One of the most anticipated match days in the Scottish Premiership is upon us, with the legendary Old Firm derby between Rangers and Celtic set to capture football fans' attention this Thursday, January 2, 2025. Meanwhile, several other high-stakes encounters are scheduled, promising to pique interest as teams vie for points early in the new year.
The highlight of the day is undoubtedly the clash at Ibrox Stadium, where Rangers will host their bitter rivals, Celtic. Celtic has been on a roll lately, enjoying the perfect holiday season with promising victories, including back-to-back 4-0 wins over Motherwell and St Johnstone, resulting in them boasting a remarkable 14-point lead at the top of the table. "Celtic have enjoyed the perfect holiday season so far... you may as well hand them the trophy now," noted talkSPORT. This exceptional form has raised anticipations for Celtic's performance against Rangers.
On the flip side, Rangers have been struggling, only managing to secure one win across their last three matches. Their latest result was a worrying 2-2 draw against Motherwell, after coming back from being two goals down - making it evident they are nowhere near the form needed to challenge Celtic. The performance has led to concerns among their supporters as they prepare for one of the biggest matches of the season.
With Celtic's dominant record against Rangers in recent years, the odds are stacked against the Gers. Indeed, Rangers have only managed to beat Celtic once in their last seventeen meetings, and the memories of the recent League Cup final, where they fell short on penalties after drawing 3-3, continue to linger. Predictions suggest the match-ups will be as intense as ever, with experts betting on Celtic to win 3-1, as they look to solidify their status as league leaders.
Beyond the Old Firm derby, the match between Aberdeen and Ross County is another fixture to watch. After initially performing well, Aberdeen's form has soured dramatically, with the club failing to win any of their last eight matches. Coming off another disappointing result, they now face Ross County, who have enjoyed recent success and are eager to capitalize on Aberdeen's woes. Given the dismal form of the Dons, predicting this encounter to end 2-2 may not be out of reach.
Meanwhile, Hearts will be up against Motherwell at Tynecastle. Both teams have struggled of late, with Hearts needing to shed the shadow of their past performances. Experts suggest Motherwell, having recently performed impressively against Rangers, will take the battle to Hearts, providing for what could be another close affair, potentially ending 2-1 to Motherwell.
Fans can also look forward to the Kilmarnock vs. St Mirren clash, where two squads with designs on finishing high are set to meet. With Kilmarnock eager to gain ground and keep pace with St Mirren, who currently lies fifth, predictions indicate this may also end as another draw, possibly 1-1.
Lastly, St Johnstone's bottom-placed team face Hibernian, who are boasting recent confidence with back-to-back victories. Given St Johnstone's struggle to find form, Hibs can be expected to dominate this matchup, and experts concur with Hibernian likely to triumph with at least three goals.
Rounding off this exciting match day is the Dundee Derby, as Dundee takes on city rivals Dundee United. With the two clubs so close geographically, the local rivalry intensifies the stakes for this encounter. Dundee United have been enjoying impressive success, positioning them as favorites to win this derby, with predictions favoring them to take the triumph 2-1.
The festive season promises thrilling football, and with so many engaging encounters scheduled, supporters are braced for another unforgettable showcase of talent, drama, and rivalry. It's the perfect way to welcome 2025 for fans of Scottish football.