Old Firm Derby preview: A title party at Parkhead?

Old Firm derby victory could be decisive for Celtic in their hopes for Scottish Premiership glory, but they will have to get past their old enemy. 

We preview the fiery fixture happening this weekend.

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Can Celtic reclaim title?   

Title hopes will hang in the balance when Celtic host the current Scottish Premiership champions Rangers this weekend, and while this fixture doesn’t usually need any more drama to add to the occasion, this will definitely play a part.

Celtic have one hand on the Scottish Premiership trophy already and victory here could see the club looking at local open-top bus availability. With just four games remaining this season Ange Postecoglou’s side are six points clear of their nearest pursuers, Rangers.

Having won the title last year under Steven Gerrard, Rangers have failed to reach the same heights this campaign, which has left the door wide open for Celtic to reclaim bragging rights.

Should Celtic win this, they’d go nine points clear of their rivals with just three games remaining and with a goal difference that will be extremely unlikely to be matched. Ultimately, this means that Celtic would have to lose their final three games and Rangers win theirs all by extraordinary margins, so a Hoops win would all but mathematically hand the Scottish Premiership back to Celtic.

However, if Postecoglou’s side were held to a draw or a loss then the fight is still very much on. But in truth Celtic don’t look likely to slip up at this point, they have won their last six league games and haven’t registered a loss in the league since September last year. If Celtic’s consistent form wasn’t concern enough, Rangers may have one eye on the Europa League having played the first leg of their semi-final against RB Leipzig on Thursday night. Tasting a 1-0 loss to the German side away from home, they may just feel that their attention is better spent on the European competition with Celtic holding pole position in the league.

The Hoops go into the clash the 10/11 favourites which has to look a big price considering the above, while Rangers can be backed at 3/1 for an upset. It would certainly be a tough pill to swallow for the current champions – losing to their Old Firm rivals and seeing their Scottish Premiership title hopes vanish in the process – but it would be a digested a lot quicker if they were to go on and lift some European silverware. But for now, it’s all eyes on the derby.

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