Rangers and Celtic head into the first Old Firm game of the season with disquiet on both sides of the Glasgow divide.
Celtic failed to qualify for the Champions League after they lost on penalties ot minnows Kairat Almaty.
Rangers faced more established European opposition but were humiliatingly hammered 6-0 by Club Brugge, going down 9-1 on aggregate.
Gers boss Russell Martin comes into this home derby clash under severe pressure having drawn all three of his Scottish Premiership games to date. If Celtic are victorious at Ibrox, they will be nine points better off than their sworn enemies after just four games.
MORE: Celtic vs. Rangers head to head, all-time results, trophies won by Old Firm derby rivals
Rangers vs. Celtic lineups: Confirmed starting XI, team news, injury latest
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
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
Injured: Johnston (hamstring), Jota (ACL), Trusty (foot)
Suspended: None
Rangers vs. Celtic match details
- Date: Sunday, August 31, 2025 (e.g. Saturday, August 16, 2025)
- Kickoff time: 12 p.m. local (7 a.m.ET/4 a.m. PT)
- Location: Ibrox, Glasgow (Scotland)
- Competition: Scottish Premiership
- Referee: Don Robertson
- VAR: Marco Di Bello
