Rangers Secure Dominant 3-0 Victory Against Celtic In Old Firm Derby

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Rangers secured a significant 3-0 win against Celtic in the Old Firm derby on Thursday. Celtic aimed to widen their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership by 17 points. However, they were convincingly defeated by Philippe Clement's Rangers, who played without some key injured players at Ibrox. The victory was a morale booster for Rangers and marked a strong start to 2025.

The match began with excitement as Ianis Hagi scored in the seventh minute, finishing a breakaway with a shot from the edge of the area. Despite their dominance, Rangers couldn't add another goal in the first half. Vaclav Cerny hit the bar with a deflected shot just six minutes after Hagi's goal, missing an opportunity to extend their lead.

Celtic almost equalised early in the second half when Kyogo Furuhashi scored with an impressive finish after controlling a high ball. However, his goal was ruled out for offside. Cerny again came close, hitting the post from a tight angle. Eventually, Robin Propper scored Rangers' second goal in the 66th minute, capitalising on a rebound after Kasper Schmeichel's save from a corner.

Fifteen minutes later, substitute Danilo added another goal for Rangers. With his first touch just 70 seconds after entering the pitch, he turned home to complete Rangers' emphatic victory over Celtic. This result marked an excellent beginning to the new year for Rangers.

Statistical Insights into the Game

Before this match, Celtic had not lost in their last seven Old Firm derbies. This defeat was only their second against Rangers in their past 15 encounters. In this game, Rangers made Celtic face more shots (24) than any other Scottish Premiership match since records began. Rangers achieved 2.17 expected goals while restricting Celtic to just 0.07.

Philippe Clement finally ended his winless streak against Celtic as Rangers manager on his seventh attempt. The only other manager who waited longer for an Old Firm derby win was William Wilton, who went without a victory in his first eight derbies between 1890 and 1893.

This triumph over Celtic not only boosted Rangers' morale but also showcased their dominance on the field under Clement's leadership.