Rangers Break Celtic’s Streak with a 3-0 Old Firm Victory
The atmosphere around Ibrox was electric as Rangers demolished Celtic 3-0 in the first Old Firm derby of 2025. It wasn’t just about bragging rights this time — Rangers put out a statement performance, shattering Celtic’s impressive domestic unbeaten record and rekindling their own title ambitions. Philippe Clement’s side, criticized in recent weeks for stumbling against St Mirren and Motherwell, came out swinging and never let up.
You could almost feel the tension snap in the seventh minute. Ianis Hagi picked his spot and ripped a precise shot past Celtic’s defense, getting the crowd roaring early. That goal set the tone for the match: Rangers pressing hard, pouring forward, and making life miserable for the visitors. The shot count tells the story — Rangers fired off 24 attempts, far and away their highest for any Scottish Premiership match in recent history. Celtic, on the other hand, barely troubled the Rangers goal, scraping together a woeful 0.07 expected goals all game long.
After the early goal, Rangers never really let their foot off the gas. Celtic’s defense looked stretched and uneasy, and it was only a matter of time before the pressure cracked them. The second goal came in the 66th minute after a quick scramble from a corner — Robin Propper was on hand to pounce on the rebound and double the lead. By that point, Celtic fans were already fearing the worst, and when Danilo scored with practically his first touch in the 81st minute, it sealed Celtic’s fate for the night.
Controversy Casts a Shadow as Police Investigate Incident
Amid the on-field drama, trouble flared off it as well. Celtic midfielder Arne Engels had to be checked by medical staff after being struck by a coin reportedly thrown from the Rangers section. Both clubs moved quickly to condemn the incident. The Rangers board were firm — they promised to assist Police Scotland as investigations continued. Celtic’s management said they’ve grown sick of their players and staff repeatedly being put at risk at these fixtures, calling this a “quite appalling” trend.
The incident did little to dampen the Rangers’ spirits, though. The celebrations were loud — for good reason. This win was their first Old Firm derby triumph since May 2023. It bought Clement some breathing room and eased growing pressure after those recent frustrating draws.
Despite the thumping defeat, Celtic remain top of the league, holding onto a healthy 11-point cushion after their 5-0 thrashing of Dundee United just days prior. But with Rangers showing this kind of form, the title race has suddenly got a lot more interesting again.
One thing’s for sure: there’s nothing quite like an Old Firm derby. From the wild swings, the drama on the turf, to the tension in the stands, the rivalry is as fierce as ever. For now, it’s Rangers who have the biggest bragging rights in Glasgow — and perhaps a little hope for the months ahead.
