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Celtic v Rangers: Scottish Premiership – live | Scottish Premiership
Key events
39 min: Johnston goes in the book for Celtic after a rash sliding tackle on Moore on halfway. He gets the ball but catches Moore on the follow-through.
37 min: Tavernier lines up another long throw which Johnston doesn’t take any chances with and nods behind for a corner. Tavernier wastes the corner, sending it floating out for a goal-kick.
35 min: Celtic struggle to clear after a Tavernier long throw. When a cross comes into the six-yard box Trusty does extremely well to head clear under pressure. He takes a whack for his troubles but is OK.
33 min: Barron doesn’t thank Chukwuani for a chest-height pass in the middle of the park that he fails to control. Chukwuani comes in to help out and fouls his man but escapes a booking. Bit scrappy.
31 min: Tierney clips a ball towards the back post but Rommens is there to clear away. Nygren can’t find space for a proper shot at goal on the turn and Butland gathers.
29 min: Fernandez does brilliantly for Rangers to get back to stop McCowan, just as multiple Celtic players were bearing down on goal.
28 min: Nervy moments for Celtic! Rommens sends Moore down the left and the youngster’s low cross is sliced just past his own top corner by Scales. Moore loses the ball on the edge of the box after the corner and Celtic break at speed …
26 min: That’s got the home crowd going again! Engels tries to thread a ball through for Maeda running between the Rangers centre-backs but Fernandez is there to step in.
There’s a VAR check for offside with a couple of Celtic players in the six-yard box as Yang’s shot comes in … the goal stands!
GOAL! Celtic 1-1 Rangers (Yang 23)
Celtic level it up – McCowan is at the heart of it! It’s a brilliant reverse ball into Engels, who cuts the ball back for Yang in the middle to convert!
22 min: McCowan is struggling a bit on the right for Celtic. He was dispossessed for Moore’s goal and now dallies on the ball in the Rangers penalty area. When the cross does come in from the other flank Nygren can’t direct his header on target.
2o min: Referee Nick Walsh delves into his pocket for the first time to show a yellow card to Chermiti for a late lunge on Engels. It’s not been the striker’s first foul. Engels then bumps Chukwuani to the floor off the ball.
18 min: Maeda shoots wide! Yang feeds a ball through for the Japan international to chase. He leaves Djiga on the deck, opens his body up but rolls the ball just wide of the far post. It’s all happening.
16 min: Trusty is all at sea again when trying to deal with Chermiti, who takes down a long ball and leaves the Celtic defender on his backside. His teammates come to his rescue but Rangers win a corner. Fernandez has a free header but shoulders it wide, with the referee blowing for a foul.
14 min: Rangers threaten again! Tavernier picks out Chermiti, who holds off Trusty in the area and has a shot saved by Sinisalo. The rebound falls to Moore, whose shot is blocked as the whistle goes for handball by Chermiti.
13 min: It’s the away end making most of the noise around Parkhead now. There are some nervous groans as Rangers are allowed to progress to the edge of the area again until Antman’s ball into the box is cut out.
11 min: How do Celtic respond? Maeda leads the charge down the right channel and his cut-back is cleared by Barron.
GOAL! Celtic 0-1 Rangers (Moore 10)
The visitors strike first in the Old Firm! McCowan is pushed off the ball by Fernandez in the Celtic half. Chermiti has a toed shot blocked by Scales but the ball falls to Moore and he slots home!
Photograph: Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock
8 min: Yang combines with Tierney down Celtic’s left but the full-back’s cross is deflected into the hands of Butland. It’s been a typically frantic start.
6 min: Full-backs Tierney and Johnston are already having an impact in the final third for Celtic. McGregor and Yang get the crowd up with some rough tackles in the Rangers half.
4 min: After Engels tests Butland from range, Rangers break with Moore. When the ball gets to Chermiti he sets aim for the far corner and pulls his shot just wide of the post. Big chance!
2 min: A couple of nervy early touches from both teams give way to some controlled Celtic possession around the halfway line until Moore forces Johnston to run it out of play.
Kick-off
“We’ll fight it out until the end,” reads a banner among the Green Brigade in the north curve of Celtic Park. You’ll never walk alone rings out.
Rangers’ Connor Barron gets us going.
The experienced armbanded duo of Callum McGregor and James Tavernier lead their teams out. Let’s get ready to rumble …
In his pre-match TV interview Danny Röhl says Rangers must “play the perfect game” in order to make it three wins from their last three visits to Parkhead. Martin O’Neill meanwhile says Celtic must beware of their opponents “because they will come here and play with freedom”.
Those green seats around Celtic Park are filling up nicely with around 10 minutes until we get under way.
Old Firm head-to-head this season: Celtic haven’t won any of their three Premiership games against Rangers in 2025-26 – Martin O’Neill is unbeaten in all competitions though across his two stints in charge.
Scottish Premiership
Rangers 0-0 Celtic
Celtic 1-3 Rangers
Rangers 2-2 Celtic
Scottish Cup
Quarter-final: Rangers 0-0 Celtic (2-4 pens)
League Cup
Semi-final: Celtic 3-1 Rangers
Martin O’Neill has admitted this season has been “a big, big change” for Celtic having to contend with not just Rangers but Hearts in the defence of their title.
It’s not a position that the football club has found itself in in recent years. Generally speaking, they’ve gone clear and there’s been no opposition.
There’s been plenty of opposition this year, not just from Rangers but obviously from Hearts.
So it is a big, big change, not something that a number of these players have been used to. You have to get used to it. You’ve been chasing, you have to keep chasing.
O’Neill’s side have won six of their last seven in the Premiership – with a defeat at Aberdeen their only blip on that run. Three more wins now would seal the title.
The games that we’ve had have been difficult. So I’ve not tried to analyse that much about it. We’ve got over the line.
I think the Old Firm game looks after itself. The players have, since Tannadice, had some time to reflect because of the international break.
We got back to Dundee, got the late winner, and it’s gone from there. We’ve had moments where we’ve had to fight through things, but we’ve seen it through so far. Sunday is a massive test for us.
Danny Röhl has said this week that he is fully committed to the Rangers job heading into next season after rumours of a return to his native Germany. He is under pressure at Ibrox in any case because of Rangers’ tendency to fall short across the competitions this campaign.
Röhl has been speaking this week about trying to develop a winning mentality at Rangers:
Fully, fully committed. I feel the support every day. I feel the conversations we had. We spoke so much about what we want to change for the summer.
All in all, I feel that I’m in the right place with the right people with a lot of motivation, positive energy to bring this club not just to a one-hit wonder, back to a consistent club who can win titles in a row.
This is also important to understand. A one-hit wonder for us, it’s nice, but what we are looking for is that you consistently play for the title. And this is my job, this is our job, and this is why I’m looking forward.
Starting lineups: Raskin misses out
Celtic Sinisalo; Johnston, Trusty, Scales, Tierney; McGregor, Engels, Nygren; Yang, Maeda, McCowan
Subs: Doohan, Iheanacho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tounekti, Sarrachi, Hatate, Murray, Forrest, Ralston
Luke McCowan gets the nod ahead of Sebastian Tounetki in Celtic’s front three.
Rangers Butland; Tavernier, Fernandez, Djiga, Rommens; Barron, Chukwuani, Diomande; Antman, Chermiti, Moore
Subs: Kelly, Sterling, Aarons, Meghoma, Aasgard, Gassama, Bajrami, Miovski, Skov Olsen
Nicolas Raskin misses out entirely with a muscle injury and Connor Barron gets his first start since January.
The context: An Old Firm this late in the season often has the air of a title decider but this season has been different. Hearts, looking to become the first team to break the Celtic-Rangers duopoly for 41 years, lead the Premiership by four points with two games remaining. However the pressure appears to be showing a tad, with Derek McInnes’s side dropping points in a 1-1 draw at Motherwell last night. Hearts were left furious after not being awarded a second-half penalty.
That gives both Celtic and Rangers a chance today, with both teams having this game in hand on the leaders. Celtic are four points back and know they will be champions if they win their last three games – they host Hearts on the final day in a potential all-or-nothing game. After a tumultuous season that has included fan unrest, the disastrous tenure of Wilfried Nancy and a shabby Old Firm record in the league, the title would be some tonic for Martin O’Neill’s side.
As for Rangers, they thought their title hopes were over after defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle last Monday left them eight points back. It is still mathematically possible to overhaul that gap now but Danny Röhl’s side will have to win their last three games and pray (very hard) other results go their way. If the title seems an unrealistic aim then stopping Celtic will at least provide plenty of motivation today.
Preamble
Hello and welcome. The door is ajar in the Scottish Premiership title race. After Hearts’ draw with Motherwell last night, Celtic know that if they win their final three fixtures – starting with the Old Firm today – then they will be champions (bear in mind they host Hearts on the final day next weekend). Rangers also turn up at Parkhead this lunchtime with a spring in their step, with their (very) faint hopes of the title still alive, not to mention the opportunity to set fire to Celtic’s bid.
I’ll bring you buildup and team news before kick-off at noon (BST), then minute-by-minute updates from this, perhaps the, decisive match in the Premiership season. I’d love to hear your thoughts via email, whether you’re Celtic, Rangers, Hearts or a neutral.
The stakes are sky-high and the atmosphere at Celtic Park will be one of a kind. Bring it on.
The family of Shaun Burton, say they are “devastated” by the loss.
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Key events
In the opening half an hour against Cape Verde, Mikel Oyarzabal, the centre-forward, did not get a single touch.
Kyle Green gets in touch: “Your highlighting of Lalas and his absurdity is something that has prevented me from wanting to watch the coverage on Fox. While every channel has its pros and cons I just can’t.
“I’m 45 and probably the youngest of anyone who remembers him as a player instead of an opinionated insert insult here. As for the match this could be more competitive than it looks on paper Spain need a win the pressure is on them. Saudi Arabia could hold out for a draw and see what happens in their last match. “
News from the England camp, and it seems to be good news on Declan Rice.
“I’m ready and fit, raring to go. I was feeling a little bit of neural pain in my hamstring, which I was managing from after Christmas with Arsenal for a very long time. Obviously, not a lot of people would have known that. It was all behind-the-scenes stuff but it was a smart decision.
“In the end, that last 20 minutes is probably where you pick up the most, and it’s where you play a 70-minute match. But that last 20 is where you really feel your body going for it. And I think it was a smart decision because the last few days I felt really, really good.”
Alex Reid has penned today’s weekend special Football Daily.
Portugal v Uzbekistan on Tuesday enticingly pits the incredibly nice, incredibly 41-year-old-superstar-tolerant Roberto Martínez against Fabio Cannavaro, who’s won a Ballon d’Or as a player and the Chinese Super League as a coach. While the fixture following that game really does see the dream of Thomas Tuchel – in his first international job with England – taking on Queiroz, who is in charge of his ninth national side with Ghana.
The expected formations are 4-2-3-1 for Spain, and 5-3-2 for the Saudi Arabians.
The Saudi team features two Donis changes: Ali Lajami, a defender, and Nasser Al Dawsari, a midfielder, are preferred to Mohammed Abu Al Shamat and Mohamed Kanno. You may recall Salem Al Dawsari, the Saudi captain, as the man who scored the winner against Argentina.
An entertaining read, even for those of us who have just seen the clips.
In a conversation where his co-panelist is casually reminiscing about his days playing alongside Messi or exchanging shirts with Ronaldo Nazário at the World Cup, what exactly is Lalas going to talk about – coming on as a second-half substitute for Earnie Stewart in a friendly against Scotland in 1998? Helping the Kansas City Wizards finish last in the 1999 MLS Western Conference? Did Lalas enjoy an elite playing career? No. But does he do the background reading that could compensate for his relative lack of standing in a conversation with titans like Henry and Zlatan? Also no. But is he charming or funny or charismatic or otherwise magnetic on screen? Eh, no.
For the record, I once interviewed Alexi Lalas on the challenge of playing against Romario in the 1994 World Cup. He had this to say:
“He could kill you in so many different ways. If you remember from that World Cup, he scored so many types of goals. That ranged from solo adventures to an outside-of-the-right-foot half-volley off a corner kick. Romario was both the most difficult to play against and the best that I have faced.
“Roberto Baggio was doing his thing, but in terms of consistency and living up to the hype, he [Romario] was the best. As with all stars, there was a moment when the fans sit up in their seats, and that was a feeling I got with Romario. When it got close to him and the potential for his involvement in a play was there, everybody sat up in their seat. They knew that something spectacular would be happening.”
Saturday’s match reports here.
The Saudi Arabia coach, and Blackburn legend, Georgios Donis, spoke about the challenges facing his team: “Spain is not the same team when Yamal or Williams are on the bench.
“While they still have plenty of possession, they lack the individual one-on-one penetration when these two are missing. I’m not saying it’s a problem for Spain, but when those players are missing, they play in a different way. We saw this very clearly against Cape Verde.
“We are playing against one of the best teams in the world, and it’s very important that when you play against these kinds of teams, you should enjoy the experience and respect the opponent, but not too much.
“It is very hard for any team playing against Spain to have any time in possession. So what we must do is to be more in control of our movement and compact, and when the ball goes through the lines, be able to defend dynamically.
“It’s nice to see miracles in football, and we’ve seen favourites losing against underdogs. Of course, it’s great for Saudi football to have a great memory of the result against Argentina, but we aren’t drawing anything from that.
“I think we’ll feel more pressure in that [Cape Verde] game than we will against Spain.”
The Spain coach, Luis De La Fuente had this to say in his Saturday press conference: “This generation of footballers is highly competitive and really fired up… It’s going to be a completely different story,” he said at his pre-match press conference on Saturday. There is no drama or crisis. The bottom line is simply that we need to win tomorrow.”
Four changes for Spain: Lamine Yamal, Pedro Porro, Dani Olmo and Alex Baena also come into the side with Marcos Llorente, Fabian Ruiz, Ferran Torres and Gavi dropping out.
The teams – Lamine Yamal starts
Spain: Simon, Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella, Gonzalez, Rodri, Yamal, Olmo, Baena, Oyarzabal. Subs: Raya, Joan Garcia, Pubill, Grimaldo, Eric Garcia, Llorente, Merino, Torres, Fabian, Gavi, Pino, Williams, Zubimendi, Munoz, Iglesias.
Saudi Arabia: Al Owais, Abdulhamid, Tambakti, Lajami, Al Amri, Al Harbi, Nasser Al Dawsari, Al Khaibari, Al Juwayr, Al Buraikan, Salem Al Dawsari. Subs: Al Aqidi, Al Kassar, Majrashi, Yahya, Al Shehri, Al Boushal, Kadesh, Al Johani, Al Ghannam, Al Hajji, Al Hamdan, Mandash, Kanno, Thakri, Abu Al Shamat.
Referee: Raphael Claus (Brazil)
Perhaps one of the Saudi -players can write themselves into this high-grade selection?
Perhaps it can be their goalkeeper.
Madrid screening of Spain v Saudi Arabia cancelled due to heat
The public screening of Spain’s World Cup match against Saudi Arabia in Madrid on Sunday has been cancelled because of extreme heat forecast for the Spanish capital, officials said.
The match, due to kick off at 6pm local time on Sunday, had been scheduled to be shown on a giant screen installed by the Spanish football federation (RFEF) at a fan zone in Plaza de Colón in central Madrid.
Madrid city council and the federation decided to cancel the screening after national weather agency AEMET issued an orange heat warning – the second-highest level – for the Madrid region, with temperatures forecast to reach 40C.
“The decision has been taken with the aim of protecting the health of attendees, event staff and support services involved in the event,” Madrid city hall said in a statement, apologising for any inconvenience.
Officials urged supporters to watch the match indoors in air-conditioned spaces and avoid prolonged exposure to the heat.
Large parts of Spain are experiencing unusually high temperatures for June as a mass of hot air from North Africa moves across the Iberian Peninsula.
A total of 13 of Spain’s 17 regions are on orange alert for heat on Sunday, while the northern Basque Country bordering France is on red alert, the highest level.
Authorities advised residents and visitors to take precautions during the heatwave, including drinking water regularly, staying in cool environments, limiting outdoor physical activity during the hottest hours of the day and taking extra care of vulnerable people. AFP
Can Saudi Arabia repeat the magic of 2022?
Argentina arrived in Qatar on a 36-game unbeaten run. When Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 10 minutes, a comfortable afternoon seemed in the offing. Saleh al-Shehri and Salem al-Dawsari had other ideas, Argentina had three goals disallowed for offside in the space of 13 minutes and the greatest comeback in Saudi Arabia football history was made. Argentina went on to lift the trophy, while defeats to Poland and Mexico meant the Saudis did not reach the knock-out stage.
Unai Simon over David Raya is a controversial choice for De la Fuentes. The Arsenal keeper could lay claim to being Europe’s best this season.
“Those at the Champions League final had a few more days, so I got there on the Wednesday night,” Raya says. “I arrived a bit before Fabián [Ruiz]. I was saying hello to some of the others in reception when he arrived. I went to say congratulations; that was almost the first thing I did. I couldn’t really talk [to him] after the final; I just didn’t have it in me. The next day we talked about the game properly. Just two mates chatting … I was happy for him that he could lift the trophy for a second time.”
A high pressure game for the European champions, as Sid Lowe reports.
“If we had scored one, the game would have changed,” Martín Zubimendi said. Immediately after the game, De la Fuente had offered a simple analysis: when the ball doesn’t want to go in it doesn’t want to go in, he insisted. Spain had racked up 27 shots, after all. Ferran Torres had hit the bar and seen another clear opportunity saved. Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who stopped that, saved six more and was named the man of the match. “There’s nothing to reproach the team for,” Rodri said. “We generated chances but couldn’t put it away; the good thing is they created almost nothing.”
We wait to see what role Lamine Yamal will play today. His coach would surely like to be able to use him.
The worst mistake we could make would be to compare him to anyone. He is the midst of a process. He has exceptional footballing maturity and lives it all with total naturalness. He has great serenity and strength. We have to let him follow his path but those players who have something different are ready for that. They’re geniuses, like Dalí [who] can paint a picture, or Michelangelo. They’re different. What is exceptional to us, isn’t to them. In those extremes, they feel comfortable. Why? Because they are different. What we think is exceptional, they consider normal.
Preamble
Spain’s campaign did not get off to a flying start, and Luis de la Fuentes may wake up in the night to visions of Cape Verde’s Vozinha. He will have Georgia on his mind ever since Monday. Saudi Arabia are no pushovers and gave Uruguay a scare in their opening match. Memories of downing Argentina four years ago still abound, and so Spain might beware. They can ill afford to go into the final game with Uruguay at a disadvantage. All eyes on Lamine Yamal, whose fitness situation remains opaque, though Spain need their other forwards to come to the party.
Kick-off 5pm UK, 1pm ET, 2am AEST. Join me.
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