Celtic 3, Rangers 0 – The Bhoys secured yet another commanding victory over their Glasgow rivals, but this one felt different. This wasn’t the typical fiery, high-stakes Glasgow derby we’ve come to expect. Instead, it resembled a routine SPFL match. Sure, we’ve seen Celtic rack up 5-0 and 5-1 wins over Rangers in recent years, but even in those matches, the intensity and rivalry were palpable. On Sunday, however, Rangers could have been mistaken for any other team in the league, as they played with little of the usual grit or fight expected in these fixtures.
Rangers managed a decent opening ten minutes, applying some pressure and even creating a chance to take the lead. However, once Celtic adjusted, it was one-way traffic. The Hoops swiftly navigated around Rangers’ press, taking control of the game with ease. The difference in mentality between the two sides was stark. Celtic had a goal chalked off in the 12th minute after an incisive breakaway, ruled out for what could only be described as a razor-thin offside. Instead of taking that as a lifeline, Rangers seemed to surrender, almost as if they knew what was coming. It was a dismal response, lacking any real fight or belief.
When Daizen Maeda found the back of the net in the 16th minute—getting the better of James Tavernier yet again—it was clear there would only be one winner. Celtic had the game under control, and although they played well, there was a sense they were holding back. Kyogo’s strike from outside the box was a highlight, with some calling it a 30-yard pass straight into the Rangers goal. As the second half began, Rangers tried to make a fight of it, but Celtic contained them with ease. When the Bhoys had the ball, it looked as if they were toying with their opponents, content to play keep-away rather than force the issue.
Rangers fans might secretly thank Celtic for not turning the screw further, but while the final scoreline wasn’t their worst in recent memory, the optics were dire. Their performance was as bad, if not worse, than some of their most humiliating defeats. Having attended Glasgow derbies for almost 30 years, I can say that the second-half atmosphere was unusually subdued—not because the Celtic supporters were unhappy, but because they were watching a team treat the game like a training exercise.
Callum McGregor’s third goal brought Celtic Park back to life, while Rangers fans at home were treated to the sight of a stadium-wide huddle and their manager looking completely lost—a sight that’s becoming all too familiar.
Rangers still cling to the term ‘Old Firm,’ even though Celtic and our fans have long moved on from the idea of being tied to our Glasgow rivals. Ironically, it was Rangers who did the most damage to that so-called brand on Sunday. If they keep playing like this, we might have to start calling it the ‘One Firm’ derby instead.
The post-match fallout from Rangers’ camp has been fascinating, to say the least. Their manager’s defeatist demeanour and the online meltdown that followed have provided plenty of entertainment. Some Rangers fans are still stuck in the anger stage, but you can see a reluctant shift toward acceptance creeping in. Acceptance that Celtic are the top dogs in Glasgow, acceptance that they can’t compete with Celtic on or off the pitch, acceptance that Celtic now lead the head-to-head win count between both pre and post-2012 fixtures, and acceptance that while Rangers were floundering at 2-0 down, Celtic casually brought on a £9 million striker and an £11 million midfielder.
As someone who grew up in the 90s, I can safely say that the dark days of my early Celtic journey have been well and truly avenged. The sheer domination and repeated humiliation of our rivals have been nothing short of extraordinary. Watching Celtic rise from the brink of collapse in the 90s—when the club was on its knees and nearly shutting its doors—to becoming the powerhouse we see today has been immensely satisfying. For those Rangers fans who enjoyed their glory days in the 90s, seeing Celtic reach these heights must be a tough pill to swallow.
If yesterday’s result highlighted anything, it’s that Europe must now be our benchmark. We can no longer measure ourselves by what’s happening across the city; our ambitions need to be set much higher. Celtic fans want to see our team and club compete with the very best on the continent. This season presents us with the chance to do just that, and while there may be a few tough lessons along the way, what truly matters is seeing progress.
For our rivals, the inquest and turmoil are likely just beginning after years of talk about closing the mythical gap. They might snatch a victory or two over Celtic in the near future, but these will be rare as they grapple with their own internal struggles. The reality is, they’ve got a lot more to deal with than just trying to catch up to us.
