The final Old Firm game of the season finished all-square at Ibrox. Celtic might have already secured the Scottish Premiership title but the phrase “dead rubber” does not apply when it comes to these two bitter rivals.
There might have been little at stake but this fixture always means everything in Glasgow. Rangers were eyeing another big win after ending an almost five-year wait for a victory at Celtic Park the last time these two rivals locked horns. Champions But Celtic equalised in the second half to earn a point, having lost the past two Old Firm derbies.
Rangers interim head coach Barry Ferguson looks set to leave at the end of the season and could not go out with a win, while Celtic will be happy with a point after their two recent defeats to Rangers. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog.
Rangers vs Celtic latest
- Raskin goal ruled out by VAR
- GOAL! Dessers fires Rangers in front
- GOAL! Idah equalises for Celtic
McGregor: 'No chance' Hagi deserved a penalty
14:27 , Giuseppe MuroCeltic captain Callum McGregor: "Happy with the point but we've got enough of the game to win it. A wee bit of disappointment coming out of it. It's always tough coming here. We take our point, we're happy with the performance.
"It wasn't a great time to concede the opening goal but we were well in the game. As soon as you start moving the ball, we were getting massive spaces and more than we thought we would. Stay calm, get your opportunities and we took it.
Asked about Rangers' penalty claim for his collision with Ianis Hagi, McGregor replied: "It's probably a foul on me if anything. It's not a foul to put your body in the way, he kicks me if anything so nah, no chance."
Ferguson: Rangers' mentality is there
14:26Rangers interim manager Barry Ferguson: "A bit disappointed we didn't come away with three points. The commitment from my players was what I asked for, really good.
"Scored a good goal, went in at half-time deserving of the lead. We know Celtic are going to come out second half, but we weathered the storm really well.
"I just spoke to the players that we countered really well, it was just that bit of quality in the end that we need to be better at. The boys hold their hands up, they know that. Next week in training, it's something we have to work on.
"The mentality is there, it's just making sure you bring that sort of mentality on a consistent basis. It's something we've not been able to do this season, I'm on at them every day in the training centre. It's something we know we need to get better at."
Full-time: Rangers 1-1 Celtic
14:00 , Giuseppe MuroAnd it ends all-square at Ibrox.
Rangers 1-1 Celtic
14:00 , Giuseppe Muro90+7 mins: Huge chance for Celtic! Almost a late, late winner for Celtic as Maeda drives into the area but can’t get a shot away and Rangers scramble clear.
Rangers 1-1 Celtic
13:5790+5 mins: Free-kick for Rangers a chance to send a high ball into the box but it comes to nothing.
Rangers 1-1 Celtic
13:56 , Giuseppe Muro90+3 mins: Rangers are pushing for a late winner but Celtic are holding firm for now. Still four minutes for a winner.
Rangers 1-1 Celtic
13:5290 mins: SEVEN minutes of injury time...
Rangers 1-1 Celtic
13:48 , Giuseppe Muro85 mins: Celtic win a free-kick in a crossing position, the ball is cleared and then a shot from the edge of the area is blocked. Into the final five minutes.
Rangers 1-1 Celtic
13:47 , Giuseppe Muro83 mins: Changes for both sides. For Rangers, Hagi is replaced by Rice. Hagi was injured in the incident a few minutes ago. Kenny replaces Idah for Celtic.
Rangers 1-1 Celtic
13:44 , Giuseppe Muro81 mins: Hagi tried to get onto the rebound of that shot but McGregor gets himself in between the player and the ball. VAR does a quick check for a penalty but the game quickly resumes.
Rangers 1-1 Celtic
13:43 , Giuseppe Muro80 mins: Huge chances for Rangers! A cross finds Raskin in space at the back post but he slips just as he is about to shoot. He does eventually get a shot away but Sinisalo saves.
Rangers 1-1 Celtic
13:39 , Giuseppe Muro76 mins: A long throw causes a bit of panic in the Celtic box but it comes to nothing.
Rangers 1-1 Celtic
13:35 , Giuseppe Muro71 mins: Chance for Rangers! Igamane gets into a good position on the left side of the penalty area but he slips and initially can’t get a shot away, he manages to keep hold of the ball and then has a shot blocked and the danger is over.
Rangers 1-1 Celtic
13:32 , Giuseppe Muro70 mins: After a bit of a lull in the game, Igamane shoots from distance but his effort goes wide. Into the final 20 minutes.
Rangers 1-1 Celtic
13:29 , Giuseppe Muro66 mins: Double change for Rangers... Cerny and Bajrami are replaced by Hagi and Igamane.
Rangers 1-1 Celtic
13:26 , Giuseppe Muro63 mins: Idah gets a shot away on the turn but his effort goes over.
Rangers 1-1 Celtic
13:2562 mins: Changes for Celtic as Yang and Bernardo come on for Forrest and Engels.
GOAL! Rangers 1-1 Celtic | Idah 57’
13:20 , Giuseppe MuroIt stands after the VAR check! Maeda bursts down the left and sets up Idah, whose shot on the turn takes a deflection and goes past Kelly. It looked like the officials gave offside against Maeda, who was standing in front of Kelly, but he was not adjudged to have obstructed the Celtic goalkeeper’s view.
Rangers 1-0 Celtic
13:19 , Giuseppe Muro56 mins: Celtic think they’ve equalised through Idah… but the flag goes up for offside. But there’s a VAR check...
Rangers 1-0 Celtic
13:1653 mins: Celtic have been on top so far in the second half but Rangers win a corner that they need to defend, which they do.
Rangers 1-0 Celtic
13:13 , Giuseppe Muro50 mins: End-to-end stuff, both teams get into promising positions but on both occasions cannot make it out and the chances pass. It’s been better from Celtic in the second half though.
Rangers 1-0 Celtic
13:09 , Giuseppe Muro47 mins: Celtic make a bright start to the second half and win an early corner, which comes to nothing.
Rangers 1-0 Celtic
13:08 , Giuseppe Muro46 mins: Back underway at Ibrox. Rangers are on course for a third straight Old Firm win...
Here’s that Dessers goal that separates the two teams...
Cyriel Dessers finished off this slick Rangers counter-attack to make it 1-0 at halftime 🔥🔵pic.twitter.com/PbpWjwCm8y
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 4, 2025
Rangers probably shaded that first half but Celtic will be rueing that miss from Idah.
Half-time: Rangers 1-0 Celtic
12:51Rangers lead at the break.
GOAL! Rangers 1-0 Celtic | Dessers 44’
12:47 , Giuseppe MuroJust 36 seconds after Idah spurned his chance, Dessers buries his! Cerny slides in Dessers and he slots past Sinisalo. Dessers has barely touched the ball in the first half but that’s his 25th goal of the season.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:4643 mins: Huge chance for Celtic! Idah is slipped in and Kelly has rush off his line to make a good save.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:4240 mins: Rangers send a high cross into box and Souttar heads wide.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:41 , Giuseppe Muro39 mins: Diomande wins Rangers another corner on the right... but Celtic clear.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:38 , Giuseppe Muro35 mins: Bajrami curls a dangerous ball into the Celtic box from the right and Sinisalo does well to stop it reaching Dessers at the back post.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:36 , Giuseppe Muro33 mins: Chance for Celtic! This time Carter-Vickers makes an impact in the other penalty area, rising highest to meet a corner and Kelly is forced to tip his powerful header over the bar. Both sides are looking dangerous from set-pieces.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:34 , Giuseppe Muro31 mins: Rangers win another corner, it’s a brilliant ball from Tavernier and Carter-Vickers does well to get an important header away.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:33 , Giuseppe Muro30 mins: The first half-hour has flown by. No goals yet but this is is bubbling up nicely. Rangers have had the better of it so far.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:3227 mins: Down the other end, Celtic have a chance to test the Rangers defence with a cross into the box but the delivery is poor from Engels and Rangers clear.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:28 , Giuseppe Muro24 mins: Goooooaaaa... no! Raskin heads home a free-kick and Ibrox erupts. But after a long VAR check it is ruled out for offside. Raskin just went just too early with his run. Still 0-0.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:26 , Giuseppe Muro22 mins: A few words between McGregor and Raskin. Who says there’s nothing on this game?
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:23 , Giuseppe Muro21 mins: Celtic win a corner, which is cleared by Rangers.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:2220 mins: Carter-Vickers plays a blind pass back to Sinisalo which is nearly pounced upon by Dessers... but the Celtic goalkeeper just gets there first to clear.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:20 , Giuseppe Muro17 mins: Souttar has to be alart again to flick away a cross to the back post. A bit better from Celtic now, they’re growing into the game.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:19 , Giuseppe Muro16 mins: Celtic craft a chance for Idah and his shot is well blocked by Souttar, who snuffed out the danger well there.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:17 , Giuseppe Muro14 mins: It’s been a really bright start from Rangers, who have been on the top in the opening stages. Can they make that early dominance count?
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:14 , Giuseppe Muro11 mins: It’s fast and frenetic. The game is being played at a real tempo.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:13 , Giuseppe Muro10 mins: Another chance for Rangers! The corner is cleared by Rangers recycle, Tavernier crosses and Raskin’s header is saved by Sinisalo.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:12 , Giuseppe Muro9 mins: Save from Sinisalo! As usual with this fixture, it’s been a great start to the game. Cerny’s shot from distance takes a deflection and Sinisalo is forced to tip the ball over the bar.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:10 , Giuseppe Muro7 mins: Rangers clear the corner but Celtic win the ball back and Balogun has to make a brilliant tackle to stop Idah getting a chance.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:096 mins: A poor kick from Rangers goalkeeper Kelly almost presents an opening for Celtic, who then win a corner.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:07 , Giuseppe Muro3 mins: Rangers are on the front-foot early on. They send a free-kick into the area but Celtic scramble clear.
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
12:04 , Giuseppe Muro2 mins: Early chance for Rangers! The home side win a corner, which is swung in by Tavernier and a header from Balogun skims the top of the crossbar. He was unmarked there and probably should have done better.
Kick-off!
12:02 , Giuseppe Muro1 min: We’re underway in the Old Firm...
Here come the two teams to a huge roar at Ibrox!
The players are in the tunnel and there’s a crackling atmosphere at Ibrox. Here’s a reminder of the two teams…
Rangers XI: Kelly, Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Jefte, Raskin, Diomande, Barron, Cerny, Bajrami, Dessers
Subs: Butland, Cortes, Nsiala, Kasanwirjo, Igamane, Hagi, McCausland, Rice, Danilo
Celtic XI: Sinisalo, Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, McGregor, Engels, Hatate, Forrest, Maeda, Idah
Subs: Bain, Trusty, Yang, McCowan, Schlupp, Nawrocki, Kenny, Bernardo, McArdle
Rodgers: Celtic playing for 'our pride'
11:49 , Giuseppe MuroBrendan Rodgers has been speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the game: “We come here in a good moment, but these are big games and you want to perform in them.
“This is our pride we’re playing for. In these games, we have let ourselves down a wee bit this season. But there is no excuses today. We want to win and play well.”
The atmospehre is building inside Ibrox...
Ferguson: Rangers set up to be aggressive
11:33 , Giuseppe MuroBarry Ferguson has been speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the game: “We’re going to set up today to be really on the front foot, aggressive and hopefully it will get us the three points.
“We need to be defensively sound because Celtic have got players who can hurt you.
“Our home form has not been good enough and I have reminded the players of that. What an opportunity we have got against our fiercest rivals.”
Brendan Rodgers has now won the Scottish title in each of his four seasons at Celtic.
Indeed, Rodgers has now won 11 of the 12 domestic trophies in which his side have competed during that time - the only miss being last season's League Cup, won by Rangers.
‘A lot of regret’ for Diomande after Rangers’ poor season
11:18 , Giuseppe MuroMohamed Diomande will look back with regret when Rangers' wretched domestic campaign ends trophyless.
Rangers reached the Europa League quarter-finals before exiting to Athletic Bilbao but on the home front it is Old Firm rivals Celtic who continue to dominate with the Hoops, crowned Premiership champions for the 13th time in 14 seasons last week, bidding for the treble.
Rangers have beaten Celtic in their last two league games but are 17 points behind going into the final derby of the season at Ibrox on Sunday.
And while Diomande believes a win would help belief for next term, where Rangers will likely be under the new ownership of a US-based consortium who visited the stadium this week, he accepts this season will still sit uneasily with him.
The 23-year-old Ivory Coast midfielder said: "We've won two games against them. It's in the other games that we have struggled.
"I don't see any problem for Sunday, I know we are going to be ready for this game. I know that's something that happens every time we play against Celtic.
"I don't want to look back at the season already with four games still to go, but looking back I know there's going to be a lot of regret from a lot of us.
"We thought we could push in the other games. We know we'll be ready for this game. Our fans want us to beat them and we'll be trying to do that.
"Speaking for myself personally, I know I'm going to be hard on myself. And I've been hard on myself a lot of times. That's what I feel. I don't know what other players are feeling."
Celtic arrive at the home of their biggest rivals having clinched their 13th title in the last 14 years last weekend.
But Rangers are bidding to inflict three successive league defeats on Celtic in a single season for the first time since 1996-97.
They would also become the first side in Old Firm history to achieve three consecutive wins over their rivals while failing to win the title.
Rodgers backs Jota to come back stronger from knee injury
11:01Brendan Rodgers has backed "philosophical" winger Jota to come back stronger after being told he faces being out until 2026.
The Portuguese player has been diagnosed with cruciate ligament damage after twisting his knee during the first half of Celtic's title-clinching victory over Dundee United last weekend.
The 26-year-old was limping heavily as he joined the post-match celebrations in a leg brace and on crutches, and his worst fears were realised.
Rodgers said: "Jota, sadly for him and for us, will be out for a period of time, probably six to nine months.
"It's the cruciate. It was worse than we had hoped. So he starts on his journey of rehab and recovery and it will be somewhere between six and nine months."
Jota returned to Celtic Park from Rennes in January after largely unhappy spells in Saudi Arabia and France.
He was in tears after netting against Motherwell on his first appearance and taking the acclaim of the Celtic supporters.
The fan favourite had spoken of how much he appreciated being back in Glasgow but he now faces a different journey back to playing regularly.
"He's very philosophical in his life," Rodgers said. "I had a long chat with him and obviously looking at what the plan will be for him going forward and the different phases of what it will look like. So he knows he's going to get all the support.
"He's had a difficult, probably, couple of years, really, when you think of how his move to Saudi didn't quite work out.
"He's come back to here, he's loving being back, but he's telling you, you need to get his level of fitness. And that was to try and get through this season in the best he could and then have a really strong pre-season. So, sadly, that has interrupted that side of it.
"But, I have to say, he is a very positive young guy and I'm pretty sure he'll come back from this a stronger person and player."
The Hoops won the first Premiership clash 3-0 in September, with Rangers then clinching a 3-0 win of their own at Ibrox in January before edging them 3-2 at Celtic Park in March.
So Rangers make four changes from last weekend, as Leon Balogun, Connor Barron, Vaclav Cerny and Nedim Bajrami come in for Robin Propper, Clinton Nsiala, Bailey Rice and Hamza Igamane.
Leon Balogun returns from injury and Nedim Bajrami is a surprise starter for the hosts.
Celtic make three changes, with Anthony Ralston, James Forrest and Adam Idah in for Jota, Alistair Johnston and Nicolas Kuhn all ruled out through injury.
Confirmed team news
10:50 , Giuseppe MuroRangers XI: Kelly, Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Jefte, Raskin, Diomande, Barron, Cerny, Bajrami, Dessers
Subs: Butland, Cortes, Nsiala, Kasanwirjo, Igamane, Hagi, McCausland, Rice, Danilo
Celtic XI: Sinisalo, Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, McGregor, Engels, Hatate, Forrest, Maeda, Idah
Subs: Bain, Trusty, Yang, McCowan, Schlupp, Nawrocki, Kenny, Bernardo, McArdle
Team news is on the way from Ibrox...
Rangers vs Celtic stats
10:44 , Giuseppe Muro- The side scoring first has only lost one of their last 26 league Old Firm derbies between Rangers and Celtic (W21 D4), with that a 2-1 defeat for Rangers at home in April 2022. In the last five league matches between the two clubs, the opener has been scored within the opening seven minutes.
- Rangers have conceded at least two goals in each of their last eight league games (17 goals conceded overall). The last Scottish top-flight side to concede 2+ goals more times in a row were Gretna from February to April 2008 (10).
- Celtic have a goal difference of +80 in this season’s Scottish Premiership (102 scored, 22 conceded). In their league history, only in 1915-16 (+93), 1935-36 (+82), 1967-68 (+92), and 2016-17 (+81) have they ever had a better difference between goals scored and conceded at the end of a campaign.
- Daizen Maeda has scored in three of Celtic’s four meetings with Rangers in all competitions this season; he had only scored in two of his first 15 Old Firm derby appearances before this. Maeda has 33 goals and 10 assists in 47 games for Celtic in all competitions in 2024-25 overall.
Ferguson expects ‘big improvement’ from Rangers
10:36 , Giuseppe MuroBarry Ferguson has warned his Rangers players they had "better change" their ways for the visit of Celtic to Ibrox.
Ferguson was installed as boss until the end of the season after Philippe Clement left in February but there has been little notable improvement.
With four Scottish Premiership fixtures remaining, Rangers are 17 points behind Celtic, who clinched their 13th title in 14 seasons when they hammered Dundee United 5-0 at Tannadice last weekend.
Rangers drew 2-2 at St Mirren the same day, leaving a frustrated Ferguson with only four wins from his 11 games in charge - although the Gers have beaten Celtic in their last two meetings, including a 3-2 win at Parkhead when he was in the technical area.
In an interview following the draw in Paisley, Ferguson claimed his side had not carried out instructions despite him imploring them individually and collectively - and he is looking for a response in the final Old Firm game of the season.
"There was a lot of frustration for a number of reasons because I wasn't happy with the way the game went," said the former Rangers captain, who revealed defender Leon Balogun has trained with a mask after a minor operation on a cracked cheekbone.
"Again, the full week, we've spent a bit of time moving through certain scenarios that I wasn't happy with.
"We still obviously have another day to go. We'll do a lot more work tomorrow, but they are clear on what I wasn't happy with and I expect a big improvement in Sunday.
"It better change and it has to change. It's something we have spoken about as a group and I expect them to take the information on.
"I couldn't care less about the performance. I just want to get three points. It's a bonus for me if you play well in the games.
"I don't tend to look what happened in the past. That (Parkhead win) was a number of weeks ago and I'll expect the same level, if not better in Sunday."
No guard of honour for Celtic
10:29 , Giuseppe MuroBarry Ferguson has confirmed Rangers will not give Celtic a guard of honour this afternoon despite them being crowned Scottish champions.
"It's never happened in the past and there's been this huge clamour about it," he said.
"If I put myself in the shoes of a champion, it wouldn't really bother me. I think if you ask any of the Celtic players, I don't think it would bother them either.
”It's always been that way. Let's just continue that way. But one thing I will do is I will shake Brendan's hand and say well done for being so dominant as there's no doubt that's been the case this year and that's got to hurt.
"It certainly hurts me and the staff and it's got to hurt the players as well."
Here’s a reminder of how the Old Firm games have gone in this Scottish Premiership this season…
Celtic won the first clash 3-0 in September, with Rangers then clinching a 3-0 win of their own at Ibrox in January before edging them 3-2 at Celtic Park in March.
The Hoops came out on top on penalties in the League Cup final.
The scene is set in Glasgow…
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) May 4, 2025
Rangers vs Celtic match odds
10:12 , Giuseppe MuroRangers to win: 15/8
Draw: 11/4
Celtic to win: 6/5
Odds via Betfair and subject to change
Prediction
10:04 , Giuseppe MuroThis fixture is always fiery and both clubs will want to have the final say this season, so expect a close afternoon.
Celtic might be top the table by 17 points but Rangers have had the upper hand in their Scottish Premiership meetings this season with two wins from three.
2-2 draw
Celtic team news
09:56 , Giuseppe MuroJota has been ruled out for between six to nine months with a cruciate ligament injury.
Kasper Schmeichel is still out but Yang Hyun-jun could return and Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn are expected to shake off knocks.
Celtic will be without Alistair Johnston.
Rangers team news
09:48 , Giuseppe MuroLeon Balogun is expected to play after training with a mask after an operation on a cracked cheekbone.
Tom Lawrence remains sidelined, while Ridvan Yilmaz and Dujon Sterling are out for the season.
Neraysho Kasanwirjo has recovered from a knee problem and could return to the squad for the first time since November.
Barry Ferguson could hand 18-year-old midfielder Bailey Rice his Old Firm debut.
How to watch
09:38 , Giuseppe MuroTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League from 11am.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app and website.
Good afternoon!
09:34 , Giuseppe MuroHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Rangers vs Celtic.
It’s the final Old Firm game of the season in Scotland. Celtic might have already been crowed champions but it is always a huge occasion when these two rivals meet.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news right here, ahead of kick-off which comes at 12pm BST from Ibrox.
