Celtic’s hopes of wrapping up the Scottish Premiership title early took a dent this afternoon as Rangers secured a dramatic 3-2 victory at Celtic Park. In a competitive Glasgow Derby, it was the visitors who emerged victorious, handing Brendan Rodgers’ side a rare home defeat in the fixture.
Former Celtic striker and outspoken pundit Chris Sutton was quick to react to the result, taking to X to share his thoughts on the game and its implications for the title race. Sutton posted: “Superb advert for the Scottish game. Igamane took his goal superbly and deserved of winning any game. Bottom line is the gap at the top is 13 points with 8 games left. I know who I’d rather be. Fair play to Rangers who play well when the pressure and expectation isn’t on them…”
Sutton’s analysis was a mix of praise and sharp criticism, highlighting both Rangers’ performance on the day and Celtic’s significant advantage in the title race. While the defeat is a disappointment for the Hoops, the former striker made it clear that Celtic will still ultimately win the Scottish Premiership title come may.
A Frustrating Afternoon for Celtic
The match itself was a rollercoaster, with Celtic battling back from a two-goal deficit only to be undone by a late goal from Rangers’ Hamza Igamane. The Moroccan forward produced a strike in the 88th minute to seal Rangers’ first win at Celtic Park in five years.
Celtic had initially found themselves in trouble after goals from Nicolas Raskin and Mohamed Diomande put the visitors in control. However, Brendan Rodgers’ men mounted a spirited second half fightback, with Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate pulling them level. But just as it looked like the champions might go on to claim a late winner, Igamane’s goal shattered those hopes.
What This Means for the Title Race
Despite the defeat, Celtic remain in a commanding position at the top of the table, with a 13-point lead and only eight games remaining. Rangers may have won the battle, but the war for the title still firmly favours the Hoops.
Chris Sutton’s comments reflect the reality that, while Rangers deserve credit for their performance, this result does little to shift the balance of power in Scottish football this season. Celtic will now need to regroup quickly and ensure they bounce back against Hearts at Celtic Park to maintain momentum as they edge closer to a 55th league title.
The defeat will sting, but Celtic still have their destiny in their own hands. Now, all eyes will be on how Rodgers’ men respond after the international break as they look to put this setback behind them and finish the season on a high.
