There will be plenty of fireworks as Celtic prepare to visit Rangers for the first Old Firm Derby of the 2025/26 campaign.

The stage is set for the first Old Firm derby of the 2025/26 season as Rangers welcome arch-rivals Celtic to Ibrox Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Scotland’s fiercest rivalry always delivers high drama, but both sides enter this clash under pressure following disappointing Champions League exits in midweek.

Rangers began the season aiming to bridge the considerable gap to their rivals after finishing 17 points adrift in last year’s Scottish Premiership. Yet their new manager Russell Martin has endured a difficult start to life in Glasgow. With only three wins from his opening 10 games in charge, alongside four draws and three defeats, he has struggled to ignite momentum.

The Gers have failed to win any of their opening three Premiership fixtures for the first time since 1989, leaving them six points behind Celtic before a ball is even kicked in this derby. Worse still, their European hopes were crushed in humiliating fashion by Club Brugge, with a 9-1 aggregate defeat capped by a 6-0 collapse in Belgium. That debacle has intensified scrutiny of Martin, and failure to deliver in his first Old Firm could place his position under even greater strain.

Still, Rangers will hope to lean on recent head-to-head form, having won two of their last three meetings with Celtic. Ibrox will demand a response, and Martin knows nothing less than victory will ease mounting tensions heading into the international break.

Across the city, Celtic are also nursing European disappointment after a goalless aggregate playoff tie against Kairat Almaty ended with their elimination on penalties. The Bhoys will join Rangers in the Europa League group stage, a setback that has only sharpened calls for greater investment before the transfer window closes. The sale of winger Nicolas Kuhn has left supporters anxious, and Brendan Rodgers has been vocal in demanding reinforcements.

Domestically, however, Celtic could hardly have asked for a better start. They sit top of the Premiership table after winning all three of their opening fixtures, doing so without conceding a single goal. This run extends their unbeaten streak in domestic competition to 11 games, with their last defeat inside 90 minutes coming against St Johnstone back in April.

Yet for all their dominance, Celtic’s struggles against Rangers in recent derbies will linger in Rodgers’s mind. They have failed to win any of the last three Old Firm clashes, losing twice, and know that another defeat at Ibrox would undo much of their early-season optimism. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.

Team News & Tactics

Rangers

Rangers head into the first Old Firm derby of the season with one notable absentee. Dujon Sterling remains unavailable as he continues his long-term recovery, with the full-back not expected to return until early 2026. Otherwise, Russell Martin has a full squad to select from as he looks to respond to the midweek humiliation against Club Brugge.

In reaction to that heavy 6-0 defeat, Martin is expected to make several adjustments to his starting XI. Captain James Tavernier should return to the side at right-back, providing leadership and set-piece quality, while Nicolas Raskin and Mohamed Diomande are both likely to be drafted into midfield for extra stability. Cyriel Dessers is tipped to lead the line, and highly rated youngster Mikey Moore could be handed a start in attack, offering energy and creativity in a high-pressure derby setting.

Rangers are expected to set up in a 4-3-3 formation. Jack Butland will start in goal, with James Tavernier at right-back, John Souttar and Nasser Djiga forming the central defensive partnership, and Jayden Meghoma on the left. In midfield, Lyall Cameron is likely to push forward, supported by Mohamed Diomande and Nicolas Raskin, who will be tasked with driving the team forward and disrupting Celtic’s possession.

Up front, Mikey Moore and Djeidi Gassama will operate on the flanks, providing pace and width, while Cyriel Dessers will spearhead the attack as the central striker.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Djiga, Meghoma; Cameron, Diomande, Raskin; Moore, Dessers, Gassama

Celtic

Celtic will head into the Old Firm derby without several key players. Alistair Johnston remains unavailable, while new signing Auston Trusty is also sidelined and not yet fit to feature. In addition, winger Jota continues to miss out, depriving Brendan Rodgers of an important attacking option. However, there are no fresh injury concerns for the manager to worry about ahead of Sunday’s clash, leaving him with a settled core to build his team around.

In attack, Adam Idah has endured a slow start to the campaign, and that could see Daizen Maeda retain his place up front as the central striker. James Forrest, who brings valuable derby experience, and Yang Hyun-jun are both anticipated to start on the wings, providing pace and width in wide areas. In midfield, Callum McGregor is expected to anchor the team, supported by Swedish youngster Benjamin Nygren and Japan international Reo Hatate, who offers creativity and ball progression.

At the back, Kieran Tierney is set to make his first Old Firm appearance since 2019, a boost for Celtic given his quality and experience. He will slot in at left-back, alongside Liam Scales and Cameron Carter-Vickers in central defence, with Anthony Ralston continuing at right-back. Veteran goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel will start between the posts, offering composure and leadership at the back.

Celtic are therefore likely to line up in a 4-3-3 formation. Kasper Schmeichel will take his place in goal, behind a defence of Anthony Ralston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales, and Kieran Tierney. The midfield will be anchored by Callum McGregor, with Benjamin Nygren and Reo Hatate providing support and dynamism. Up front, James Forrest and Yang Hyun-jun will occupy the wings, while Daizen Maeda leads the attack through the centre.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney; Nygren, McGregor, Hatate; Forrest, Maeda, Hyun-jun

Key Stats

• Rangers have had the upper hand in recent derbies, winning two and drawing one of the last three meetings with Celtic. This is their best run in the fixture since 2021.

• Celtic are unbeaten in their last 11 domestic matches inside 90 minutes, with their last defeat in normal time coming against St Johnstone in April.

• For the first time since 1989, Rangers have failed to win any of their first three Scottish Premiership games, leaving them six points adrift of Celtic before this derby.

• Brendan Rodgers’s side have started the Premiership season with three wins from three, all without conceding a goal, making them the only team in the league yet to be breached.

• Both clubs suffered Champions League playoff eliminations this past week, Rangers were hammered 9-1 on aggregate by Club Brugge, while Celtic exited on penalties against Kairat Almaty, meaning both will compete in the Europa League this season.

Player to Watch

Cyriel Dessers

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With Rangers under intense pressure heading into the first Old Firm derby of the season, Cyriel Dessers will be a key figure for Russell Martin’s side. The Nigerian striker endured an inconsistent first campaign at Ibrox, but his ability to trouble defences with his strength, movement, and finishing makes him a potential match-winner in high-stakes encounters.

Dessers is expected to lead the line on Sunday, and his role will be vital in unsettling Celtic’s backline, which has yet to concede a goal in the Premiership this season. He will need to combine his hold-up play with sharp runs into the box to create chances for himself and his teammates. In a fixture where margins are often tight, converting opportunities could prove decisive.

Having already shown glimpses of his ability to score in crucial moments, Dessers will be tasked with carrying the attacking responsibility and providing the spark Rangers desperately need. If he can rise to the occasion, he has the chance not only to secure bragging rights for his team but also to ease some of the pressure surrounding Martin’s early tenure.

Prediction

Rangers 1-1 Celtic

The first Old Firm derby of any season is rarely defined by form, but context makes this meeting particularly intriguing. Rangers are under enormous pressure to deliver a statement result, while Celtic’s flawless domestic form is tempered by poor recent head-to-head records against their fiercest rivals.

With both sides smarting from Champions League exits, the intensity is sure to be high. Rangers’ need for victory could leave them vulnerable, but home advantage and Celtic’s recent struggles in derbies point towards a tight, hard-fought contest.