Rangers and Celtic did little to lift the Old Firm gloom as they played out a turgid 0-0 draw at Ibrox.
Given the state of both sides coming into this game, Rangers boss Russell Martin can claim a moral victory of sorts, his team being the better of the two Glasgow giants for significant spells and shaking off some of the shame from their 6-0 midweek defeat away to Club Brugge.
Celtic also suffered a different flavour of Champions League humiliation as they lost on penalties to minnows Kairat Almaty. There was no notable response to that setback as Brendan Rodgers’ team turned in an utterly listless performance.
In the wider analysis, it has cost them little, the Bhoys moving on to 10 points from four games this season, with scant suggestion Rangers will be capable of challenging them over the distance.
The hosts came closest to the victory when John Souttar headed home James Tavernier’s free-kick after the half hour, punishing a dreadful misjudgement from Kasper Schmeichel. But the Celtic keeper was spared when a VAR review showed Souttar had strayed offside.
It means Rangers have drawn all of their first four league matches under Martin, alongside back-to-back pastings from Brugge. The ex-Southampton manager is a long way from being out of the woods.
JUMP TO: Highlights and key events | Where to watch | Head to head
Rangers vs. Celtic score
| Fulltime | Goal scorers | |
| Rangers | 0 | |
| Celtic | 0 |
Starting lineups:
Rangers (4-2-3-1, right to left): Butland (GK) — Tavernier, Souttar, Djiga, Meghoma — Barron, Diomande — Moore, Aasgaard, Gassama — Miovski
Celtic 4-3-3, right to left): Schmeichel (GK) — Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney — Engels, McGregor, Hatate — Nygren, Maeda, Balikwisha
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Rangers vs. Celtic stats
| Rangers | Stat | Celtic |
| 4 | Shots | 5 |
| 0 | Shots on target | 2 |
| 0.16 | Expected goals | 0.17 |
| 41% | Possession | 59% |
| 343 | Passes | 508 |
| 8 | Corners | 1 |
| 17 | Fouls | 17 |
| 3 | Yellow cards | 0 |
| 2 | Offsides | 0 |
Rangers vs. Celtic highlights, key events
Fulltime
Well, of all the Old Firm games I’ve ever seen, that one was by far the most recent. Let us never speak of it again.
75 mins: Celtic belatedly looking a little more likely as we enter the final stages. But, honestly, this has been dire. That heading featuring the word “highlights” has started to feel like false advertising.
2nd Half
We’re back underway. No changes for either side. Here’s to a change in the overall quality.
Halftime
Rangers the better team and will rue Souttar’s disallowed goal. Overall, not much to recommend. Celtic utterly abject.
33 mins: Rangers think they have the lead but VAR Hugh Dallas has other ideas. Schmeichel gets himself into no man’s land on as Tavernier whips a devilish free-lick into the Celtic box. Souttar bravely heads home but replays show the centre-back had strayed offside. A let-off for Celtic, especially their goalkeeper, who threw in an authentic howler there.
7 mins: Penalty shouts for Rangers waved away. The debutant Miovski runs across Scales and takes a tumble… play on!
Kickoff
We’re underway. The atmosphere is as boisterous as you’d expect. The far left corner of Ibrox is decked out in tricolours, with away fans now allowed back at this famous fixture.
1 hour before kickoff: The teams are in. Russell Martin makes fives changes from the bedraggled assortment that lost 6-0 to Club Brugge in midweek, with a debut for former Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski.
🆕 Today’s team to face Celtic. pic.twitter.com/oGqFNduV01
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 31, 2025
Meanwhile, Michel-Ange Balikwisha makes his Celtic bow amid the white-hot head of the Old Firm.
📋 Your Celtic starting XI for today’s Glasgow Derby at Ibrox.
#RANCEL | #CelticFC🍀 pic.twitter.com/VQXwTSUC8J— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 31, 2025
Rangers vs. Celtic lineups, team news
Russell Martin makes five changes from the side that was demolished in Bruges, with former Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski in from the start for his Rangers debut.
Captain James Tavernier returns to the starting XI in place of Max Aarons, who was sent off in midweek. Mohamed Diomande, Connor Barron and Mikey Moore start as Danilo, Aarons, Joe Rothwell and Oliver Antman drop to the bench
The hosts will miss the services of their right-back, Dujon Sterling, who has been ruled out until early 2026 with an Achilles tendon injury. Kieran Dowell and Lyall Cameron (calf) are also out, while Nico Raskin has been left out of the matchday squad amid reports of a rift with Martin.
Rangers starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Butland (GK) — Tavernier, Souttar, Djiga, Meghoma — Barron, Diomande — Moore, Aasgaard, Gassama — Miovski
Rangers subs: Kelly (GK), Aarons, Rothwell, Dessers, Bajrami, Antman, Fernandez, Curtis, Danilo
Injured: Sterling (Achilles), Dowell (knock), Cameron (calf)
Suspended: None
There’s also a debut for Celtic, with Michel-Ange Balikwisha straight into the Old Firm mix. Fellow new recruit Marcelo Saracchi is on the bench and Arne Engels replaces Yang Hyun-jun in midfield in Brendan Rodgers’ other change from midweek.
Adam Idah is not in the squad as he nears a move to Championship side Swansea City.
Celtic starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): Schmeichel (GK) — Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney — Engels, McGregor, Hatate — Nygren, Maeda, Balikwisha
Celtic subs: Sinisalo (GK), Yang, McCowan, Shin, Bernardo, Saracchi, Murray, Forrest, Donovan
Injured: Johnston (hamstring), Jota (ACL), Trusty (foot)
Suspended: None
Rangers vs. Celtic stats, head to head
These teams have now met 447 times in all competitions, and yet, there is only one win to separate them.
| Rangers wins | Draws | Celtic wins |
| 171 | 106 | 170 |
| Biggest win: 5-0 (September, 1893) |
Biggest win: 7-1 (October, 1957) |
MORE: All-time trophies, games won between Old Firm rivals
Rangers vs. Celtic live stream, TV channel
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| USA | CBS Sports Network | Fubo, Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video |
| Canada | — | — |
| UK | Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football | Sky GO, Now TV |
| Australia | beIN Sports 3 | beIN Sports Connect, Amazon Prime Video |
| India | — | — |
