Reo Hatate salvaged a late point for Celtic in a 2-2 draw with Rangers after a superb second-half comeback to keep their Scottish Premiership title hopes alive.
Youssef Chermiti’s stunning first-half double looked set to send Rangers cruising to victory, but they failed to hold onto all three points against their fierce rivals.
Rangers took the lead in the eighth minute. Celtic lost the ball deep in their own half, switching it to Andreas Skov Olsen on the right, and Chermiti met his cross with a superb overhead kick that left Viljami Sinisalo helpless.
Chermiti then struck the outside of the right post with a tight-angled effort before getting his second 26 minutes in. Celtic were all over the place at the back as Dane Murray completely missed a clearance, and the Rangers striker held off Julian Araujo to slot in.
Emmanuel Fernandez headed wide as Rangers finished the half on top, but Martin O’Neill shook things up at the break with the introduction of Hatate, who was the first to test Jack Butland.
Kieran Tierney pulled one back for Celtic in the 56th minute, nodding in from Benjamin Nygren’s cross to give the visitors hope.
And their pressure eventually turned into an equaliser after Dujon Sterling was penalised for a handball in the box following a VAR review.
Butland saved Hatate’s tame, low effort and the rebound, but after palming it straight back to him again, the Japan international made no mistake on the third go.
Points shared in Glasgow
#RANCEL | #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/piXha72KVD— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) March 1, 2026
Data Debrief: Celtic fight to the end
Before Sunday, O’Neill’s last Old Firm derby at the Ibrox was back in April 2005, but even with a brilliant turnaround, Celtic still fell short of a win.
The Hoops have only won two of their last 13 away games at Rangers in all competitions (D5 L6), but after a dismal first half, they made amends after the break.
Celtic finished on top, having 17 shots worth 2.24 expected goals (xG), with seven of those on target, though three of those came from the late penalty.
Rangers got just three of their 12 attempts on target, but even after dropping points, they remain two points ahead of Celtic in the table, just six behind Hearts as the title race continues to heat up.