In a fiercely contested Old Firm derby at Ibrox, Rangers and Celtic shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw. Despite Celtic having already clinched the Scottish Premiership title, the match was played with the intensity characteristic of this historic rivalry.
Rangers took the lead just before halftime when Cyriel Dessers capitalized on a defensive lapse by Celtic’s Liam Scales, slotting the ball past goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo. The goal came after a period of sustained pressure from Celtic, who had dominated possession in the first half.
Celtic responded in the second half, with Adam Idah finding the back of the net in the 57th minute. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but a VAR review overturned the decision, confirming that Daizen Maeda was not interfering with play.
Both teams had opportunities to secure a win, with Maeda missing a late chance for Celtic. Rangers’ goalkeeper Jack Butland made several crucial saves to keep his team in the game. The match saw few disciplinary issues, with only a couple of bookings late on.
The draw means Rangers remain in second place, trailing Celtic by 17 points. Interim manager Barry Ferguson expressed mild disappointment at not securing a win but praised his team’s commitment. Celtic, despite already securing the title, showed determination and resilience throughout the match.
The match was also notable for the return of away fans to Ibrox, with Celtic supporters present for the first time since January 2023. The atmosphere was electric, reflecting the deep-seated rivalry between the two Glasgow clubs.
As the season draws to a close, both teams will look to build on this performance, with Rangers aiming to close the gap on their rivals and Celtic seeking to maintain their dominance in Scottish football.
