Rangers vs Celtic LIVE: Old Firm result and reaction as Rabbi Matondo equalises for hosts in stoppage time
Rangers 3-3 Celtic: Matondo scores late as points shared after pulsating six-goal encounter
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Your support makes all the difference.Rangers fought back from a two-goal half-time deficit to draw 3-3 with Celtic as the Scottish Premiership title race exploded at Ibrox.
Hoops attacker Daizen Maeda gave the visitors a stunning lead after just 21 seconds which rocked the home side. The nervy Light Blues fell further behind in the 34th minute when midfielder Matt O’Riley coolly converted a penalty after a VAR intervention.
Rangers improved after the break and skipper James Tavernier scored from the spot in the 55th minute before striker Cyriel Dessers had the ball in the net two minutes later only for an earlier infringement to rule out a goal.
Substitute Abdallah Sima levelled in the 86th minute but a minute later Hoops substitute Adam Idah drove in for what looked like a dramatic winner only for Rangers replacement Rabbi Matondo to level in added time for a share of the spoils which left Celtic one point ahead at the top.
Relive all the action from the Old Firm live below
Kick-off fast approaching
The atmosphere inside Ibrox is as expected ahead of this massive game. Just over five minutes to go until kick-off now...
Can Kyogo star again?
Kyogo Furuhashi has scored in both meetings between Celtic and Rangers in the Scottish Premiership this season and could become the first player to net in three league Old Firm derbies in the same season since Tomas Rogic in 2017-18.
Rodgers’ impressive Old Firm record
The Celtic boss has won 12 of his 15 meetings with Rangers in all competitions, losing just once. The 80% win rate is the highest of any manager in this fixture.
Can he extend that record away from home today?
Neil Lennon: ‘Celtic can’t get beat
“This game is enormous. These games are always pivotal in a title run-in,” former Celtic boss Lennon says on Sky Sports.
“Celtic can’t get beat. If Rangers win, it puts them in a really good position. Losing McGregor to the bench is a big, big blow for Celtic. We know the composure he brings to these games. Iwata is really going to have to stand up.”
Brendan Rodgers: Calm heads the key
“I think it’s important not to get entrenched in the whole storyline because at times the storyline can be that ‘it could a disaster’,” the Celtic boss said at his pre-match press conference.
“But for me the storyline is that there is always opportunity. You arrive, you stay calm and you just look to focus on your performance.
“This is one of the greatest, most iconic games in world football but you’ve got to perform and you can only do that by staying calm and looking to play your football.”
Philippe Clement: Today’s match is not decisive
“Whoever wins is not the champion,” the Rangers boss said ahead of today’s hotly-anticipated encounter.
“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.
“We have another Old Firm game in a few weeks also, so it’s not yet a decisive game.”
Tight at the top
There is just one point (and one goal difference) separating both sides heading into today’s fixture. Celtic have won both derbies so far this season but it’s Rangers who have the game in hand on their Glaswegian rivals.
It’s about as tight as it could get.
Team news
For Rangers, there are two changes as Sterling and Lawrence come in for Barisic and Cantwell.
Celtic, meanwhile, name an unchanged XI although there is space for captain Callum McGregor on the bench having missed the last four matches.
Rangers team news:
Rangers XI: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Sterling, Lundstram, Diomande, Lawrence, Wright, Silva, Dessers.
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