Rangers 1-1 Celtic: Champions ride their luck to claim satisfactory point

Rangers’ bid for a third successive derby win over Celtic was thwarted this afternoon as the champions hit back to earn a point at Ibrox.

Despite the Hoops’ dominance of the Scottish Premiership this season, Barry Ferguson’s side were chasing a trio of back-to-back league wins in the same season against the arch-rivals for the first time in 28 years.

And it looked on when Cyriel Dessers gave the home side a deserved lead on the stroke of half-time. But Celtic hit back through Adam Idah to claim a share of the spoils and maintain their 17-point advantage at the top of the table.

Full-Time: Rangers 1-1 Celtic

All level at Ibrox. pic.twitter.com/QN6s03eZeG

— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) May 4, 2025

Fast start from pumped-up hosts

Rangers, sensing this was a chance to claim at least a modicum of oneupmanship, started quickly and almost grabbed the lead inside two minutes.

James Tavernier’s right-wing corner picked out Leon Balogun and his header crashed against the bar and over.

Rangers continued to press and Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo did well to first tip over a looping effort from Vaclav Cerny and then another headed effort from Nico Raskin.

Raskin was proving a menace and he thought he had opened the scoring after 25 minutes but his header from a Tavernier free-kick was ruled out for offside.

Celtic had been second best but almost stunned the home crowd by taking the lead themselves after 34 minutes, Cameron Carter-Vickers’ towering header thundering off the Rangers bar.

Dessers strikes

Home goalkeeper Liam Kelly then saved brilliantly from Idah before, at the other end, the deadlock was broken a minute later.

A smart dummy from Cerny carved out space in the Celtic area and Dessers made no mistake with a crisp finish past Sinisalo for his 25th goal of the season.

The lead lasted 13 minutes, however, Idah blasting home after the ball fell into his path via a deflection off John Souttar. There was a lengthy VAR check but the goal was allowed to stand.

VAR played a key role again with nine minutes to go.

Rangers wanted a penalty after Ianis Hagi appeared to be fouled inside the area but their appeals were dismissed.

Maeda fluffs his lines

Despite riding their luck, Celtic almost won it with the final attack of the game.

Tavernier’s slack pass was seized upon by Reo Hatate and he sent Daizen Maeda through on goal. The Japan international had options, including squaring the ball to Johnny Kenny, but instead ran straight into Kelly.