Seven pundits predict how Celtic v Rangers will unfold

Scottish Cup final: Celtic v Rangers

Where: Hampden Park, Glasgow When: Saturday, 25 May Time: 15:00 BST

How to follow: Watch live on BBC One Scotland, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app; listen to live radio commentary on Sportsound; follow live updates

For the first time in 22 years, Celtic and Rangers meet at Hampden Park in a Scottish Cup final.

Brendan Rodgers' side bounce to the national stadium looking to make it a league and cup double after claiming a 12th Premiership title in 13 seasons.

Meanwhile, Philippe Clement's men are aiming to alleviate the pain of missing out on the top-flight crown by adding to the League Cup they won in December.

The recent form of both sides, plus Celtic's derby dominance, means Rodgers and his players will make the short trip to Hampden as favourites.

But how do the pundits see it unfolding?

'Depleted Rangers must change approach'

Former Scotland forward James McFadden says a “supremely confident” Celtic will fancy themselves, given their recent derby dominance - and a Rangers “rebuild is required” regardless of Saturday’s outcome.

Celtic’s dominance in this fixture is what stands out. Rangers have struggled to get to grips with them and have found themselves two goals down in the blink of an eye in the last few meetings. That has to change.

Celtic are hitting top form at the minute. In the last month some of their football has been outstanding. They’ll be supremely confident.

Meanwhile, Rangers are struggling with form and injuries. That could have an impact. You never make a team heavy favourites heading into an Old Firm game because anything can happen, but Celtic are certainly favourites.

Rangers have to get at Celtic and try to stop them from playing because how they have approached the derbies this campaign has not worked. They are facing a Celtic team in full swing.

Motivation is never an issue for either side, it always means a lot in the Scottish football landscape. If Celtic go and win a league and cup double, it’s been a very good season. If Rangers win their second cup of the campaign, it helps the manager with the narrative surrounding him.

Even if Rangers win the cup, I think people acknowledge there needs to be big changes this summer. A rebuild is required. Regardless of what happens at Hampden, it will need to be a different Rangers next season.

'Psychological advantage gives Celtic edge'

Ex-Scotland midfielder Michael Stewart believes Celtic could have the mental edge over Rangers - and that Brendan Rodgers’ midfield is likely to be key at Hampden.

Celtic’s strongest midfield is back together. When those three are firing, it causes so many problems for the opposition – particularly Rangers.

There is a lot of debate among Rangers fans about whether they want John Lundstram to be starting. Whether he is there or not, who else will be? They have got so many injury issues.

Rangers have been grinding to a halt, while for Celtic, things seem to be coming together for the cup final. The middle of the park is a big concern for Rangers because Celtic are full strength in there.

The recent matches will be playing on Rangers’ mind. The performance at Ibrox in the 3-3 draw got into their heads I think. Celtic were very good and then they followed it up with a win at home a few weeks later.

Celtic have not lost a derby this season. If the game goes down to fine margins, maybe that psychological advantage gives Celtic the edge. It will not be beneficial to Rangers in any way.

You can talk about spinning it into a positive all you want, saying there is no better time to rectify the record in the cup final and go out on a high, but putting that into action is different.

'Celtic have more match winners'

Ex-Celtic centre-back Johan Mjallby, who played in the 2002 Scottish Cup final between the sides, is intrigued to see how Rangers set up and is expecting a blistering start from both teams.

Celtic have more of the momentum if you look at the results during the season. They had a wee wobble, but the last two months they have really hit top form and when it mattered they played their best football and that is the proof they are true champions.

There is probably more pressure on Rangers to get their tactics perfect because Celtic have had a lot of success during the Old Firm games and they very seldom change the way they play football.

But this is a one-off game, it is going to be a wee different, but Celtic should go into the game with a lot of confidence because they have already won the league. I think they have more match winners.

It’s going to be a frantic first 15 to 20 minutes, it will be interesting to see if Rangers press high as Celtic do, to try and see if they can win the ball high up.

'Dessers could make himself Rangers hero'

Former Rangers defender Arthur Numan, who also played in the classic 2002 final, feels Saturday could be the chance for the much-maligned Cyriel Dessers to make himself an Ibrox hero.

I think Dessers could be the match winner for Rangers. He gets some criticism, but he is scoring goals. This is the match you can become a legend in. Everyone remembers the winning goal from Peter Lovenkrands [for Rangers in the 3-2 victory] in the 2002 final. I hope Dessers will be the man.

Winning the league is always the most important but Rangers need to draw a line under that and focus on the cup final because they cannot change the league.

It’s still a very important game because they can still win a double. It’s also important the players have the confidence and belief they can win this game.

This is a great moment to change [recent form] against Celtic. It's all about winning prizes you can hold after the game.

The players will never forget it - for 90 minutes the atmosphere is there and it gives you energy and adrenalin.

Peter Lovenkrands was Rangers' matchwinner in the 2002 cup final

Could 'extra body in Rangers midfield' make difference?

Ex-Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew believes his former side's recent derby record makes it difficult to see Rangers claiming the cup.

It's hard to see past Celtic with their record in Old Firm games this season. They have momentum, they have confidence, they know how to play against Rangers and they seem to turn up on the big occasions.

I think Rangers probably have to do something different in the game if they want to get a result. I think it'll be hard for Rangers to do that because style is a lot to do with habits created in training and how you've been training for a long spell.

The main area is Celtic's midfield. Celtic have got three of the best midfielders in Scotland and it's better than Rangers'.

Rangers don’t have three players good enough to outplay Celtic, but they could put an extra body in there. That would allow them to dominate possession, but their press needs to be better so they can get up high and force Celtic long.

'Celtic are very incisive - Rangers' shape must be right'

Ex-Rangers winger Neil McCann says his former club must get their shape out of possession spot on if they are to challenge Celtic.

I'd like to see Rangers try something different but I don't think they will. They need to get their structure right outside of possession. Celtic are very incisive. They try to play through the middle and I think that's where they really hurt Rangers.

Rangers not getting back into shape, with one or two players not working out of possession - if you do that against Celtic because of the way they move their full-backs into the middle of the pitch to get an overload then they become a really dangerous side.

Rangers have had chances in games against Celtic but they have just not taken them. This game will have so much expectation but I don't think that will dampen the game.

'There is a bit of a gulf at this moment'

Former Celtic captain Paul Lambert, another to play in the 2002 final, can only see one winner on Saturday...

Celtic will be too strong. They are playing really, really well and they have got the momentum. They are strong favourites. There is a bit of a gulf at this moment. In the 2002 final, the teams were evenly matched. They were proper teams.

The standard is not the same now but any Old Firm game is a massive, massive game. The quality might not be the same but it's a game everybody wants to see.

Celtic's unbeaten record this season against Rangers counts to an extent but it's not the be-all and end-all. Everybody knows what Celtic will do, while Rangers are more direct. Celtic's movement is very good. [Matt] O'Riley is playing at the top of his game and they are going to have too much.