Rangers beat Celtic 1-0 at Celtic Park on Sunday, 20 September 2026, as Ryan Naderi’s first-half goal secured a second Old Firm win inside a week and cut Celtic’s lead at the top of the William Hill Premiership to two points.
The SPFL confirmed that Naderi scored after 33 minutes for Derek McInnes’ side, following Rangers’ Premier Sports Cup derby success the previous week. Celtic remain top of the table but now hold only a two-point advantage over their Glasgow rivals after a derby decided by a single rebound finish.
How the derby was decided
According to Sky Sports’ match report, Celtic had an early effort ruled out when Auston Trusty’s finish was chalked off for offside after Liam Scales headed across. Kieran Tierney later struck the woodwork for the hosts as Celtic sought an opening.
The decisive moment arrived in the 33rd minute. Viljami Sinisalo saved from Min-Su Kim, and Naderi converted the rebound to put Rangers ahead. Djedi Gassama also hit the woodwork for the visitors before half-time as Rangers continued to threaten.
Celtic’s first shot on target came after the break, with Ivor Pandur denying Colby Donovan’s header.
Rangers thought they had a second when Olwethu Makhanya finished with about 15 minutes left, but the goal was disallowed for handball, as reported by both the SPFL and Sky Sports.
Celtic created late opportunities, including a deflected James Forrest effort, but could not equalise and were booed off by sections of the home support at full time, Sky Sports reported. McInnes told Sky Sports he was pleased with a “ worthy win” and disappointed his side did not add to Naderi’s goal. Martin O’Neill described a tough week and said Celtic would “rethink and reset” after the international break while noting they remain two points ahead.
Title race context
The result left Celtic two points clear of Rangers in the Premiership, per the SPFL’s post-match account. Sky Sports also noted McInnes becoming the first manager since 1991 to win his first two Old Firm games.
Rangers return from the international break at home to Kilmarnock on Saturday, 10 October, with Celtic away to Motherwell the following day. The derby leaves the Premiership title race tighter heading into the break after a week in which Celtic had also lost to Rangers in the cup and been beaten by Ferencvaros in the Europa League, as referenced in Sky Sports’ report.