Rangers vs Celtic: Preview, Predictions and Lineups
2025 gets off to a strong start in the Scottish Premiership as Rangers host Celtic in the Old Firm derby.
Regarded as one of the fiercest rivalries in world football, these two clubs have battled for decades at the top of the Scottish game, but the game has been decidedly one-sided in recent times.
Rangers have failed to win any of their previous seven meetings, and Celtic’s supremacy in the derby is reflected in their overall dominance. The Hoops have won 12 of the previous 13 Scottish titles, with the Gers’ solitary triumph coming in 2020/21 under Steven Gerrard.
rangers they have little chance of regaining the crown this season with Brendan Rodgers’ side running away from the league. Celtic are 14 points clear of their arch-rivals at the top and Thursday’s hosts are enduring an underwhelming campaign with Belgian Philippe Clement in charge.
Clement’s team enter the derby after losing to St. Mirren and tied with Motherwell to conclude 2024. Celtic remain unbeaten domestically and have conceded just four goals in 18 league games.
here it is 90 minutes guide to Thursday’s Old Firm derby.
Rangers vs Celtic H2H Record (Last Five Matches)
Current form (all competitions)
|
rangers |
Celtic |
|---|---|
|
Motherwell 2-2 Rangers – 29/12/24 |
Celtic 4-0 St. Johnstone – 29/12/24 |
|
St. Mirren 2-1 Rangers – 26/12/24 |
Celtic 4-0 Motherwell – 26/12/24 |
|
Rangers 1-0 Dundee – 21/12/24 |
Dundee United 0-0 Celtic – 22/12/24 |
|
Celtic 3-3 (5-4p) Rangers – 15/12/24 |
Celtic 3-3 (5-4p) Rangers – 15/12/24 |
|
Rangers 1-1 Tottenham – 12/24/12 |
Dinamo Zagreb 0-0 Celtic – 12/10/24 |
|
country |
TV channel/live broadcast |
|---|---|
|
united kingdom |
Sky Go UK, NOW, SKY GO Extra, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, Sky Ultra HD |
|
united states |
fuboTV, CBS Sports Network |
|
canada |
Celtic TV, RangersTV |
Center Leon Balogun was hit against St. They face off on Christmas Day and subsequently missed Rangers’ 2-2 draw with Motherwell to close out 2024. Clement will be keen to welcome the defender back to the Old Firm, but Balogun remains a doubt. .
After suffering a suspected hamstring injury at the weekend, the hosts are certain to be without captain James Tavernier.
Rabbi Matondo returned to action on Sunday as he enjoyed a cameo from the bench after a lengthy injury lay-off. He is unlikely to return to the Gers starting XI here, but will be ready for another appearance as a substitute.
The hosts are missing Tom Lawrence, Neraysho Kasanwirjo and John Souttar. Hamza Igamane will be called up to the XI after his match-saving performance on Sunday.
Rangers predicted line-up against Celtic (4-2-3-1): Butland; Sterling, Balogun, King, Yilmaz; Diomande, Raskin; Cerny, Bajrami, Hagi; religions
Celtic, like their hosts, do not have too many injury problems heading into the new year. They are only set to be without James Forrest and Odin Thiago Holm for their trip to Ibrox.
It has been a hectic festive period for the runaway leaders, but Rodgers is unlikely to make wholesale changes from the side that thrashed St. Johnstone at the weekend. Celtic will be at full strength here, with Kyogo Furuhashi looking to continue his excellent record in this game.
Only Henrik Larsson and Kenny Miller have scored more Old Firm derby goals than the Japanese striker (eight).
Predicted line-up for Celtic against Rangers (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor; Bernard, McGregor, Hatate; Kuhn, Kyogo, Maeda.
Rangers head into the competition out of form and with little hope of catching their rivals at the top, but recently showed in the Scottish League Cup final that they can compete with this Celtic side in a head-to-head punctual
The hosts will, of course, be buoyed by a fervent Ibrox crowd, but the perennial champions have shown an impressive ability in recent years to beat their fiercest rivals without too much fuss.
Celtic are supreme defensively and undoubtedly the top. This should show up here again.
English