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Rangers logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 1
Apr 11, 2021 at 3pm UK
Ibrox Stadium
Hibs logo

Rangers
2 - 1
Hibernian

Aribo (20'), Kent (62')
Barisic (64'), Kamara (70'), Helander (85')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Nisbet (78')
Boyle (27')

Preview: Rangers vs. Hibernian - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Scottish Premiership clash between Rangers and Hibernian, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Scottish Premiership champions Rangers will host Hibernian on Sunday afternoon hoping to claim their 17th home victory and maintain their 100% record at Ibrox.

Meanwhile, Hibs will be looking to secure their 11th away victory in this season's top-flight; only the Gers have won more league games on the road so far the campaign.


Match preview

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard pictured on January 2, 2021© Reuters

After failing to win any of their last three matches in all competitions – their longest run without a victory so far this season – Rangers bounced back with a commanding 4-0 win against League One side Cove Rangers in the third round of the Scottish Cup last weekend.

A brace from Kemar Roofe, as well as strikes from Jermain Defoe and Nathan Patterson, booked their place in the fourth round where they will face Old Firm rivals Celtic at Ibrox next weekend.

Rangers now return to Scottish Premiership action and having already claimed their first top-flight title in a decade, Steven Gerrard will be hoping that his team can become only the second in history to go an entire league campaign undefeated.

The Gers have won 28 of their 33 league games, drawing the other five, and have won all 16 of their home league fixtures this term.

Gerrard's side, who have accumulated 89 points, are also on course to reach the 100 points milestone which has only ever been achieved once before, by rivals Celtic in the 2016-17 campaign.

Rangers are unbeaten in 11 league meetings with Hibernian, winning six of their last seven top-flight games against them, including their last two by a 1-0 scoreline this season.

Hibernian manager Jack Ross pictured in October 2020© Reuters

Hibernian progressed from the third round of the Scottish Cup for the 17th consecutive season courtesy of a 3-1 win away at Championship outfit Queen of the South last weekend.

After ending his 15-game goal drought against Livingston just before the international break, striker Christian Doidge hit a brace, while Martin Boyle was also on the scoresheet in a comfortable victory at Palmerston Park.

Hibs currently sit third in the Scottish Premiership but will not be able to finish any higher if second-placed Celtic were to win against Livingston on Saturday; the last time the Edinburgh-based club finished inside the top three was back in the 2004-05 campaign.

Jack Ross's side head to Rangers having lost only one of their six away league games in 2021 so far, but they have failed to win any of their last five visits to Ibrox, losing each of the last four.

Victory on Sunday is unlikely for Hibs, but a surprise win could see them move 10 points clear of fourth-placed Aberdeen, who they will face in a month's time.

Rangers Scottish Premiership form:
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D

Rangers form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • W

Hibernian Scottish Premiership form:
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • D

Hibernian form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • W


Team News

Rangers players celebrate after Celtic's Callum McGregor scores an own goal in the Scottish Premiership on January 2, 2021© Reuters

Last weekend, Gerrard made seven changes to the Rangers team that drew away at Celtic, and he could make a similar number of changes for Sunday's match.

Allan McGregor, Joe Aribo, Ianis Hagi, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos could all return to the first XI.

Captain James Tavernier is closing in on his return to action after being out since February with a knee injury sustained in the Europa League first-leg clash with Royal Antwerp.

Hibernian currently have no injury or suspension concerns ahead of this weekend's trip to Ibrox.

Ross is set to stick with a 3-5-2 formation and is not expected to make too many changes to his starting lineup, although Israeli goalkeeper Ofir Marciano is set to replace Matt Macey.

Rangers possible starting lineup:
McGregor; Patterson, Goldson, Helander, Baricic; Kamara, Davies, Aribo; Hagi, Morelos, Kent

Hibernian possible starting lineup:
Marciano; McGinn, Porteous, Hanlon; Boyle, Irvine, Newell, Gogic, Doig; Nisbet, Doidge


SM words green background

We say: Rangers 2-0 Hibernian

All three encounters between Rangers and Hibernian this campaign have been tight affairs, with the Gers winning the last two by a one-goal margin and drawing the other meeting 2-2 in September.

Sunday's game could be another cagey contest, but we expect the hosts to claim another three points at Ibrox to keep up their perfect home record.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Rangers win with a probability of 59.56%. A draw had a probability of 22.6% and a win for Hibernian had a probability of 17.86%.

The most likely scoreline for a Rangers win was 1-0 with a probability of 12.1%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-0 (11.06%) and 2-1 (9.81%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (10.73%), while for a Hibernian win it was 0-1 (5.88%). The actual scoreline of 2-1 was predicted with a 9.8% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Rangers would win this match.


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Game History

How you voted: Rangers vs Hibernian

Rangers
84.0%
Draw
8.0%
Hibernian
8.0%
25
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Rangers players celebrate after Celtic's Callum McGregor scores an own goal in the Scottish Premiership on January 2, 2021
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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