The Celtic F.C. Vs Rangers F.C. Timeline was one of the most dramatic Old Firm fixtures in recent memory, as Rangers overturned a first-half deficit to win 3-1 at Celtic Park on 3 January 2026, inflicting a deeply damaging loss on a Celtic side already under enormous pressure.
It was a result that levelled the two clubs on points in the William Hill Premiership, piled enormous scrutiny on Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy, and represented a defining statement of intent from Rangers boss Danny Rohl.
The game attracted an attendance of 58,673 at Celtic Park in Glasgow, with just over 2,000 travelling Rangers supporters witnessing a remarkable turnaround.
Celtic F.C. Vs Rangers F.C. Timeline: First Half Domination
Celtic controlled the opening period with confidence, pressing high and creating several openings against a Rangers side who struggled to establish any foothold in the game.
Auston Trusty headed a McCowan corner past the post when he should have scored from eight yards, and Johnny Kenny blazed straight at Jack Butland from a Daizen Maeda cross.
The opener arrived in the 20th minute and it was a brilliant individual goal.
Yang Hyun-Jun received a throw-in, laid off to Benjamin Nygren, and received the return before racing through the porous Rangers defence and firing high into the net from 12 yards.
Rangers briefly threatened through Djeidi Gassama, but Kasper Schmeichel blocked his chipped effort.
Mikey Moore appeared to put the ball in the net in first-half stoppage time but the effort was ruled out for offside against provider Chermiti.
First Half Match Timeline
| Minute | Event | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7′ | Celtic corner, Trusty heads wide | Trusty | Celtic |
| 14′ | Shot straight at Butland | Kenny | Celtic |
| 20′ | GOAL | Yang Hyun-Jun | Celtic |
| 25′ | Chip saved | Schmeichel denies Gassama | Rangers |
| 45+1′ | Goal ruled out (offside) | Moore | Rangers |
| HT | Half Time | 1-0 Celtic |
Rangers’ Stunning Comeback: Second Half
Rohl introduced Mohamed Diomande at half time to add dynamism in midfield, and Rangers were quickly level after the restart.
In the 50th minute, Dujon Sterling drove forward down the right before Nico Raskin reached the byline and cut the ball back for Chermiti to tap in from a yard out.
Celtic responded, with Butland making an outstanding stop from Maeda, but Rangers struck again in the 59th minute.
Chermiti robbed Anthony Ralston on the touchline, drove clear down the left, and slotted past Schmeichel to give Rangers a lead nobody in Celtic Park had anticipated.
Celtic fans were already turning on their manager, and Mikey Moore ended any lingering hope for the home support in the 71st minute, picking up a Gassama pass and drilling a clinical finish past Schmeichel into the far corner.
Second Half Match Timeline
| Minute | Event | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50′ | GOAL (Equaliser) | Youssef Chermiti | Rangers |
| 55′ | Save | Butland denies Maeda | Rangers |
| 59′ | GOAL (Rangers ahead) | Youssef Chermiti | Rangers |
| 68′ | Celtic substitutions | Araujo on for McCowan | Celtic |
| 71′ | GOAL | Mikey Moore | Rangers |
| 74′ | Maeda shot off target | Maeda | Celtic |
| 87′ | Late Rangers sub | Miovski on | Rangers |
| 90+2′ | Yellow card | Miovski | Rangers |
| FT | Full Time | 1-3 Rangers |
Match Statistics
| Stat | Celtic | Rangers |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 65.5% | 34.5% |
| Shots on Goal | 9 | 4 |
| Shot Attempts | 21 | 9 |
| Saves | 1 | 9 |
| Yellow Cards | 0 | 3 |
| Corner Kicks | 8 | 5 |
| Attendance | 58,673 | Celtic Park, Glasgow |
Match Commentary Highlights
| Minute | Commentary |
|---|---|
| 20′ | Yang receives a return pass from Nygren and races clean through to fire past Butland. 1-0 Celtic. Parkhead erupts. |
| 45+1′ | Moore taps in but the linesman’s flag denies Rangers. Let-off for Celtic at the break. |
| 50′ | Raskin cuts back from the byline and Chermiti knocks in from a yard. Rangers level. |
| 59′ | Chermiti robs Ralston, drives unchallenged into the box, and beats Schmeichel. Rangers lead for the first time. |
| 71′ | Moore receives from Gassama and drills past Schmeichel. Celtic stunned. 3-1 Rangers. |
| 75′ | Celtic fans chant “sack the board” as the scale of the defeat sinks in across Parkhead. |
Lineups
Celtic (3-4-2-1): Schmeichel; Trusty, Tierney, Ralston; McCowan, McGregor, Engels, Hume; Yang Hyun-Jun, Nygren; Kenny.
Rangers (4-3-3): Butland; Sterling, Souttar, Balogun, Tavernier; Raskin, Aasgaard (Diomande HT), Lundstram; Gassama, Chermiti, Moore.
The result left Celtic in third place in the Scottish Premiership table, a point behind Rangers in second and two behind leaders Heart of Midlothian, with Wilfried Nancy’s position as manager looking increasingly untenable following one of Parkhead’s most sobering home defeats in recent Old Firm history.