Celtic fought back from a goal down to deny Rangers a third consecutive derby victory in a 1-1 draw at Ibrox on May 4, 2025. The match, characterized by tension and missed opportunities, highlighted the ongoing struggles of Rangers under interim manager Barry Ferguson.
The home side took the lead just before half-time when Cyriel Dessers shrugged off a challenge from Liam Scales and tucked a low shot past Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo. Rangers appeared to be in control, aiming to build on their victories over Celtic in previous encounters this year.
However, Celtic responded with determination. Just before the hour mark, Adam Idah leveled the score with a powerful shot that deflected off John Souttar, ensuring that the Premiership champions maintained their impressive 17-point lead over their rivals in the league table.
Rangers, who have not won at home since February 2, 2025, came into the match with a sense of urgency. Ferguson made four changes to the team that drew 2-2 with St Mirren, opting for a midfield diamond formation. Leon Balogun, Connor Barron, Nedim Bajrami, and Vaclav Cerny were brought into the lineup, replacing Clinton Nsiala, Robin Propper, Bailey Rice, and Hamza Igamane.
On the other hand, Celtic's manager Brendan Rodgers had to adjust his squad as well, with injuries sidelining Alistair Johnston, Nicolas Kuhn, and Jota. Anthony Ralston, James Forrest, and Idah were given starting roles in their absence.
The match began with a flurry of activity. Rangers almost opened the scoring within the first two minutes. A corner delivered by James Tavernier found Balogun, whose header crashed off the bar. The home side continued to press, with Cerny forcing Sinisalo into a save soon after, and Nico Raskin's header was also denied.
Rangers thought they had taken the lead in the 24th minute when Raskin nodded a free-kick from Tavernier into the net. However, celebrations were cut short as VAR ruled the goal offside. This decision proved pivotal, as it allowed Celtic to regroup and refocus.
With the clock ticking down to half-time, Rangers finally broke through. After Idah was denied by goalkeeper Liam Kelly, the hosts countered quickly. Mohamed Diomande drove through midfield and played a well-timed pass to Dessers, who held off Scales and slotted the ball home, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Despite going into the break with a goal advantage, Rangers could not maintain their momentum. Celtic emerged from the locker room revitalized and ready to fight back. In the 56th minute, Daizen Maeda, who had been quiet for much of the match, made a crucial play. He managed to get the better of Tavernier and, although his initial cross was blocked, the ball fell to Idah. The striker turned sharply and fired a shot that took a deflection off Souttar before finding the back of the net.
The goal was initially ruled offside against Maeda, but after a lengthy VAR check, it was deemed valid, allowing Celtic to equalize. This moment shifted the dynamic of the match, as both teams sought to find a winner.
As the match approached its conclusion, both sides had opportunities to secure all three points. Celtic came close in injury time when Maeda broke free and raced towards goal, but Kelly was alert and made a crucial save to keep the score level.
Despite the draw, the result continues to reflect the challenges facing Rangers. Under Ferguson, the team has now gone six games without a win and remains without a home victory since his appointment. The pressure is mounting as speculation grows about potential managerial changes and squad overhauls ahead of the European qualifiers in July.
Ferguson, who has publicly expressed his desire to lead the team moving forward, stated, “The club need to make a decision really soon. There have been a few bumps, but that does not scare me one little bit. I know I can do the job.” His confidence is admirable, but the lack of a competitive edge in recent matches raises questions about his future.
Celtic, on the other hand, continues to assert its dominance in Scottish football. With a commanding lead in the Premiership and a resilient performance in this derby, they have solidified their status as the team to beat. Rodgers remarked on the importance of the draw, stating, “It shows the character of our squad. We never give up.”
The rivalry between Celtic and Rangers remains one of the most intense in football, and this latest encounter only adds to the storied history of the Old Firm. Both teams will look to regroup and refocus as they head into the final stretch of the season.
With the stakes high and emotions running deep, fans can expect more thrilling encounters as the season progresses. As for now, both teams will take a point from this match, but the battle for supremacy in Scottish football is far from over.
