Rangers have taken the early-season Old Firm honours again, winning at Celtic Park to leave Celtic carrying three successive defeats into the international break.
Naderi supplied the decisive moment shortly after the half-hour, finishing from close range after Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo had pushed Min-Su Kim’s long-range effort back into the danger area following a corner.
Quick facts
- Rangers won the second Old Firm meeting of the season at Celtic Park.
- Naderi scored the only goal just beyond 30 minutes.
- Rangers had also beaten Celtic heavily in the cup the previous week.
- A Makhanya goal was ruled out by VAR in the 75th minute.
- Rangers are two points behind Celtic before the break.
Celtic had struggled to find a response after falling behind. Their best route back appeared to arrive in the 75th minute, when Makhanya found the net, but a VAR review wiped out the goal.
That left Rangers to see out a result which continues a sharp change in the Glasgow balance. Celtic’s title last season had been a remarkable recovery after Hearts had set the pace for much of the campaign, but Rangers have struck back quickly this term.
Having suffered an early Conference League qualifying exit, Rangers will still head into the pause with some satisfaction. They sit only two points adrift of Celtic, while their neighbours must use the break to halt a losing run that has spread across competitions.
