In one of the most memorable Old Firm derbies in recent memory, Rangers produced a stunning 3-2 comeback victory over Celtic at Celtic Park on Sunday, March 16, 2025, with the match getting underway at 8:30 AM ET before a sell-out crowd of 58,913, delivering a dramatic shake-up to the Celtic F.C. vs Rangers F.C. standings in the Scottish Premiership.
It was a result that briefly checked Celtic’s seemingly unstoppable charge toward the title and injected fresh drama into one of world football’s most fiercely contested rivalries.
A Derby to Remember
Nicolas Raskin drew first blood for Rangers just four minutes in, putting the visitors in front at an atmospheric Celtic Park.
Celtic, though, looked on course to assert their authority when Daizen Maeda levelled matters in the 49th minute before Reo Hatate restored parity at 2-2 in the 74th minute — moments that seemed to put the home side firmly in control.
Yet Rangers had other ideas.
Hamza Igmane, introduced as a substitute just minutes earlier, produced a moment of pure drama by heading home the winning goal in the 88th minute, silencing the home support and sparking jubilant scenes among the travelling Rangers faithful.
Mohammed Diomande had earlier netted Rangers’ second in the 37th minute, as the Light Blues displayed tactical resilience that belied their underdog status on the day.
The statistics underlined Celtic’s dominance in terms of the ball — they held 71.8% possession to Rangers’ 28.2% — yet the scoreline told its own powerful story about the beauty and brutality of cup football.
Key Match Stats:
- Celtic 2–3 Rangers | Celtic Park, March 16, 2025
- Goalscorers: Maeda (49′), Hatate (74′) — Celtic; Raskin (4′), Diomande (37′), Igmane (88′) — Rangers
- Possession: Celtic 71.8%, Rangers 28.2%
- Shots on Target: Celtic 6, Rangers 5
- Shot Attempts: Celtic 14, Rangers 10
- Attendance: 58,913 | Referee: Steven McLean
Celtic F.C. vs Rangers F.C. Standings: The Table Context
At the time of the match, Celtic sat top of the Scottish Premiership with 75 points from 30 games, boasting a record of 24 wins, 3 draws, and 3 defeats.
Rangers, despite the eventual victory, trailed with 62 points from 30 games — a gap that the result did little to fully close but significantly narrowed in terms of momentum.
Head-to-Head Snapshot at Time of Match:
| Club | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celtic | 30 | 24 | 3 | 3 | +22 | 75 |
| Rangers | 30 | 19 | 5 | 6 | +30 | 62 |
In a remarkable twist of fortune, the current Scottish Premiership standings from the 2025–26 season show the rivalry has evolved further still, with Hearts emerging as an unexpected contender threatening the traditional duopoly at the summit.
Current Scottish Premiership Full Table:
| Pos | Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hearts | 31 | 20 | 6 | 5 | +28 | 66 |
| 2 | Rangers | 31 | 17 | 12 | 2 | +30 | 63 |
| 3 | Celtic | 31 | 19 | 4 | 8 | +22 | 61 |
| 4 | Motherwell | 31 | 14 | 12 | 5 | +26 | 54 |
| 5 | Hibernian | 31 | 12 | 12 | 7 | +13 | 48 |
| 6 | Falkirk | 31 | 12 | 7 | 12 | -1 | 43 |
| 7 | Dundee United | 31 | 8 | 13 | 10 | -8 | 37 |
| 8 | Dundee | 31 | 8 | 8 | 15 | -18 | 32 |
| 9 | Aberdeen | 31 | 8 | 6 | 17 | -15 | 30 |
| 10 | St Mirren | 31 | 6 | 9 | 16 | -22 | 27 |
| 11 | Kilmarnock | 31 | 6 | 9 | 16 | -25 | 27 |
| 12 | Livingston | 31 | 1 | 12 | 18 | -30 | 15 |
The title race heading into the final weeks of the 2025–26 campaign is as tight as any in recent Scottish football memory, with just five points separating the top three.
Standings Analysis — Top Three Comparison:
| Club | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hearts | 31 | 20 | 6 | 5 | +28 | 66 |
| Rangers | 31 | 17 | 12 | 2 | +30 | 63 |
| Celtic | 31 | 19 | 4 | 8 | +22 | 61 |
Hearts have established themselves as unlikely front-runners, holding a three-point advantage over Rangers, who themselves sit just two clear of Celtic.
Rangers’ superior goal difference of +30 compared to Celtic’s +22 could yet prove crucial in the event of a final-day collapse anywhere along the top three.
Standings Takeaways:
- Celtic’s March 2025 derby defeat to Rangers contributed to a broader stumble in their title defence
- Rangers sit second, just three points behind surprise leaders Hearts with games remaining
- Celtic are third, still mathematically in the title race with 61 points
- Hearts are on course to end over a decade of Old Firm dominance at the top of Scottish football
- Rangers’ outstanding defensive record — only two league defeats from 31 games — makes them a formidable title threat
- Livingston are rooted to the bottom with only 15 points and face a battle against relegation
