsequent ‘re-birth’ in 2012. This is why some Celtic fans, and the club itself, now refer to the Old Firm Derby simply as the Glasgow Derby.
Celtic vs Rangers Winner Betting Markets
Bets can be placed on the overall winner of the match and are generally placed before the action begins. A bet on either Celtic or Rangers to win will come with fairly similar odds, due to how closely matched the teams are. Factors on the day can impact the odds that the bookies are offering, and in-play bets after the game has begun will also obviously offer odds based on the action so far. However, generally speaking, you won’t be getting great odds on a winner bet in the Old Firm Derby.
While the teams are well-matched, which is part of what makes the Old Firm Derby so exciting for fans, studying the form of each team in the run-up to a derby will likely give you some idea of who to bet on. In the 2021-2022 season for instance, the surprise departure of Steven Gerrard set Rangers back, but Celtic also struggled to find their feet under new manager Ange Postecoglou. Depending on a number of factors in the lead-up to any given game, either Rangers or Celtic might be looking stronger on the day.
Old Firm Celtic vs Rangers Match Betting Markets
You can also, of course, place a game bet, or match bet, on the Old Firm Derby match, speculating on the result of the game. There will be a range of bet types available, including total goals (placed as an over/under bet), correct score, both teams to score, half-time/full-time results, and draw no bet. Game betting is popular, and again, you’ll find some bookies, including LeoVegas, offering in-play betting, with odds varying according to what’s happening on the pitch.
Old Firm Player Betting Markets
Many bookies and online sportsbooks will offer betting markets based on the actions of specific players, such as first goal scorer, last goal scorer, or anytime goal scorer. Remember that these bets only apply to the regular 90 minutes of play, not to extra time or penalty shoot-outs, for example, and own goals don’t count. Depending on where you bet, player bets can also be impacted by what happens during the game, such as injuries and substitutions. At some bookies, you may get your stake back if your chosen player spends the game on the bench.
2023 Celtic Betting - Key Players
There are many high-profile players who play for the two Glasgow clubs. In 2022, Celtic’s best players included Greg Taylor, who has put in some exceptional performances recently, and Reo Hatate, their Japanese midfielder who has demonstrated amazing technical ability, along with an energy and enthusiasm much appreciated by fans. Most agree that one of the young players to watch on the team is 22-year-old Matt O’Riley, who is showing great maturity and potential in his midfield position with the club.
2023 Rangers Betting - Key Players
Rangers also have some players to watch, and potentially bet on, in 2023 Old Firm Derbies, such as Croatian centre-forward Antonio Čolak; Colombian Alfredo Morelos, who plays as centre-forward, left winger or right winger; and experienced right-back James Tavernier, who also gets moved up into midfield positions at times.
2023 Celtic vs Rangers Betting
Scottish Premiership Winner - Rangers or Celtic?
The biggest question ahead of every Scottish Premiership season since Rangers returned to the top flight in 2016 is whether or not they can pip Celtic to the title. They have achieved this feat once, breaking up Celtic’s run of nine straight championships with success in 2021. However, Celtic once again secured the trophy in the 2021/22 season.
For the 2022/23 campaign, there are a lot of different factors at play. Rangers made an early change of manager, with Giovanni van Bronckhorst replaced by ex-QPR boss Michael Beale in November, while Celtic have Angelos Postecoglou in the dugout once again, looking for his second league win. There have been plenty of changes in the playing staff too, with both clubs bringing in a mixture of experience, talent, and potential. Celtic look to have the edge on paper though, and it will take a lot from Rangers to cause an upset.
Old Firm Facts & Figures
Rangers were founded in 1872 and Celtic in 1887. Their first-ever match was a friendly played at the old Celtic Park in 1888, where Celtic beat Rangers 5-2.
The biggest ever Old Firm win was 7-1 to Celtic on 19th October 1957.
In 1969, Hampden Park saw a record attendance for an Old Firm match, with 132,870 spectators at the Scottish Cup Final.
The first ever SPL Old Firm fixture took place in September 1998 at Ibrox and ended in a no-score draw.
No player has scored a hat-trick in an Old Firm match since Ally McCoist scored three times in the final of the 1983/84 League Cup.
A few players have played for both Rangers and Celtic, including Kenny Miller, Maurice Johnston, Steven Pressley, and Mark Brown.
Kenny Miller has actually bounced back and forth between the Old Firm clubs, having played for Rangers first, then Celtic, and then Rangers again.
Celtic vs Rangers FAQs
Why is There a Rivalry Between Celtic & Rangers?
The rivalry between the two clubs is, as is often the case, about more than football, and spills over into religion, politics and national identity. Traditionally, Rangers fans have identified as native Scots or ‘Ulster Scots’ and generally followed the Protestant religion, while Celtic fans tended to be Irish-Scots and Roman Catholic. To complicate matters further, Rangers supporters are known as pro-British and Loyalist, whereas Celtic fans are pro-Irish and Republican. Matches can become heated and even violent, with conflict between the fans often focused on much more than what is happening on the pitch.
Who Has Had More Success in the Old Firm Derby?
To say that Celtic and Rangers are pretty closely matched is an understatement. In the 432 times that Celtic and Rangers have faced each other in major competitions, Rangers have won 168 matches, and Celtic 162, with 102 ending in a draw. When it comes to the Scottish league, the story is similar. As of 2022, Rangers had won 55 league titles and Celtic 52. No club outside the Old Firm has won the title since 1985, when Aberdeen, managed by Alex Ferguson at the time, were the surprise victors.