July 23: Celtic v Leicester Betting Preview

For Celtic the game comes four days before a massive Champions League tie away to Astana and their full focus should on that one.

And for Leicester the game arrives early in their schedule with Claudio Ranieri's men having just one game under their belt.

The International Champions Cup started quite brightly with Dortmund beating Man United 4-1 in China but I've got no idea how the action will pan out in Glasgow.

For Celtic there's only pride to play for – they'll be more interested in first-choice players coming through unscathed.

Leicester are genuinely excited about the game and the tournament. I saw a comment saying this time last year they were 5000-1 for the title and losing to Mansfield in a friendly.

So they've gone from relegation battlers to English champions and are now competing with the cream of Europe – maybe not Celtic but Inter and Barcelona make up this group.

This to all ends is a glorified friendly and regulars will know I don't like betting on friendlies. However, Leicester are clearly the better team and if Celtic are not fully focused and at full strength the Foxes could be worth a look at 13-8 with Ladbrokes. Celtic are 9-4 at McBookie with the draw 5-2 at Ladbrokes.

Celtic have played two ties against Red Imps as well as four friendlies so match fitness should be better but Rodgers may protect stars such as Leigh Griffiths, Patrick Roberts and skipper Scott Brown.

Leicester, who have lost N'Golo Kante to Chelsea, launched their season with a 2-1 victory at Oxford last Tuesday with Ranieri giving 22 players a run-out.

Demarai Gray and Jeffrey Schlupp were on target and summer signings Ron-Robert Zieler, Luis Hernandez and Ahmed Musa all featured and will be looking to impress today.

Griffiths is 7-2 first-scorer favourite with Musa 5-1 and remember Jamie Vardy won't play a part. Despite that both teams to score should come in at 4-6 with Ladbrokes.

Leicester are clearly the better team but that doesn't mean they'll win. I might have a small wager on the Foxes but I'd like to see starting line-ups before doing so.