Rangers thrust themselves back into the Scottish Premiership title race with a stunning second half Old Firm performance at Parkhead – coming from behind to defeat Celtic 3-1 earlier this afternoon.
Danny Rohl made two changes to the side that defeated St Mirren before New Year for the first match of 2026, with the head coach dropping the captain James Tavernier and Mohammed Diomande for the returning Dujon Sterling and Connor Barron.
Rangers kicked the match off, defending the goal next to the limited but loud away support in the corner – and started brightly, dominating possession in the early stages without any real penetration.
However, following a yellow card for Thelo Aasgaard – sent off in the previous Old Firm match in the League Cup semi-final – after only six minutes, Celtic took a hold of the game and peppered Rangers goalmouth.
Luke McCowan, operating at left wing back, went close as did Austin Trusty, who headed wide after being allowed a free header inside the box.
Jack Butland was also forced into action, making a fantastic save from Celtic striker Jonny Kenny who found himself one-on-one with the England keeper.
However, Rangers rest bite would not last long – only minutes after Butland’s super stop Celtic carved the backline open from a throw in on their right wing.
Yang Hyun-Jun played a one-two with Benjamin Nygren, both Aasgaard and Nicolas Raskin failed to tackle the South Korean who burst through a gap between Emmanuel Fernandez and Jayden Meghoma before unleashing a ferocious effort past Butland to spark a recently angry and inpatient Parkhead into delight.
Celtic dominated the remainder of the half – with Kenny, Daizen Maeda and Yang all forcing Butland into further stops – whilst Rangers managed only a single first half chance when Djeidi Gassama found himself through on goal but Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel managed to get a hand as the Frenchman tried to lift the ball over him.
Rangers would have the ball in the net in first-half stoppage time via Mikey Moore but assister Yousef Chermiti was well offside in the build up and the Gers went in behind at the break and thankful to only be one behind.
Rohl replaced Aasgaard with Diomande at half time and the decision proved to be a decisive one.
Just five minutes into the second half Raskin managed to burst past Trusty inside the Celtic box and get to the byline – his cutback went by Schmeichel and was flicked home by Chermiti to level the scoreline.
A much-improved player since the new bosses arrival – Chermiti’s finish and celebration were cool, calm and collected. And it was just the start.
Celtic would try and respond immediately with Kieran Tierney, Maeda, Yang and Kenny all having shots on goal but it would be the visitors who would score the third goal.
Winning the ball back from Anthony Ralston after a Celtic throw in on their right side – bursting past the Scotland defender whilst Trusty, too preoccupied with the supporting run of Barron, cleared the space for the Portuguese forward to run through on Schmeichel and despite the Dane getting a hand to his shot, he could not stop it and Rangers found themselves ahead just before the hour mark.
Celtic looked shellshocked and Rangers took full advantage, adding a third, Gassama playing through Moore who struck across Schmeichel from a tight angle, with the 39-year-old too slow to get down, and put Rangers 3-1 up with 20 minutes left.
Celtic would try and force a way back into the match with efforts from Tierney and substitutes James Forrest and new signing Julián Araujo all either blocked or saved by the imperious Butland.
Rangers would hold on for a vital victory and are now level on points and goal difference with Celtic, who have lost six of their eight games since Wilfried Nancy’s appointment last month and six behind league leaders Hearts who defeated Livingston today – Rangers now head into a double header with Aberdeen both home and away and will look to stay on the crest of their current wave, all the way to the summit of the table.