Rangers Röhl around Celtic at Parkhead; Rangers win the Derby

Rangers Rohl around Celtic at Parkhead; Rangers win the Derby

Celtic 1-3 Rangers

Yang (20'); Chermiti (50', 59'), Moore (71')

Pre-match buildup to kick off

Normally the first meeting of the New Year between Celtic and Rangers would be one that helps to identify which way the league title would be heading come the end of the season but for the first time in years, Glasgow's top two would start the New Year in second and third place as they attempted hunt down Hearts who lead the Premiership.

Celtic won the last meeting against Rangers back in November in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final but were winless in their last four Premiership meetings against Rangers and went back to old habits against Motherwell in midweek; the Steelmen were more than too good for Wilfried Nancy's men at Fir Park. Rangers won their final game of 2025 against St. Mirren in midweek and were on a run of four wins out of their last five league games.

Going into this meeting Rangers, who only weeks ago seemed out of the title race, were looking to go level on points with Celtic. Such a scenario would have seemed unthinkable when Russell Martin left his position in early October. Rangers climb up in the table and a change in form have coincided with Celtic's slump ever since Martin O'Neill's interim tenure ended and Wilfried Nancy was appointed, only two wins in all competitions for the former Columbus Crew manager in seven games in charge, a win in the Derby was a must for the current Champions to get themselves back on the winning streak.

Celtic dominant through-out the first half

Celtic started the match with the best of the early chances; Luke McCowan was the first to try his luck in front of goal but his effort from the edge of the Rangers penalty box was fired just wide. Johnny Kenny raced through but denied an attempt on Jack Butland's goal thanks to a brilliant intervention from Nico Raskin. Celtic were starting to ramp up the chances and Rangers needed Jack Butland to pull off an excellent save from Kenny. But Celtic eventually broke through deservingly when Yang beat the Rangers defence and sent a thunderbolt past Butland for the opening goal and the majority inside Celtic Park went crazy.

🍀⚽️| 𝐘𝐚𝐧𝐠| 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝟏-𝟎 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬

What a move, what a finish!

Celtic take the lead on Derby Day and it's Yang who gets them ahead with a brilliant move and a thunderbolt finish

[📹: @ScotlandSky]pic.twitter.com/pr2yXIENXI

— FootballPark - Scotland (@FP_Scotland) January 3, 2026

The Champions were on fire and were putting on a show for the famous faces inside Celtic Park; Rod Stewart, Joe Hart, John Collins, Chris Kamara and Stormzy all in the crowd and watching Celtic on the front foot and had two quick attempts to extend their lead from Kenny and Daizen Maeda but neither did much to trouble Butland in goal. Then Kasper Schmeichel was called into action to keep Djeidi Gassama's chance out. Celtic simply just went back up the opposite end and continued to make chances; Benjamin Nygren went close and Butland was needed to keep Rangers in the game saving from Kenny and Yang, in quick succession.

Rangers stun Celtic Park

The half-time whistle came to Rangers rescue, Celtic were ahead but only a goal up despite dominating the half. Rangers needed memories of Celtic's defeat against Dundee United at Tannadice back in December to give them motivation that the game could still be won but they simply had to be better than what they were showing.

Callum McGregor was the first to try his luck in front of goal in the second-half but his shot, from just outside the box, went wide. Then remarkably Rangers were level, a throw in played in the right hand side was played to Gassama who then played in Diomande who quickly played in Raskin, who ran into the penalty box unchallenged and played across goal for Youssef Chermiti to tap home and made it all square, just five minutes into the restart.

🔵⚽️| 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐢| 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝟏-𝟏 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬

There's the equaliser early in the second half!

Celtic dominated the first half and could only manage one goal and Rangers make them pay thanks to Youssef Chermiti

[📹: @ScotlandSky]pic.twitter.com/pSpsSzWvnx

— FootballPark - Scotland (@FP_Scotland) January 3, 2026

Turnaround complete for Gers

Chermiti has been put under pressure with some of the Ibrox followers with some unconvincing displays over the course of the season but it was proving to be his day at Celtic Park as he made it 2-1 for Rangers; the big striker pouncing on a mistake by Auston Trusty and turned the game on it's head. Chermiti showing some of the form to why they pay the reported £8m fee from Everton for his services.

🔵⚽️| 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐢| 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝟏-𝟐 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬

What a turnaround at Celtic Park this is!

It's Youssef Chermiti again who punishes Celtic after Auston Trusty fails to challenge the striker. Rangers in front in this one

[📹: @ScotlandSky]pic.twitter.com/UMbPhwDMuv

— FootballPark - Scotland (@FP_Scotland) January 3, 2026

The Celtic supporters were stunned, it was déjà vu once again and memories of Tannadice was coming flooding back. But it was to get only worse for the majority inside Parkhead; Diomande broke forward and passed to Gassama who spotted Mikey Moore making a run forward into the penalty box and the on-loan Tottenham forward, with the aid of a slight deflection, put the ball past Schmeichel who got a hand to it but didn't get enough on it.

🔵⚽️| 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐞| 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝟏-𝟑 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬

It's looking like Rangers day in the derby again!

Mikey Moore, with the aid of a tiny deflection, beats the hand of Kasper Schmeichel and Rangers are on course for a comeback win

[📹: @ScotlandSky]pic.twitter.com/xnh5qs3EwC

— FootballPark - Scotland (@FP_Scotland) January 3, 2026

The game slowly drifted further and further away from Celtic, with Rangers happy with their day's work they were content to see the game to full-time and in truth neither team threatened in the closing stages and Rangers once again came out on tops in the derby in the Premiership. Five undefeated against Celtic in the league, the first time that's happened for Rangers since August 2021.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿| 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩: 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞| 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝟏-𝟑 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬

Rangers go level on points after a second half comeback win at Celtic Park and questions will be asked again about Wilfried Nancy

[📹: @ScotlandSky]pic.twitter.com/hKjElfQvhd

— FootballPark - Scotland (@FP_Scotland) January 3, 2026

Rangers are now level on points with Celtic and the title race just had another twist in the tale. Questions will be asked once again on Celtic, again another good first-half display was turned around by the second half. Combine this with Hearts' win against Livingston at Tynecastle to go six points clear in the title race, the pressure has just increased on Wilfried Nancy once again and it remains to be seen if he will be given further time at Celtic Park.