Celtic beat Rangers 3-0 in the Scottish top-of-the-table clash to take the lead. Outstanding man was a new signing.
With the prospect of top spot in the table and a frenetic Celtic Park behind them, the Hoops started the 427th edition of the Old Firm with the accelerator pressed down. New signing Hatate, arrived from Japan in the winter, rewarded a strong opening period early on with a well-placed 17-yard shot (5th).
McGregor only temporarily kept Rangers in the game
The derby remained extremely one-sided for long stretches, with Rangers barely getting beyond occasional relief. You couldn’t really call it pinpricks. The best player of the visitors was keeper McGregor, who prevented Giakoumakis from doing worse three times (15., 18., 26.).
The goalkeeper was only called upon again after Hatate’s shot (42.) – for the third Celtic goal, Abada shot in undisturbed, the purchase acted as an assist (44.). 3:0 at the break, and that was deserved.
It also lacked the necessary luck
After the restart, Celtic let Rangers do what they wanted and the home side continued to be more dangerous on the counter-attacks. After Arfield’s sign of life (54th), the game tilted a little, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team gradually generated pressure and came close to scoring.
But the league leaders (before the game) had too much inability – and too little luck – despite the siege of the opponent’s penalty area (at times): The substitute Jack welded the ball from almost 30 metres to the crossbar (79th), Rangers were denied a goal until the end. This was confirmed by Goldson’s promising but futile header (90.+4).
The champions have thus been replaced at the top of the table for the time being after 24 of 44 matchdays, a Celtic that primarily administered in the second period is now one point ahead.
