Our prediction for this Scottish Premiership match:
Celtic
Match Time & Date:
02/02/2022
20:45
Prediction: 0-1
Rangers
All eyes will be on Celtic Park when Celtic and Rangers face each other in the Old Firm derby. The Hoops are only two points behind Rangers in the Premiership standings, meaning that this game could prove to be crucial, speaking of the title race. Midfielder Neil Bitton is banned for the hosts, while both Tom Rogic and Daizen Maeda are on international duty. Since important attacker Kyogo Furuhashi remains in the recovery room, home win should not be considered.
Rangers, on the other hand, dropped two points in a 2-2 draw with Ross County. Given the number of absentees in the home team, we predict that the reigning champions are going to emerge triumphant in the local derby. To make things even worse for the home side, the match will be played behind closed doors. Alfredo Morelos is on international duty, while Hagi, Davis, Ofoborh, and Helander should miss out with injuries for the away side.
Highlighted Player (Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo):
Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo is a left winger who was born in Antwerp, Belgium on July 1, 1995. Bolingoli-Mbombo is a product of Beerschot youth academy, but he played for Club Brugge during his youth career as well. The pacey winger made his first-team debut with Club Brugge on July 26, 2013 in the opening match of the 2013/2014, coming as a substitute for Maxime Lestienne in the dying minutes of the game.
On March 19, 2015 Bolingoli-Mbombo produced one of the best performances of his career as he scored a brace against Besiktas in the Europa league last 16, helping Club Brugge make it to the quarter-finals of the European competition. The Belgian footballer, who is a cousin of Manchester United attacker Romelu Lukaku, has yet to earn a cap for the national team.
Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo’s main position is left winger, but he is used as a left back as well. In 2017 he moved to Rapid Vienna and he has been playing for the Austrian side ever since.
Highlighted Team (Rangers):
Glasgow Rangers are one of the two synonyms for Scottish Football. Glasgow Rangers were founded back in 1872 and they have been playing an important role in the Scottish top flight ever since. The Gers won their 54th Scottish Premier League title in the 2010/2011 season, but winning of European Cup Winners’ Cup trophy in 1972 is considered the club’s biggest success.
Glasgow Rangers defeated Dynamo Moscow in the final of the competition, with the likes of Stein and Johnston (two goals) scoring for the Scottish side. Celtic are considered the club’s biggest rivals and there have always been fireworks when the two teams meet in the Old Firm derby. The likes of Paul Gascoigne, David Weir, Stefan Klos, Chris Boyd, Ian Durrant and Kenny Miller are some of Rangers’ former notable players.
It has to be noted that the Gers welcome their rivals at Ibrox Stadium, the venue with the capacity of 50,817. Rangers’ support is largely drawn from the Protestant Unionist community.
