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Old Firm foes to lock horns

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 03/01/2010
Football betting

Glasgow rivals Celtic and Rangers lock horns in the second Old Firm meeting of the season at Parkhead on Sunday.

The two sides met for the first time back in early October, with the Gers running out 2-1 winners at Ibrox thanks to a double from former Bhoys striker Kenny Miller - both within the first 16 minutes of the game.

Aiden McGeady replied midway through the first half from the penalty spot, but Walter Smith's men held on for the three points and they currently lead the way in the title race as well.

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Celtic have made a mixed start to life under new manager Tony Mowbray this season, having already lost three times in the league - away to Rangers, Dundee United and Hearts.

The Jambos also knocked the Bhoys out of the Scottish League Cup, winning 1-0 at Celtic Park in the fourth round of the competition two months ago.

Mowbray's men have also been knocked of both the Champions League and the Europa League this term, having lost out to Arsenal in the qualifying rounds of the first competition, before failing to reach the knockout stages of the latter.

Surprisingly goalscoring has been a problem for the Bhoys, with Scott McDonald the leading league scorer with just nine, although Giorgios Samaras has hit form recently with six goals in his last six games.

Strangely, the only new player set to arrive at Celtic in the near future is Belarus international defender Dimitry Verkhovtsov.

Rangers have lost just once in the league so far this season, with their lone setback coming almost exactly a month ago when they lost 1-0 to Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

And while Celtic have struggled for goals, the sportsbook favourite Gers have two men in a rich vein of form in front of goal.

Former Bhoy Miller will miss the game through suspension, but Kris Boyd goes into game buoyed by becoming the all-time leading scorer in the SPL era.

The 26-year-old former Kilmarnock goal-poacher was three goals shy of the mark set by former Celtic legend Henrik Larsson going into the midweek clash with Dundee United, in which he scored four times as the Terrors were routed 7-1.

However, key defender Madjid Bougherra is set to miss out due to international duty with Algeria ahead of the African Cup of Nations, while a thigh injury is likely to see DaMarcus Beasley sidelined.

Last season's two games at Celtic Park ended in a goalless draw and a 4-2 victory for the visitors and, with the Gers already seven points clear at the top of the table, the home side desperately need a victory.

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