Celtic vs Rangers — Match Preview
The second Old Firm derby of the league season—and the first of 2026—explodes into life at Celtic Park on Saturday, 3 January 2026. The stakes have rarely been higher for a “Ne’er Day” fixture. Celtic, sitting 2nd with 38 points, are in full-blown crisis mode under new manager Wilfried Nancy. The Frenchman has lost five of his first seven games, including a morale-shattering 0–2 defeat to Motherwell in midweek, and faces open revolt from the Parkhead faithful.
Rangers, sitting 3rd with 35 points, arrive in Glasgow’s East End smelling blood. Danny Rohl’s side have steadied the ship with back-to-back wins, including a 2–1 victory over St. Mirren, and know that a win on enemy territory would draw them level on points with their bitter rivals. With Hearts unexpectedly topping the table, neither side can afford to drop points in this high-voltage clash.
Celtic vs Rangers — Match Info
- Competition: Scottish Premiership (Matchday 20)
- Venue: Celtic Park, Glasgow (Capacity: 60,411)
- Date: Saturday, 3 January 2026
- Kickoff: 12:30 GMT
- Referee: Steven McLean (VAR: Kevin Clancy)
Celtic vs Rangers — Match Stakes
Celtic (2nd — 38 pts):
- Win → Moves to 41 pts; keeps pressure on leaders Hearts and buys Wilfried Nancy massive breathing room.
- Draw → Stops the losing streak (2 games) but does little to quell the fan unrest.
- Loss → Disaster; Rangers draw level on points; Nancy’s position could become untenable after just one month.
Rangers (3rd — 35 pts):
- Win → Moves to 38 pts; draws level with Celtic and drags them back into the pack.
- Draw → A solid result away at Parkhead; keeps the momentum building under Rohl.
- Loss → Gap to Celtic widens to 6 points; a setback in their pursuit of the top two.
Celtic vs Rangers — Team News
Celtic:
- Carter-Vickers C. — Out (Achilles Tendon Injury – Huge Defensive Loss)
- Johnston A. — Out (Hamstring Injury – Key RB missing)
- Iheanacho K. — Out (Injury – Striker missing)
- Balikwisha M. & Tounekti S. — Out (International Duty – AFCON)
- Schmeichel K. — Available (Veteran GK needs a big performance)
- Tierney K. — Available (The returning hero must organize a makeshift defense)
Rangers:
- Djiga N. — Out (International Duty – AFCON)
- Cornelius D. — Out (Muscle Injury)
- Bajrami N. — Out (Injury)
- Butland J. — Available (England keeper is key to their defensive record)
- Tavernier J. — Available (Captain and penalty specialist)
Celtic vs Rangers — Team Form (Last 5 Matches)
Celtic
- 31/12 — 0–2 vs Motherwell (Premiership)
- 27/12 — 4–2 vs Livingston (Premiership)
- 21/12 — 3–1 vs Aberdeen (Premiership)
- 18/12 — 1–2 vs Dundee Utd (Premiership)
- 14/12 — 1–3 vs St. Mirren (League Cup)
Rangers
- 31/12 — 2–1 vs St. Mirren (Premiership)
- 27/12 — 1–0 vs Motherwell (Premiership)
- 21/12 — 1–2 vs Hearts (Premiership)
- 16/12 — 1–0 vs Hibernian (Premiership)
- 11/12 — 1–2 vs Ferencvaros (Europa League)
Celtic vs Rangers — Head-to-Head (Last 5 Meetings)
- 02/11/2025 — Celtic 3–1 Rangers (League Cup)
- 31/08/2025 — Rangers 0–0 Celtic (Premiership)
- 04/05/2025 — Rangers 1–1 Celtic (Premiership)
- 16/03/2025 — Celtic 2–3 Rangers (Premiership)
- 02/01/2025 — Rangers 3–0 Celtic (Premiership)
Celtic vs Rangers — Playing XI (Predicted Lineups)
Celtic (4-3-3)
Schmeichel; Ralston, Trusty, Tierney, Kenny; Engels, McGregor, McCowan; Yang, Maeda, Nygren
Rangers (4-2-3-1)
Butland; Tavernier, Sterling, Fernandez, Meghoma; Barron, Raskin; Gassama, Diomande, Moore; Chermiti
Celtic vs Rangers — Impact Bench
Celtic: Hatate (Creative spark), Kyogo (If fit/available for cameo)
Rangers: Dessers (Goal threat), Dowell (Experience)
Celtic vs Rangers — Tactical Analysis
Celtic
Wilfried Nancy is trying to implement a complex passing style, but his defense is leaking goals alarmingly (conceding 2+ in 4 of last 5 games). Without Carter-Vickers, the partnership of Trusty and Tierney (playing centrally) will be targeted physically by Rangers. Celtic must use Daizen Maeda’s pace to pin back James Tavernier, or they risk being overrun on the flanks.
Rangers
Danny Rohl will keep it simple: be aggressive, win the second balls, and exploit Celtic’s fragile confidence. With Celtic missing their first-choice right-back (Johnston), Rangers will look to overload that side with Mikey Moore and Jefté/Meghoma. Mohamed Diomande will be tasked with pressing Callum McGregor to stop Celtic’s rhythm at the source.
Celtic vs Rangers — Key Battles
- Maeda vs Tavernier — The classic Old Firm duel; pace vs attacking output.
- McGregor vs Diomande — Experience vs youthful energy in the engine room.
- Tierney vs Chermiti — Can the converted LB handle Rangers’ physical striker?
- Schmeichel vs The Crowd — If Celtic go behind, the atmosphere will turn toxic fast.
Celtic vs Rangers — Spotlight Players
Celtic — Kieran Tierney
The fan favorite returned to stabilize the club, but he finds himself in the middle of a storm. Playing as a center-back due to injuries, his leadership is the only thing holding this backline together.
Rangers — Jack Butland
In derbies, the goalkeeper is often the difference. Butland has been solid while Celtic’s keepers have struggled. A clean sheet here would make him an Ibrox legend.
Celtic vs Rangers — Prediction
Celtic 1–2 Rangers
Momentum is everything in Glasgow. Celtic are a team devoid of confidence, decimated by injuries in defense, and playing under a manager who is already on the brink. Rangers are far from perfect, but they are gritty and functional under Rohl. Expect the visitors to exploit the toxic atmosphere at Parkhead and snatch a massive victory.
Celtic vs Rangers — Betting Insights
- Rangers to Win — Value Bet (Given Celtic’s crisis).
- Both Teams to Score — YES (Celtic defense is porous; Rangers always score).
- Over 4.5 Cards — Banker (It’s the Old Firm).
Celtic vs Rangers — Where to Watch
- UK: Sky Sports Football / Main Event
- International: Celtic TV / Rangers TV (Outside UK/ireland)
Celtic vs Rangers — FAQs
Q: When is the Old Firm derby?
A: The match kicks off on Saturday, 3 January 2026, at 12:30 GMT.
Q: Why is Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy under pressure?
A: He has lost 5 of his first 7 games in charge, a record-breakingly poor start for a Celtic boss.
Q: Who is top of the league?
A: Surprisingly, Hearts are currently top of the Scottish Premiership.
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