| Venue: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow Date: Sunday, 7 April Time: 12:00 BST |
| Coverage: Follow live text & radio coverage on the BBC Sport website & app; watch highlights on Sportscene |
When Rangers and Celtic meet at Ibrox on Sunday, they do so amid the closest title race in Scotland for well over a decade.
Those on both sides of the divide are trying to play down the derby, though.
“We have another Old Firm game in a few weeks also, so it’s not yet a decisive game,” Rangers manager Philippe Clement said.
“It is important for the title race but I wouldn’t say it’s a title decider,” Celtic defender Liam Scales agreed.
Despite those statements, both camps will know that a win would help them take a huge step towards winning the league.
As it stands, Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic lead the Scottish Premiership by a point, having played a game more than Rangers.
However, when Clement replaced Michael Beale at Ibrox in October, Celtic led by seven and it seemed almost inevitable they would retain their crown.
The Belgian has overseen a remarkable turnaround and changed the mood among the Rangers fans during his relatively short tenure.
The sides will meet again at Celtic Park following the league’s split, but for Sunday at least, all eyes will be trained on Glasgow’s southside.
What have previous games told us?
If Clement and Rangers are to take a step towards a first title since 2021, they will have to do something they are yet to do this season – take points off Celtic.
At Ibrox earlier this season, Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi capitalised on some slack defending to secure all three points for the defending champions in Rodgers’ first derby since his return to Glasgow.
Beale was still in the Rangers’ dugout then, but it was Clement in charge come the second derby of the term.
The former Monaco coach was unbeaten in his first 16 games when he took his side to Celtic Park in December, but Kyogo proved to be the difference-maker again, as Rodgers continued his superb record against Rangers.
Paulo Bernardo put Celtic in front in the first half, before Kyogo doubled that lead in stunning fashion with a left-footed strike from range.
James Tavernier’s late free-kick pulled one back for Rangers but they could not muster an equaliser.
In both games, there has been controversy.
At Ibrox, Kemar Roofe had a goal chalked off for Cyriel Dessers’ contentious foul on Gustaf Lagerbielke.
And, in the reverse fixture, Rangers wanted a penalty when Alistair Johnston handled in the box while tussling with Abdallah Sima, but later replays showed Sima was offside in the build-up.
Team news
Rangers’ Ridvan Yilmaz, who injured himself on international duty with Turkey, will be assessed ahead of the Old Firm game.
Ryan Jack and Danilo (knee), remain out along with Oscar Cortes, who had surgery on a muscle injury.
Celtic could be at full strength, with captain Callum McGregor (Achilles) and winger Luis Palma (calf) both in contention to return.
Choose your starting XI. It’s up to you how to approach it – you could go for the team you WANT the manager to pick or the one you THINK he will.
Choose your starting XI. It’s up to you how to approach it – you could go for the team you WANT the manager to pick or the one you THINK he will.
What they said
Rangers manager Philippe Clement: “These are the games where you need to grab the moments. It’s decided in details and with players making the difference, not only offensive but also defensive.
“Whoever wins is not the champion. I don’t want mathematicians in my dressing room – I want passionate players who give their best every day for their team and that’s what I’ve been seeing.”
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: “This is an important game for both teams. Our mindset is to go and do what we did earlier in the season, which is to win.
“These are always emotionally-charged games. You’ve got to perform, but you can only do that by staying calm and looking to play your football.
“It doesn’t feel bigger than any of the other ones, they’re just always big games. The focus is on performing.”
Test your knowledge
Can you name the unlikely Old Firm goalscorers
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Match stats
- Rangers have won just one of their last nine derbies (D2 L6) – a 3-0 Scottish Premiership home win last season. Should they lose on Sunday, it would be the first time they’ve lost the first three derbies of a league season since 2003/04.
- Celtic have won three of their last five away games against Rangers (D1 L1), whilst they will be aiming to win back-to-back games at Ibrox for the first time since winning four in a row between December 2016 and March 2018.
- Rodgers has won 12 of his 15 meetings with Rangers (D2 L1). His 80%-win rate is the highest of any manager in Old Firm derby history (for either side) in major competitions.
- Clement has won 19 of his 22 league matches (D1 L2). Should he win against Celtic, only Bill Struth (21) and David White (22) will have reached 20 league wins in fewer matches as Rangers manager.
- Rangers have earned seven more points than Celtic in the league in 2024 (30 to 23), winning 10 of their 11 league games.
- Celtic lead all sides in the Scottish Premiership this season for goals (74), expected goals (81.5), big chances (130), possession (69.9%), passes (20,556), and touches in the opposition’s box (1,365).
- Rangers’ James Tavernier has scored 15 Scottish Premiership goals this season, one shy of his competition record of 16 in 2022-23. He has also now been directly involved in 150 goals in his career in the competition (78 goals, 72 assists), the most of any player since the Scottish Premiership was rebranded in 2013.
- Kyogo Furuhashi has scored in both meetings in the Scottish Premiership this season – the last player to net in three league Old Firm derbies in the same season was Tom Rogic in 2017-18.
