Michael Beardmore has recorded more than 25pts profit in the opening weeks of the 2023-24 football season.
- Follow him here - @MickeyBeardmore
Football betting tips: Scottish Premiership
1.5pts Matt O’Riley 1+ shots on target at 13/8 (Betway)
1pt James Tavernier 1+ shots on target at 12/5 (Betway)
0.5pts Matt O’Riley 2+ shots on target at 9/1 (Betway)
Michael Beale’s first Old Firm derby as Rangers manager comes amid testing times for the new man at the helm at Ibrox.
Not only have arch-rivals and defending champions Celtic won 11 of the past 12 Scottish Premiership titles, Brendan Rodgers' Bhoys have also had a far less taxing start to the new season than the Gers.
Beale’s men played eight games in August, culminating with a confidence-sapping second-leg thrashing at PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League qualifiers in midweek. Celtic, meanwhile, qualified for the group stages automatically.
On top of that, an opening-day domestic defeat by Kilmarnock means Rangers have already dropped precious league points – although Celtic haven’t been perfect, losing to Killie in the League Cup and held by St Johnstone in the league.
What are the best bets in Rangers v Celtic?
Put all the above together and you can see how hard this one is to call, especially so early in the season and with bragging rights at stake – Celtic seem the better team but Rangers could rally after their midweek mauling.
The outright outcome, as often in a derby, is surely best swerved and I instead want to focus on lively Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley who has blossomed since moving north of the border from MK Dons.
Since joining the Bhoys, the 22-year-old has played 63 times in the Scottish top flight and Champions League, scoring nine times but, more importantly, recording 51 efforts on target.
That’s not far off testing the goalkeeper every game on average and makes the 13/8 Betway offer on O’RILEY 1+ SHOTS ON TARGET look the standout bet in this game.
Given how confidently he’s begun this campaign in particular – eight shots on target in three SPL games, scoring twice – I’ll also chance a smaller stake on O’RILEY 2+ SHOTS ON TARGET at a tasty 9/1, also with Betway.
I don’t want to do a disservice to Gers fans either so we’ll add JAMES TAVERNIER 1+ SHOTS ON TARGET to the staking plan at a mammoth price of 12/5 with the same firm.
Since the start of 2022-23, the defender-cum-wing-back has enjoyed 47 efforts on target in 47 SPL and UCL games. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that’s one per game and huge value.
BuildABet @20/1
- O'Riley 1+ shots on target
- Tavernier 1+ shots on target
- Kyogo Furuhashi to score anytime
- Rangers 14+ shots
Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi has been a reliable source of goals since joining the Bhoys in the summer of 2021, netting 41 times in 59 Scottish Premiership appearances. He also bagged five goals in the six league and cup Old Firm derbies last term.
Rangers have been a very attacking side this term, attempting 21 shots per game. Obviously the improved quality of opposition will lessen that but we can still expect them to unleash a decent amount in a derby in front of their home fans.
Score prediction: Rangers 1-2 Celtic (Sky Bet odds: 17/2)
Odds correct 1850 BST (01/09/23)
Team news
Rangers are still without injured trio Steven Davis, Kieran Dowell and Ridvan Yilmaz.
Michael Beale must decide whether to stick with the side that lost so heavily in Holland or make changes but his options are relatively limited.
Celtic’s injury list is even longer with Cameron Carter-Vickers, James McCarthy, Maik Nawrocki, Reo Hatate, Yuki Kobayashi, Marco Tilio, Stephen Welsh and Oh Hyeon-Gyu out.
Predicted line-ups
Rangers: Butland; Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic; Cifuentes, Lundstram, Raskin; Cantwell; Matondo, Dessers
Celtic: Hart; Johnston, Lagerkielke, Scales, Taylor; O'Riley, McGregor, Turnbull; Maeda, Furuhashi, Yang
More from Sporting Life
- Fixtures, results and live scores
- Expert xG analysis and features
- Transfer news and done deals
- Football and other sports tips
- Download our free iOS and Android app
- Podcasts and video content
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.
