In a highly anticipated showdown, arch-rivals Celtic and Rangers will go head-to-head in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams have a rich history in the competition, with Celtic winning it 41 times and Rangers 34 times. This is their first meeting in the final since 2002.
Match Preview
Celtic enters the final as favorites, having recently secured the Scottish Premiership trophy with a thrilling 3-2 victory over St. Mirren.
They finished eight points clear of second-placed Rangers after losing only three out of 38 league matches. Under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers, Celtic has been in exceptional form this season.
Rangers, on the other hand, ended their Premiership campaign with a 3-3 draw against Hearts.
Their recent form has been inconsistent, with four wins, three draws, and two losses in their last nine matches.
However, they have performed well in the Scottish Cup, winning all four cup games at both half time and full time.
Celtic has comfortably won their first three Scottish Cup matches, scoring a total of 11 goals.
In the semi-finals, they faced a tough challenge against Aberdeen and drew 3-3 before eventually winning on penalties.
Throughout the Scottish Cup season, Celtic has been averaging an impressive 3.5 goals per game.
Rangers have also been strong in the Scottish Cup, scoring 10 goals and keeping three clean sheets in their four matches.
Despite their inconsistent form, they will enter the final with confidence, aiming to end the season on a high note.
Head-to-Head:
In recent years, Celtic has dominated the head-to-head record against Rangers.
The Gers have managed only one victory in their last 14 meetings across all competitions, suffering nine defeats during that period.
In addition, Rangers have won just one of their previous eight Scottish Cup matches against Celtic, which adds to the pressure they face in this final.
Team News & Updates:
Celtic will be missing James McCarthy and Adam Montgomery due to muscle injuries.
Rangers, on the other hand, are likely to be without Leon Balogun, Connor Goldson, Oscar Cortes, and Rabbi Matondo, who are all dealing with various muscle and knock-related injuries.
Prediction & Analysis:
Despite Celtic’s recent dominance in this fixture, Rangers are expected to put up a fierce fight at Hampden Park.
Both teams possess attacking quality, and we predict that both will find the back of the net on Saturday.
However, Rangers might outscore Celtic to clinch the trophy in Glasgow.