There’s electricity crackling in the Glasgow air as Celtic and Rangers prepare to lock horns once again in a high-stakes Old Firm derby at Celtic Park on Saturday, January 3, 2026. The lunchtime kick-off at 12:30 pm promises drama, tension, and the kind of footballing spectacle that only Scotland’s fiercest rivals can provide. With both sides desperate for points and the Scottish Premiership title race heating up, the stakes could hardly be higher.
Celtic come into this showdown under a cloud of pressure. Their 2-0 defeat to Motherwell earlier in the week has left manager Wilfried Nancy facing tough questions about his tactics and team selection. After what looked like a turnaround with back-to-back wins over Aberdeen and Livingston, that stumble at Fir Park has put the Hoops’ resilience under the microscope. Celtic now sit second in the league with 38 points—three behind leaders Hearts and just three ahead of Rangers, who have quietly climbed to third under Danny Rohl’s guidance.
For Nancy, this isn’t just another match—it’s his first taste of Old Firm derby action as Celtic manager. The Frenchman is well aware of the scrutiny that comes with the job, especially when the green half of Glasgow expects nothing less than victory against their bitter rivals. "Quite simply, Celtic must get a positive result on Saturday. The mood at the club is far from positive at the moment. One result won’t change everything, but it would show that this team are up for the fight," reads the sentiment echoing through the club’s corridors.
But Nancy’s task is made even trickier by a daunting injury list and international absences. The Hoops will be without long-term sidelined stars Alistair Johnston, Callum Osmand, and Cameron Carter-Vickers, all nursing injuries likely to keep them out until March. Jota, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Marcelo Saracchi are also unavailable, with hamstring issues ruling them out for the derby. Add to that the absence of Sebastian Tounekti and Michel-Ange Balikwisha, who are away representing their nations at the Africa Cup of Nations, and Celtic’s squad depth is being sorely tested.
There is, however, a glimmer of hope in the form of new signing Julian Araujo, who trained at Lennoxtown this week and could be in line for his debut. Whether Nancy opts to throw the defender straight into the cauldron of an Old Firm derby remains to be seen, but fans will be eager to see fresh faces step up in the club’s hour of need. The predicted Celtic lineup leans towards a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Kasper Schmeichel (or Viljami Sinisalo as a possible alternative) in goal, a back three featuring Anthony Ralston, Auston Trusty, and Kieran Tierney, wing-backs Yang Hyun-Jun and Tierney, a midfield anchored by Callum McGregor, Arne Engels, and Luke McCowan, and an attacking trio of Benjamin Nygren, Daizen Maeda, and Johnny Kenny. Substitutes include Sinisalo, Liam Scales, and potentially Araujo, among others.
Rangers, meanwhile, arrive at Celtic Park buoyed by a run of just one defeat in their last eleven league outings. Danny Rohl’s side may not have blown opponents away, but their form has been quietly impressive. The Light Blues have collected six points from their last three matches, most recently edging St Mirren 2-1 thanks to goals from Thelo Aasgaard and Emmanuel Fernandez. Goalkeeper Jack Butland has been a standout, pulling off crucial saves—including a penalty stop in that St Mirren win—that have helped steady the ship.
Like their rivals, Rangers have not escaped the injury bug. Derek Cornelius, Bailey Rice, and Oliver Antman are all out, with Antman not expected back until late January. Nedim Bajrami is also sidelined until mid-month, while Nasser Djiga is away at AFCON. Yet, Rohl has managed to coax attacking verve from his squad, with Youssef Chermiti leading the line and Aasgaard providing goals from midfield. Fernandez’s emergence as a scoring threat has been a welcome bonus.
Tactically, there’s intrigue around how Rohl might set up his team for this cauldron of a derby. Former Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson has suggested that deploying Dujon Sterling as an auxiliary midfielder could be the secret weapon, adding steel and defensive cover to the engine room. "Just for a bit of extra legs and defensive cover. The game’s going to be hustle and bustle, Rangers will suffer a wee bit at times without the ball. Dujon Sterling gives you that in abundance," Thomson opined on The Breakdown podcast, pushing for a midfield trio of Barron, Sterling, and Raskin to outmuscle Celtic in the center of the park.
Thomson’s preferred eleven would see Butland in goal, a back four of Tavernier, Souttar, Fernandez, and Meghoma, with Barron and Sterling sitting deep, Raskin ahead of them, and an attacking trio of Miovski, Mikey Moore, and Djedi Gassama. Whether Rohl takes that advice remains to be seen, but the tactical chess match between two rookie Old Firm managers is a storyline unto itself.
Both clubs know that a slip-up here could have major ramifications in the title race. With Hearts holding a slender lead at the top, neither side can afford to let the gap widen. The atmosphere at Celtic Park will be white-hot, the fans demanding passion and precision in equal measure. And with the match broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and streamed worldwide via SPFL Pass, a global audience will be watching every kick, tackle, and moment of controversy.
For Celtic, the challenges are clear: overcome adversity, rally around a depleted squad, and show the fight that has defined the club’s proud history. For Rangers, the task is to capitalize on their recent momentum, exploit Celtic’s vulnerabilities, and stake a claim as genuine title contenders. The return of Sterling and the rise of players like Fernandez and Chermiti add new dimensions to the contest, promising twists and turns as the action unfolds.
As the teams prepare to walk out onto the hallowed turf, one thing is certain: the 2026 New Year Old Firm derby is shaping up to be a battle for the ages. With both managers seeking their first derby win and the league table tighter than ever, the outcome is impossible to call. Fans can only buckle up and brace themselves for ninety minutes of passion, intensity, and the kind of drama that only Glasgow’s greatest rivalry can deliver.
