The first Old Firm derby of 2026 sees Celtic host Rangers at Celtic Park in a crucial Scottish Premiership clash. Kick-off is set for 12:30pm GMT. With both teams chasing league leaders Hearts, the stakes are incredibly high in this latest edition of the fierce Glasgow rivalry.
Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy is under immense pressure, having lost five of his first seven games since taking over in early December. This includes a defeat in the Scottish League Cup final against St Mirren and a recent loss to Motherwell. Nancy has pleaded for patience from fans and the media, urging them to "give me time, and you will see my team". A win against Rangers would be pivotal for Nancy, potentially easing the speculation surrounding his future. Celtic's current position is second in the league, three points behind Hearts and three points ahead of Rangers.
Rangers, under manager Danny Rohl, have largely stabilized after a shaky period following the departure of Russell Martin. After their only away defeat of the calendar year to Hearts, they've secured successive victories against Motherwell and St Mirren, building momentum and closing the gap at the top. Rohl does have a previous experience in the Old Firm derby, though his team was defeated in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final in November. A victory for Rangers would bring them level on points with Celtic.
For viewers in the UK, the game is being broadcast live on Sky Sports Football, with coverage beginning at 11:30am. Sky Sports subscribers can also stream the match live via the Sky Go app. Alternatively, a day membership to NOW is available for £14.99, or a month membership for £34.99, offering streaming through various devices. Live audio commentary is available for subscribers in the UK and Ireland, with a full match replay available later in the day. Radio coverage is also available on BBC Radio 5 Live.
The team line-ups are as follows:
- Celtic XI: Schmeichel, Ralston, Trusty, Tierney, Yang, McGregor, Engels, McCowan, Nygren, Maeda, Kenny.
- Rangers XI: Butland, Sterling, Fernandez, Souttar, Meghoma, Barron, Raskin, Aasgaard, Moore, Gassama, Chermiti.
This match marks the third meeting of the season between these two rivals. Celtic TV will provide live coverage, starting at 12.00pm (Celtic Park Time), with Gerry McCulloch, Simon Donnelly, and Aiden McGeady in the studio for pre-match build-up. Paul Cuddihy and Peter Grant will be providing commentary from the Celtic Park gantry.
