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Celtic reinforced their recent superiority in the Old Firm derby with a commanding Scottish Premiership victory against Rangers. Entering the match as strong favorites on home turf, the champions overcame a spirited start from Rangers before asserting their dominance in a 3-0 win.
Daizen Maeda opened the scoring with a close-range finish from an Alistair Johnston cross, taking advantage of some slack defending from a throw-in. Celtic had an earlier goal from Kyogo Furuhashi ruled out for offside against Nicolas Kuhn, but the Japanese striker soon added his name to the scoresheet with a precise strike from the edge of the box, further increasing his impressive derby goal tally.
Rangers struggled to respond and were fortunate not to be further behind by halftime. Despite showing more urgency at the start of the second half, they failed to capitalize on key opportunities, including a tame effort from Cyriel Dessers that was easily saved by Kasper Schmeichel.
Celtic continued to create chances, with Kyogo hitting the side-netting from a promising position, while Rangers’ Ross McCausland and John Souttar missed opportunities to get their team back in the game. The contest was effectively ended when Callum McGregor unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box, sealing Celtic’s victory and extending their lead over Rangers to five points just four games into the league season.
Celtic’s performance mirrored their recent derby dominance, characterized by superiority in midfield and relentless pressing that forced Rangers into mistakes. Brendan Rodgers’ side appears to be improving under his guidance, with their evolution and squad depth making them an even more formidable force in Scottish football.
For Rangers, the result continued a worrying trend in Old Firm derbies, with just one win in the last 12 meetings. Despite a promising start, they failed to maintain their intensity after the disallowed goal and struggled to create meaningful chances. Manager Philippe Clement has yet to win a derby match, and the pressure is mounting as Rangers look to find a clear identity and style under his leadership.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers praised his team’s attacking prowess and defensive mentality, while Rangers’ Philippe Clement acknowledged the need for improvement and emphasized the youth and inexperience of his squad as factors in their ongoing struggles.
