Hearts and Motherwell the happier of a Derby Classic in Glasgow: Rangers 2-2 Celtic - The Review

Rangers 2-2 Celtic

Chermiti (8'), (26'); Tierney (56'), Hatate (90+1')

Team news and build-up to kick-off

A crucial game in the Scottish Football season beckoned at Ibrox, after Hearts' win over Aberdeen yesterday, second place Rangers trailed the Jambos by seven points against the meeting of their fiercest rivals Celtic. Martin O'Neill's side came into this one two points behind Rangers and nine behind Hearts, but Celtic still would have a game in hand over both sides above them in the table.

Rangers came into this game unbeaten in their last five Premiership meetings against Celtic, and you would need to go back to the 3rd of September 2023 for the last time Celtic won at Ibrox; Kyogo scoring the only goal of the game, in first-half stoppage time. That was only one of two Celtic wins in their last 12 visits to their biggest rivals.

Danny Röhl kept the same side that drew 2-2 v Livingston last Sunday which meant no place for James Tavernier in the starting eleven. Martin O'Neill, who celebrating his 74th Birthday at Ibrox, made five changes from the side that defeated Stuttgart in the UEFA Europa League midweek; Araujo, Scales, Tierney, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Nygren all coming into the starting 11, which meant that number two goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo kept his place in the lineup after Kasper Schmeichel was out with illness and was not even listed on the substitute bench.

One way traffic in the first-half

These matches usually start off unpredictable and frantic. With an electric atmospher inside Ibrox it was clear that the fans of both sides were up for this one, the big question would be who would be the ones who started off in the front foot. Rangers controlled the early proceedings; Nico Raskin forced Viljami Sinisalo into an early save but the play was called back for an offside flag but it would be the sign of how things were to come in the first-half.

Rangers dominated the play and were awarded for the early pressure with the opening goal of the match; Andreas Skov Olsen putting in an excellent cross into the box where Youssef Chermiti was there and scored with an unbelievable overhead kick past Sinisalo. Shades of Scott McTominay's brilliance for Scotland v Denmark back in November came to the memories of those watching inside the ground and on their television screens.

🔵⚽️| 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐢| 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝟏-𝟎 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐜

How about that for starters?! 🤯

Youssef Chermiti with a speculator overhead kick puts Rangers in front at home in the derby

One that Scott McTominay would be proud of

[📹: @ScotlandSky]pic.twitter.com/8CnqVMNNnI

— Football Park Scotland (@FP_Scotland) March 1, 2026

Rangers normally go on to win games when they go and score the first goal of a Premiership match, the last time they lost after opening the scoring was back in April 2024 when they lost to Ross County in Dingwall.

Celtic just could not get the ball out of their own half as Rangers meant business and they could have got a second goal quickly afterwards; Mikey Moore down the left-hand side was causing all sorts of issues and sent an excellent ball to the back post neither Chermiti or Skov Olsen were able to finish and the ball was played out for a goal kick.

Celtic thought they were gradually working their way back into the match; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, playing in his first derby match for Celtic, set up Daizen Maeda out wide and the Japanese forward crossed to Junior Adamu but the ball was out of reach for the striker.

Rangers then made Celtic pay for a big chance missed as they went up the other end and scored their second goal of the afternoon; Raskin with the cross which Dane Murray making a mess of the clearance. Julián Araujo misjudged the bounce of the ball which allowed Chermiti to rob the ball from the Mexico international's path; the Portugese striker was able to flick the ball around the defender and past Sinisalo and it was two for Rangers.

🔵⚽️| 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐢| 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝟐-𝟎 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐜

Rangers are right up for this one this afternoon!

Second goal of the afternoon for Youssef Chermiti and that is his fourth goal v Celtic this season

[📹: @ScotlandSky]pic.twitter.com/OTpPWteOz3

— Football Park Scotland (@FP_Scotland) March 1, 2026

Chermiti's ninth goal of the Premiership season; seven of which have come in matches against Hearts and Celtic. Rangers number nine slowly becoming the man for the big occasions for Röhl's side this season.

Rangers could have made it 3-0 before the half-time whistle sounded; Moore's free-kick was played into the Celtic box and was met by the head of Emmanuel Fernandez but his header went narrowly wide of the far post and out for a goal kick.

Rangers dominated the entire first-half proceedings; seven total shots for Danny Röhl's side, compared to Celtic's one attempt which did nothing to really trouble Jack Butland. Celtic knew they had a mountain to climb and needed a big reaction in the second half.

All change in the second-half

Martin O'Neill needed to make some changes at half-time and did so introducing Sebastian Tounekti and Reo Hatate, in place of Adamu and Oxlade-Chamberlain. But Rangers had the first big chance of the second-half hoping to end any thoughts of a Celtic comeback; Moore again swinging in dangerous crosses into the box, the ball this time reaching the path of Tuur Rommens but the recent signing from Westerlo could not put enough power on his effort which was straight at Sinisalo.

Celtic then started getting themselves a foothold into the second-half, starting to dominate the possession which frustrated the home fans; a well worked Celtic ended with Benjamin Nygren with the opportunity but his shot went over the bar. Celtic then upped the pressure and were starting to create chances; Hatate took a shot from long range which forced Butland into a save.

They were rewarded for their early efforts with a route back into the game; Rangers failed to clear their lines which gave the opportunity for Nygren to sent an inviting ball into the box where Kieran Tierney was unmarked and headed home past Butland and it was game on in the derby.

🍀⚽️| 𝐓𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲| 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝟐-𝟏 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐜

It's game on at Ibrox!

Another excellent well worked goal and this time it's Celtic who score through Kieran Tierney's fourth goal of the season

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

— Football Park Scotland (@FP_Scotland) March 1, 2026

Kieran Tierney's fourth goal for the club since re-joining from Arsenal and the Scotland left-back is now up to eleven goal involvements in the Scottish Premiership this season.

Celtic were smelling blood and a brilliant chance to get themselves on level terms soon after; Maeda found himself in the box with time and space but his header was straight into the hands of Butland. Hatate was starting to show his quality that Celtic fans have been begging out for this season and a had an excellent opportunity to draw the teams level when he was played in by Nygren but the midfielder's first-time shot from outside the box went over Butland's crossbar and Rangers survived another attack.

Another opportunity came and went for Celtic as they continued to throw everything at Rangers in their search of an equaliser; Luke McCowan was only introduced four minutes earlier and he managed to find himself in acres of space, but from the angle, his his effort was kept out brilliantly by Butland who was keeping the lead for Rangers.

Then the game's big moment came heading into stoppage time; James Forrest sent in a cross into the box to Maeda who headed towards goal but was kept out brilliantly by Butland. However on second viewings, Maeda's header deflected off Dujon Sterling's arm before Butland got to it and John Beaton was sent to the pitchside monitor for an on-screen VAR review. Sterling's hand in an unnatural position and ricocheted off him and into Butland's gloves was the view of Beaton who pointed at the spot. Reo Hatate stepped up to take the spot-kick which was saved by Butland who then saved the rebound but Hatate was still quick off the mark and was able to follow the ball home and into the net.

🍀⚽️| 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞| 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝟐-𝟐 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐜

It's level late in the afternoon!

Jack Butland saves Reo Hatate's spot kick but the Japanese midfielder is quick to follow it home and are the points going to be shared today?

[📹: @ScotlandSky]pic.twitter.com/5QCNQMU5Yg

— Football Park Scotland (@FP_Scotland) March 1, 2026

It's only Reo Hatate's second Premiership goal of the season but it could prove to be vital in the title race and Celtic once again scoring a cruical late goal, four of the last five domestic games have seen Celtic scoring in stoppage time or in extra time.

Full-Time conclusions

Celtic securing a much needed point, which seemed very unlikely given the performance of Rangers in the first-half and keeps Celtic in the race for the Premiership title. Rangers go to 57 points, Celtic go to 55 points and Celtic have the opportunity to leapfrog themselves into second place as they have their game in hand in midweek as they go to Pittodrie to face Aberdeen.

So who would be the happier of the teams in the title race? You would have to say first place Hearts, who are now six points in front in the race, and fourth place Motherwell as they look to keep up the pressure on the teams above them.

A thriller at Ibrox which hopefully, for the neutrals sake, is a sign of things to come for not only next week's Scottish Cup quarter-final between Glasgow's fiercest rivals but in the race for the Premiership title which continues to catch the imagination of those watching on in Scotland and throughout the world.