Hamza Igamane settled the Old Firm derby with a stunning late winner for Rangers against Celtic. One of the most intense fixtures in world football did not disappoint as Rangers completed a brilliant week after their dramatic penalty shootout win over Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday..
With away fans back at Old Firm games for first time since 2023, Rangers raced into a two-goal lead at half-time. Celtic fought back into second half and levelled but Igamane settled the 445th meeting between these two Scottish rivals with a brilliant strike.
It secured a huge win for interim Rangers head coach Barry Ferguson in what was his first Old Firm clash in charge. The title race in the Scottish Premiership may be all-but over with Celtic 13 points clear at the top, but Rangers secured bragging rights in Glasgow. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog.
Celtic vs Rangers latest
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GOAL! Raskin gives Rangers an early lead
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GOAL! Diomande doubles Rangers' advantage
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GOAL! Maeda gives pulls one back for Maeda
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GOAL! Hatate equalises for Celtic
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GOAL! Igamane with a late winner for Rangers
Tavernier hails 'good week' for Rangers
14:52 , Giuseppe Muro
Rangers captain James Tavernier speaking to Sky Sports: "Obviously happy to get the result. We had a really good first half and maybe sat off a bit much second half.
"Delighted to get the three points. It's been a good week for the club. We showed resilience, we were brave on the ball and took our chances. We were clinical.
"With the character we've shown in the past few weeks, we had belief to the end and Hamza pulls off a great goal. Delighted for the boys."
Celtic 2-3 Rangers
14:44 , Giuseppe Muro
Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon on Sky Sports: “Rangers showed bundles of character today.
“Celtic weren't functioning as well as they could have done. You can't give a two-goal lead to any team, particularly your biggest rivals.
“Celtic get it back to 2-2 and then switch off. It's a hell of a finish to win it. “
14:38 , Giuseppe Muro
This is what is means to Barry Ferguson...
Celtic 2-3 Rangers
14:27
What a win and what a week is has been for Barry Ferguson and Rangers, who are celebrating in front of their fans in the away end at Celtic Park.
Full-time: Celtic 2-3 Rangers
14:25 , Giuseppe Muro
Igamane’s late stunner wins the Old Firm derby for Rangers!
Celtic 2-3 Rangers
14:24 , Giuseppe Muro
90+5 mins: Huge change for Celtic! But Johnston blazes over at the back post. Surely that is the last chance for Celtic.
Celtic 2-3 Rangers
14:23 , Giuseppe Muro
90+3 mins: Time is running out for Celtic, who have not been able to get going since that goal. They are staring at back-to-back Old Firm defeats.
Celtic 2-3 Rangers
14:22 , Giuseppe Muro
Here’s that Igamane strunner...
Celtic 2-3 Rangers
14:21
90 mins: Into five minutes of added time...
GOAL! Celtic 2-3 Rangers | Igamane 88’
14:17 , Giuseppe Muro
What a finish! Johnston slips, space opens up for Igamane and he whistles a blistering effort past Schmeichel. Rangers lead late on.
Celtic 2-2 Rangers
14:17 , Giuseppe Muro
87 mins: Just wide from Hatate! Hatate finds space on the edge of the area and curls an effort inches wide of the list with Schmeichel scrambling.
Celtic 2-2 Rangers
14:13 , Giuseppe Muro
83 mins: Celtic attack and the ball reaches Johnston at the back post but he can’t get it under control and the ball goes out for a goal kick. Can either side find a winner here?
Celtic 2-2 Rangers
14:12 , Giuseppe Muro
81 mins: Into the final 10 minutes and Rangers make a triple change. Lawrence, Igamane and Nsiala on for Sterling, Barron and Cerny
Celtic 2-2 Rangers
14:09 , Giuseppe Muro
79 mins: Chance for Rangers! Having offered nothing in the second half, Rangers break, Dessers can’t get a shot away and Barron then drags a shot wide with his weaker left foot. What a chance to go back in front.
Celtic 2-2 Rangers
14:08
77 mins: Chance for Celtic! Schlupp shoots from range and forces a decent save from Schmeichel. We’ve got a fascinating final 15 minutes or so here.
GOAL! Celtic 2-2 Rangers | Hatate 74’
14:04 , Giuseppe Muro
Equaliser for Celtic! McCowan plays a clever pass behind the Rangers defence and Hatate finishes brilliantly into the far corner. From two goals down, Celtic are level.
Celtic 1-2 Rangers
14:03 , Giuseppe Muro
73 mins: Yellow card for Propper, who chops down Maeda.
Celtic 1-2 Rangers
14:01 , Giuseppe Muro
72 mins: Will Rangers 120 minutes plus penalties have an impact here? Rangers haven’t had an effort on goal since their second goal. There might be some tired legs out there as Celtic chase an equaliser.
Celtic 1-2 Rangers
13:59 , Giuseppe Muro
69 mins: Change for Celtic: Yang on for Jota.
Celtic 1-2 Rangers
13:58
68 mins: Propper makes a superb tackle to clear as Jota almost sneaks in behind the Rangers defence
Celtic 1-2 Rangers
13:56 , Giuseppe Muro
66 mins: Celtic have been well on top in this second half. They’ve got around 25 minutes to find an equaliser.
Celtic 1-2 Rangers
13:55 , Giuseppe Muro
65 mins: Change for Rangers: Hagi on for Diomande.
Celtic 1-2 Rangers
13:54 , Giuseppe Muro
64 mins: Chance for Celtic! Maeda finds McCowan inside the area and he drags an effort inches wide. So close to a Celtic equaliser.
Celtic 1-2 Rangers
13:53 , Giuseppe Muro
63 mins: Diomande almost gets a chance after a mix-up at the back for Celtic but he can’t bring the ball down and it is hacked clear.
Celtic 1-2 Rangers
13:52 , Giuseppe Muro
61 mins: Rangers have not offered much as an attacking threat in the second half but Celtic almost gift them a chance playing out from the back. But the home side get away with it.
Celtic 1-2 Rangers
13:50 , Giuseppe Muro
60 mins: Dessers goes down after colliding with Nawrocki as he changes a long ball forward. The referee tells him to get to his feet.
Celtic 1-2 Rangers
13:48 , Giuseppe Muro
58 mins: A bit of a lull in play now after that breathless start to the second half.
Celtic 1-2 Rangers
13:46 , Giuseppe Muro
55 mins: Rangers change: Propper on for Balogun, who looks to be limping.
Celtic 1-2 Rangers
13:44 , Giuseppe Muro
53 mins: Chance for Celtic! Maeda is almost in behind but Sterling does well to get back and clear for a corner, which is cleared as far as Hatate who volleys into the side netting
Celtic 1-2 Rangers
13:43
51 mins: That goal has changed the whole picture of this match. Celtic have their backs up and the home fans are bouncing. We’ve got a brilliant second half on our hands.
GOAL! Celtic 1-2 Rangers | Maeda 49’
13:38 , Giuseppe Muro
Game on! Jota gets to the byeline, hangs up a cross to the back post and Maeda gets above Tavernier and Sterling to head home.
Celtic 0-2 Rangers
13:35 , Giuseppe Muro
47 mins: It might be an obvious thing to say but the next goal feels massive. A Celtic goal and it’s game on.
Celtic 0-2 Rangers
13:34 , Giuseppe Muro
46 mins: Back underway in the second half as Celtic bid to get back into the Old Firm derby. One change for Celtic athe break, Idah is on for Kuhn.
Celtic 0-2 Rangers
13:22 , Giuseppe Muro
Here’s that second Rangers goal that has given them a two-goal advantage.
Celtic 0-2 Rangers
13:21 , Giuseppe Muro
Time to catch your breath. Celtic have a mountain to climb in the second half.
Half-time: Celtic 0-2 Rangers
13:18 , Giuseppe Muro
Rangers lead at the break at Celtic Park.
Celtic 0-2 Rangers
13:17 , Giuseppe Muro
45+1 mins: Jota shots from Rangers and has Butland scrambling, but the ball curls just wide of the post.
Celtic 0-2 Rangers
13:16 , Giuseppe Muro
44 mins: Another save from Butland! Nawrocki directs a header towards goal from a corner but Bultand is there to parry the ball away.
Celtic 0-2 Rangers
13:15
43 mins: Off the line from Sterling! Maeda flicks the ball goalwards and the ball looks to be heading in until Sterling somehow hooks the ball away.
Celtic 0-2 Rangers
13:13
41 mins: Jota into the side netting! Jota does well to drive into the box and Jota fires into the side netting. Butland got a touch so it is a corner, but that comes to nothing.
GOAL! Celtic 0-2 Rangers | Diomande 37’
13:09 , Giuseppe Muro
Raskin flicks the ball on to Diomande, who has time and space to pick his spot with a composed finish into the bottom corner. Rangers are in dreamland!
Celtic 0-1 Rangers
13:08 , Giuseppe Muro
37 mins: More good pressing from Rangers and Celtic almost play themselves into trouble again trying to play out from the back. They get away with it again but the Celtic fans are not happy.
Celtic 0-1 Rangers
13:06 , Giuseppe Muro
35 mins: Straight down the other end, Celtic break and Sterling cynically brings down Jota with Celtic in a threatening position. Sterling is the first player booked but the free-kick comes to nothing.
Celtic 0-1 Rangers
13:05 , Giuseppe Muro
34 mins: Rangers chance! Rangers break with pace again but Cerny is forced wide and can’t get a shot away. Rangers win a corner which Balogun heads straight at Schmeichel.
Celtic 0-1 Rangers
13:04 , Giuseppe Muro
33 mins: Hatate drives into the area after a Celtic throw on but there are two balls on the pitch and the referee stops play.
Celtic 0-1 Rangers
13:01 , Giuseppe Muro
30 mins: Space opens up for Engels on his left foot and he shoots over from range.
Celtic 0-1 Rangers
13:01 , Giuseppe Muro
29 mins: Rangers break with intent but Diomande's pass sends Dessers wide and the chance goes.
Celtic 0-1 Rangers
12:59 , Giuseppe Muro
27 mins: More shaky Celtic defending at the back as they try to play out and Rangers press high. Celtic have to scramble clear again.
Celtic 0-1 Rangers
12:58 , Giuseppe Muro
26 mins: Chance for Rangers! Cerny does well down the right and wins a corner for Rangers, which causes chaos in the Celtic box. Engels almost scores an own goal but Schmeichel saves. Panic stations at the back for Celtic there, but they survive
Celtic 0-1 Rangers
12:56 , Giuseppe Muro
23 mins: Celtic win a corner but Carter-Vickers heads over the bar.
Celtic 0-1 Rangers
12:53 , Giuseppe Muro
20 mins: All the talk before the game was whether Rangers would be leggy after their exploits in the Europa League on Thursday, but they have started really strongly.
Celtic 0-1 Rangers
12:51
18 mins: Celtic haven’t really got their passing game going yet without their captain McGregor in midfield.
Celtic 0-1 Rangers
12:48 , Giuseppe Muro
15 mins: Huge chance for Rangers! Schmeichel passes the ball straight to Cerny, who bears down on goal, rounds the Celtic goalkeeper but his shot is blocked on the line. Should Cerny have shot there? Massive let-off for Schmeichel and Celtic.
Celtic 0-1 Rangers
12:44 , Giuseppe Muro
Here’s that Rangers opening goal...
Celtic 0-1 Rangers
12:43 , Giuseppe Muro
12 mins: This is breathless stuff. Celtic win another corner, which comes to nothing.
Celtic 0-1 Rangers
12:43 , Giuseppe Muro
10 mins: What a save from Butland! Hatate hits a curling effort that is heading for the top corner before Butland tips the ball round the post. Incredible stop.
Celtic 0-1 Rangers
12:41 , Giuseppe Muro
8 mins: Cerny’s first-time volley falls just wide. It’s end-to-end stuff early on.
Celtic 0-1 Rangers
12:40
5 mins: It’s been electric start here. Celtic look for an immediate response and Maeda diverts an effort just wide, although the flag was up for offside.
GOAL! Celtic 0-1 Rangers | Raskin 4’
12:35 , Giuseppe Muro
Tavernier whips in the corner and Raskin glances a cute near-post header into the far corner. What a start!
Celtic 0-0 Rangers
12:34 , Giuseppe Muro
3 mins: Save from Schmeichel! Decent early pressure from Rangers, who have started on top. Raskin shoots from outside the area and Schmeichel turns it behind for another corner.
Celtic 0-0 Rangers
12:33 , Giuseppe Muro
2 mins: Rangers win an early free-kick in a crossing position on the right. Tavernier crosses and Schlupp turns it behind for an early Rangers corner, which is cleared.
Kick-off!
12:31 , Giuseppe Muro
1 mins: Underway at Celtic Park...
12:28 , Giuseppe Muro
Here come the two teams...
The atmosphere is crackling inside Celtic Park!
Can Celtic clinch crown before split?
12:24 , Giuseppe Muro
With kick-off fast approaching, a reminder of how things stand at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Celtic are 16 points clear of Rangers and need just three more wins to clinch the title.
Win today and they will need just two more victories, at home to Hearts and at St Johnstone.
Do that and they would have their 13th title in 14 seasons secured before the league splits.
Ferguson wants Rangers to embrace hostile environment
12:16 , Giuseppe Muro
Barry Ferguson has encouraged his players to embrace the hostile environment at Celtic Park as he looks forward to his competitive return to the home of his club's rivals.
Ferguson is unfazed about the reception that awaits when he turns up at Parkhead for his fifth game as interim head coach of Rangers.
"It's a place I always liked to go and play," the 47-year-old said. "It's hostile. They're the sort of environments I like to go to.
"I want my players to go and embrace these stadiums. But I'm sure I'll get a nice reception when I'm standing at the touchline.
"I'll need to focus on making sure my team go with the game plan that we're thinking about. And if we carry that out, we've got a right good chance of getting the three points."
The former Ibrox captain was one of the few Rangers fans at Celtic Park in September when he sat in the directors' box in his role as club ambassador.
The surroundings did not spare him from the taunts of Celtic fans during a 3-0 defeat for his side, but he accepts the hostility is a significant part of the attraction of the fixture.
"I don't mind," he said. "I honestly don't mind. Sometimes it crosses the line a wee bit, which disappoints me. But that's part of being in the west of Scotland. I know I took a wee bit, but it was fine.
"I knew what I was coming into. I think it will be a bit worse than when I was sitting in the directors' box. But I'm looking forward to it. These are the games you want to play in. These are the games you should look forward to."
Rodgers: Celtic did not want to take risk with McGregor
12:08 , Giuseppe Muro
Brendan Rodgers has been speaking ahead of the game and has explained why Celtic captain Callum McGregor is not involved.
Rodgers said: “We gave him every chance. We knew he was nursing the calf issue for a few weeks.
“He trained a bit yesterday but it tightened up in the session, so it would most definitely do that on a day like today so we did not want to take that risk.”
Celtic vs Rangers latest odds
12:00 , Giuseppe Muro
Celtic to win: 4/7
Draw: 31/10
Rangers to win: 4/1
Odds via Betfair and subject to change.
Tavernier: Fans could make a massive difference
11:52 , Giuseppe Muro
Rangers fans have already filled the away end at Celtic Park and James Tavernier says supporters could make a “massive difference” this afternoon.
11:44 , Giuseppe Muro
Today will be Barry Ferguson’s first Old Firm derby in charge of Rangers.
None of the club’s last eight managers to face Celtic have won their first meeting with their rivals in all competitions (D3 L5), with the last being Ally McCoist in September 2011.
Away from home, eight of the last 10 Rangers managers to visit Celtic lost their first trip (D2) since Walter Smith won 2-0 in August 1991.
11:36 , Giuseppe Muro
Brendan Rodgers aims to control the narrative as his side bid to right the wrongs of their recent derby defeat and underline their domestic dominance against Rangers.
Celtic lead the Scottish Premiership by 16 points but a 3-0 New Year loss at Ibrox will still be stinging their players and fans.
The Hoops are five wins away from the treble but their Premier Sports Cup final success against Rangers at Hampden came courtesy of a penalty shoot-out and they will want to produce the kind of display that earned a 3-0 victory in the first derby of the campaign.
"You have to control the noise, there is always a big build-up to this game," Rodgers told Celtic TV.
"But the story is always our story, the story we tell ourselves going into the game. That allows us to focus.
"That is my job, to create that narrative throughout the week as we prepare to play. This game will be no different."
11:31 , Giuseppe Muro
Celtic are without captain Callum McGregor due to a calf injury.
Luke McCowan comes into the Celtic side and Maik Nawrocki makes his first start of the season.
Rangers make one change from Thursday’s dramatic penalty shootout win against Fenerbahce.
Ridvan Yilmaz comes in for Jefte.
Team news: No McGregor for Celtic
11:20 , Giuseppe Muro
Celtic XI: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Nawrocki, Schlupp, McCowan, Engels, Hatate, Jota, Kuhn, Maeda
Subs: Sinisalo, Taylor, Idah, Yang, Kenny, Murray, Ralston, Bonnar, Turley
Rangers XI: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Ridvan, Stering, Barron, Raskin, Diomande, Cerny, Dessers
Subs: Kelly, Propper, Lawrence, Bajrami, Nsiala, Igamane, Hagi, Rice, Danilo
Celtic vs Rangers stats
11:12 , Giuseppe Muro
- Celtic are unbeaten in their last eight home league games against Rangers (W6 D2), winning each of their last five in a row. Never in their history have the Hoops won six consecutive home league Old Firm derbies.
- After their 3-0 win in January, Rangers are looking to win back-to-back league Old Firm derbies against Celtic for the first time since August 2021 under Steven Gerrard, and first time within a single season since winning their first two such meetings of the 2020-21 campaign.
- Seven of the last 13 league Old Firm derbies have seen the opening goal scored within the first 10 minutes of the match. The side scoring first has won seven of the last eight league meetings between Celtic and Rangers, with the exception being a 3-3 draw between the sides in April 2024.
- Celtic have won 19 of their last 20 home league games (D1), including each of their last 10 in a row by an aggregate score of 37-1. The Hoops have scored 2+ goals in all 20 of these matches – their longest ever such run in the league.
Ferguson wants Rangers to do ‘dirty side of game’
11:04 , Giuseppe Muro
Barry Ferguson has stressed his Rangers players need to improve the "dirty side" of football ahead of today’s clash.
Ferguson was one of the few Rangers fans inside Celtic Park when his side lost 3-0 in September and is determined to ensure there is no repeat.
Rangers have since improved in the fixture, taking Celtic to penalties in the Premier Sports Cup final and winning 3-0 at Ibrox at the start of the year, but they go into the latest encounter 16 points behind in the Scottish Premiership.
"I was at the previous game and it was too easy for me," interim head coach Ferguson said. "Celtic, that day, had it too easy.
"You can't always play well. But if you don't play well, you need to make it tough for your opponent.
"And that's something that we have to do going forward. I've seen enough already in two-and-a-half weeks that they're starting to take heed of what we're saying.
"It's not always about being a good football team or a nice football team. That's not the case.
"Sometimes you need to roll your sleeves up and do the dirty side of the game. And that's something that we need to improve on and that's something that I'm working on, me and the staff.
"It's something that the players totally understand how we need to, not just approach this game on Sunday, every single game we go into."
Head to head history and results
10:55 , Giuseppe Muro
Celtic wins: 170
Draws: 104
Rangers wins: 170
Rodgers warning for Celtic
10:47 , Giuseppe Muro
Brendan Rodgers recalled a tale of caution from his days at Leicester as he dismissed suggestions that Rangers would be derailed by their European exertions this afternoon.
While Celtic had a free midweek, Rangers played 120 minutes of action against Fenerbahce on Thursday night before seeing off the Turkish side on penalties.
Interim Rangers head coach Barry Ferguson has told his players the Europa League tie is no excuse for any below-par performance at Parkhead.
And Rodgers issued a warning of what is possible in the most difficult of circumstances.
An Ademola Lookman goal earned Leicester a 1-0 win over Liverpool on December 28, 2021 - just two days the Foxes suffered a 6-3 defeat by Manchester City. The Reds had not played since beating Leicester on penalties in the League Cup six days earlier.
When asked whether Rangers' extra activity would impact his approach, Rodgers said: "Not really. I think from our perspective, it's about looking to play our game.
"Our game's a running game, it's a pressing game, it's an intense game, so that's what we want to play from the very first whistle.
"I don't know the Rangers squad, I don't know the mentalities, but I know that obviously they got through their tie.
"It's always a mental thing. I had a recent experience with my team at Leicester, where we played Manchester City on the 26th of December away. Peak Man City.
"And then on the 28th, virtually two days later, we played peak Liverpool. So it was as tough as you get.
"And the second game, whenever Liverpool had more rest coming into the game than ourselves, we had virtually no rest going into the game and won the game 1-0.
"So physically, of course, it's exhausting and it's tiring, but you come into a Celtic-Rangers game, it's about your mentality as well."
10:40 , Giuseppe Muro
Today will see away fans return to the Old Firm derby for the first time since January 2023.
Around 2,400 Rangers supporters are expected at Celtic Park after a deal was reached, with with around 2,000 Celtic supporters expected at Ibrox in April too.
Both clubs have agreed to install huge nets to prevent fans being struck by missiles, and security has been ramped up outside Celtic Park.
Celtic vs Rangers prediction
10:31 , Giuseppe Muro
Thursday night would have taken a lot out of Rangers, who have been well below Celtic’s level this season on a consistent basis anyway.
With that in mind, the hosts look favourites.
Celtic to win, 2-1.
Rangers team news
10:23 , Giuseppe Muro
Barry Ferguson expects to have everyone available to play despite his side going for 120 minutes against Fenerbahce on Thursday before winning on penalties to reach the Europa League quarter-finals.
Celtic team news
10:15 , Giuseppe Muro
Celtic have been sweating over the fitness of Callum McGregor.
The midfielder has been trying to shake off a calf injury, having gone off in each of the last two games.
Liam Scales is also an injury doubt and Paulo Bernardo remains out with an ankle problem, but James Forrest is back.
How to watch
10:07 , Giuseppe Muro
TV channel: The game will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.
Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch via the Sky Go app.
Good morning!
10:03 , Giuseppe Muro
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Celtic vs Rangers!
A huge day north of the boarder as the two biggest clubs in Scotland meet in the 445th Old Firm derby.
Celtic are potentially just three games away from the Scottish Premiership title but face a Rangers side on a high after their dramatic penalty shootout win over Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 12.30pm GMT from Celtic Park.
