This Sunday marks the first Old Firm derby of the 2025-26 Scottish Premiership season, with Rangers hosting Celtic. Both teams enter this crucial encounter following recent exits from the UEFA Champions League qualifiers. Rangers suffered a heavy 9-1 aggregate defeat to Club Brugge, while Celtic`s surprising loss to Kazakhstan`s Kairat Almaty stands out as one of the season`s biggest European upsets. The Old Firm derby is consistently one of the most anticipated events in the football calendar due to the fierce rivalry between Glasgow`s two giants. Under manager Russell Martin, Rangers have started the new season with three draws in their opening fixtures. In contrast, Celtic, led by former Liverpool and Leicester coach Brendan Rodgers, boasts a perfect record of three wins from their first three games of the 2025-26 season. Key information about Sunday`s upcoming match is provided below.
Rangers vs. Celtic Match Details & Odds
- Date: Sunday, August 31
- Time: 7:00 a.m. ET
- Venue: Ibrox Stadium – Glasgow, Scotland
- Television: CBS Sports Network
- Betting Odds: Rangers Win +250; Draw +260; Celtic Win -106
Why is the Old Firm Derby So Highly Anticipated?
The Old Firm derby is among the season`s most eagerly awaited fixtures because of the profound and intense rivalry shared by the supporters of Celtic and Rangers. This animosity dates back to their inaugural meeting in 1888. Since then, these two clubs have exerted unparalleled dominance over Scottish football, collectively securing over 100 league titles. The rivalry extends beyond the pitch, encompassing deep cultural, religious, and political divides between the two fanbases. Historically, Rangers are associated with Protestantism and Unionism, whereas Celtic traditionally garners support from Catholic communities with Irish heritage. Both home grounds – Ibrox for Rangers and Celtic Park for Celtic – are renowned for their incredibly loud and passionate atmospheres, generating a unique intensity, especially on the day of this most anticipated match. Furthermore, since World War II, only six players have ever played for both clubs, and no player has ever transferred directly from one to the other.
Potential Lineups
Rangers (Expected XI): Jack Butland; James Tavernier, Nasser Djiga, John Souttar, Jayden Meghoma; Joe Rothwell, Nicolas Raskin; Oliver Antman, Mohamed Diomande, Djeidi Gassama; Danilo Pereira.
Celtic (Expected XI): Kasper Schmeichel; Tony Ralston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales, Kieran Tierney; Paulo Bernardo, Reo Hatate, Arne Engels; Benjamin Nygren, Hyun-jun Yang, Daizen Maeda.
