Celtic defeated Rangers 3–1 after extra time in a dramatic Scottish League Cup semi-final played at Hampden Park at 6:00 PM on 2 November 2025 in Glasgow.
The Old Firm clash delivered late drama as Callum McGregor and Callum Osmand struck beyond 90 minutes to secure progression following a tense encounter.
The result came with both clubs also firmly involved near the top of the Scottish Premiership standings during the 2025-26 season.
Match Information
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish League Cup Semi-Final |
| Venue | Hampden Park, Glasgow |
| Attendance | 49,446 |
| Referee | Nick Walsh |
| Final Score | Celtic 3–1 Rangers (AET) |
Starting Lineups
| Celtic (4-2-3-1) | Rangers (3-4-2-1) |
|---|---|
| Schmeichel | Butland |
| Saracchi | Cornelius |
| Scales | Souttar |
| Trusty | Djiga |
| Ralston | Meghoma |
| McGregor | Diomande |
| Engels | Raskin |
| Tounekti | Tavernier |
| Nygren | Aasgaard |
| Maeda | Danilo |
| Kenny | Chermiti |
Celtic began aggressively and opened the scoring in the 25th minute when Johnny Kenny converted from close range.
Rangers responded before halftime through Thelo Aasgaard, restoring parity and setting up a tense second period.
Neither side could find a decisive moment in regulation time despite increasing physical intensity and tactical changes.
Rangers briefly looked poised to advance when James Tavernier converted an 81st-minute penalty.
However, Celtic forced extra time and seized control of the match late on.
McGregor struck in the 93rd minute before substitute Callum Osmand sealed the result in the 109th minute.
Match Timeline
| Minute | Event |
|---|---|
| 25 | Kenny scores (Celtic) |
| 38 | Aasgaard scores (Rangers) |
| 81 | Tavernier penalty (Rangers) |
| 93 | McGregor goal (Celtic) |
| 109 | Osmand goal (Celtic) |
| FT | Celtic win 3-1 AET |
Premiership Standings Context
| Position | Club | MP | W | D | L | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hearts | 26 | 17 | 6 | 3 | +28 | 57 |
| 2 | Rangers | 26 | 14 | 10 | 2 | +24 | 52 |
| 3 | Celtic | 25 | 16 | 3 | 6 | +21 | 51 |
| 4 | Motherwell | 25 | 11 | 11 | 3 | +20 | 44 |
The victory reinforced Celtic’s strong recent form while maintaining pressure on Rangers in league competition.
Rangers remained narrowly ahead in the standings but the cup result shifted momentum psychologically toward their rivals.
With both clubs chasing the leaders, every derby meeting carried heightened importance beyond silverware.
The match again demonstrated the intensity and significance of the Old Firm rivalry across domestic competitions.
