Rangers crossed Glasgow to leave Celtic Park with the city’s latest Old Firm prize, winning 1-0 against their neighbours and handing Celtic a first Scottish Premiership defeat of the season.
The result came only a week after Rangers had beaten Celtic 3-0 in the League Cup quarter-finals, giving the visitors a second successive derby victory and changing the temperature at the top of Scotland’s title race.
Naderi settles the derby
Ryan Naderi supplied the decisive moment around the half-hour mark. Rangers won a corner and, when the initial delivery was cleared only as far as the penalty area, Naderi collected the loose ball, shifted it onto his other foot and struck a controlled volley before it bounced. The finish flew into the top corner beyond Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo.
Rangers thought they had doubled their advantage after the interval when Olwethu Makhanya found the net, but VAR ruled out the goal. The single-goal margin nevertheless proved enough for the away side in a tense meeting between Glasgow’s two dominant clubs.
Celtic remain in front
Celtic had opened their league campaign with six wins from six and had not previously been beaten in the Premiership. Their first setback arrived in the seventh round, yet they retain first place, sitting two points above second-placed Rangers.
For Rangers, the win carries significance beyond three points: consecutive derby successes, one in cup football and one in the league, have given the club momentum as the season begins to take shape on both sides of the Clyde.
