In the final Old Firm showdown of the 2024–25 campaign, Rangers and Celtic played out a tense 1-1 draw at Ibrox. While both Glasgow giants took a share of the spoils, the result underscored the contrasting trajectories of the two clubs: Celtic on the cusp of a historic ninth domestic treble, and Rangers still searching for direction after a turbulent season.
A Tale of Two Seasons
Celtic’s campaign has been one of near-total dominance. Brendan Rodgers’ side have already secured the Scottish League Cup and a record-equalling 55th league title, and they’re just one win away from completing another clean sweep of domestic trophies. Adding to the optimism, Celtic reached the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in over a decade.
Rangers, meanwhile, have endured a season of frustration. Hopes of a title push quickly evaporated following a string of poor results and an early Champions League exit. A shock home defeat to Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup summed up the Ibrox side’s troubles, with former manager Philippe Clement’s tenure leaving a trail of broken promises and underperformance. Interim boss Barry Ferguson has steadied the ship, but stability remains elusive.
Rangers Edge the Season’s Old Firm Derby Record
Despite Celtic’s overall superiority, Rangers can take some solace from their head-to-head record against their rivals this season. Celtic opened the campaign with a dominant 3-0 win at Parkhead—extending their unbeaten run in Old Firm clashes to six—but Rangers roared back with a thrilling 3-3 draw in the League Cup final and followed it up with a 3-0 home win and a gutsy 3-2 victory away.
Today’s draw at Ibrox means Rangers finish the season with two wins, two draws, and one loss in regulation time against Celtic across all competitions.
Team News: Familiar Core for Rangers, Rotations for Celtic
Rangers stuck with a familiar setup, with Liam Kelly in goal and Nedim Bajrami tasked with shadowing Celtic skipper Callum McGregor in a diamond midfield. Cyril Dessers was preferred to Hamza Igamane up top.
Celtic, missing key names including Kasper Schmeichel and Alistair Johnston, fielded Viljami Sinisalo in goal and handed starts to Anthony Ralston, James Forrest, and Liam Scales in a slightly rotated lineup.
Rangers Start Brightly, Dessers Breaks the Deadlock
The home side began the match with purpose. Leon Balogun crashed a header off the crossbar, and Rangers thought they’d taken the lead when Nico Raskin nodded in a James Tavernier free kick—only for VAR to rule it out for offside.
Celtic responded with a spell of pressure, with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Reo Hatate testing Kelly. But just before halftime, Rangers struck. A quick break following another Kelly save saw Mohamed Diomande feed Vaclav Černý, who let the ball run for Dessers. The striker muscled past Scales and calmly slotted Rangers into a 1-0 lead.
Celtic Hit Back Through Idah
Celtic asserted more control after the interval, and their pressure paid off around the hour mark. Sloppy defending from Tavernier and Souttar allowed the ball to fall to Adam Idah, who fired past Kelly with the help of a deflection.
Initially ruled offside due to Daizen Maeda’s position in front of the goalkeeper, the goal was awarded following a VAR review, bringing Celtic level.
Late Drama, But No Old Firm Winner
The closing stages were tense and nervy, with both teams tightening defensively. Raskin and Igamane had efforts for Rangers, but the best chance fell to Celtic deep into stoppage time. After another Tavernier giveaway, Maeda raced clear but chose to shoot instead of squaring to Johnny Kelly. Liam Kelly made the stop, and Souttar cleared the danger as the final whistle blew.
Ibrox Woes Continue for Ferguson’s Rangers
The draw means Rangers remain winless at Ibrox under Barry Ferguson, extending their home drought to seven matches. With just three league games left—against Aberdeen, Dundee United, and Hibernian—Rangers will aim to end the season on a positive note before sweeping changes are expected this summer.
Celtic Focused on Final Step to Glory
For Celtic, attention now turns to the Scottish Cup Final on May 24 against Aberdeen. Rodgers’ side will look to manage their squad in the run-up, with remaining league fixtures against Aberdeen, Hibernian, and St. Mirren offering the chance to maintain momentum heading into Hampden.
Another treble is within touching distance—and Celtic’s relentless push for silverware shows no sign of slowing down.
