Match Pictures | Matches: 2025 – 2026
Trivia
- KO: 12:00, Sunday, Sky Sports, Match day 36 (two league games left)
- Sixth and final instalment of the derby of the season; The Battle for Second Place as some had dubbed it days earlier! However, as Hearts drew 1-1 with Motherwell on Saturday night, Celtic now in position to steal the title from league leaders Hearts if Celtic win remaining two league games v Motherwell away and then Hearts in the finale at Celtic Park! Game mattered (on top of the usual derby stuff) as whoever comes second in the table enters the champions league qualifiers. Celtic now guaranteed at least that with this victory.
- P36 games: (1) Hearts 77pts, +32GD(63/31); (2) Celtic 76pts +29GD(67/38); (3) Sevco 69pts, +31pts
- TheRangers only a few weeks back were the favourites by the bookies to win the title and had the momentum it seemed. Yet they have lost now their three opening post-split matches. Their defeat to Hearts a week beforehand already really ended their chances of winning the title, but today sealed that compeletly.
- Sevco’s Union Bears blocked from getting tickets due to their attacks on the visiting Celtic support at the last derby match.
- Ex Celtic boss Ronny Deila placed on ‘leave of absence’ by Maccabi Tel-Aviv after being involved in an incident with a female taxi-driver. His assistance ex Celt Kenny Miller appointed interim head coach.
- Spain handed a youth call-up to Zion Pullan, who looks to be the next wonderkid from the Celtic academy.
- Martin O’Neill thinks Kelechi Iheanacho would benefit from a full pre-season should the club extend the 29-year-old striker’s contract beyond this summer.
- Ex-Celt Victor Wanyama revealed to Citizen TV in Kenya his ambition to return to Celtic in the future as a coach.
- Martin O’Neill hopes Callum Osmand can make an impact ‘at some stage’ before the end of the season .Tomas Cvancara will undergo surgery next Tuesday after tearing his adductor.
- Liam Scales reaffirmed his commitment to Celtic and revealed he has never shown a desire to leave despite interest from other clubs.
- Reports:
- Hayato Inamura says countryman Daizen Maeda has urged him to return and make another attempt to have an impact in Europe after the 23-year-old’s loan spell back in their Japanese homeland with Tokyo.
- Celtic have joined the list of clubs keeping tabs on Wolfsberger goalkeeper Nikolas Polster, who has been compared to Manuel Neuer.
- Arne Engels drawing increasing attention from clubs across Europe, with RB Leipzig among those linked.
- Marc Leonard firmly on summer radar and will continue to monitor the 24-year-old midfielder in his final three games of the season on loan to title rivals Heart of Midlothian from Birmingham City
- Falkirk striker Barney Stewart interest as an option to bolster the attack.
Summary
A sensational Daizen Maeda overhead kick helped propel Celtic within a point of league leaders Hearts, as the Glasgow derby ended with Sevco condemned to a third-place finish.
Prematch: Kheredine Idessane BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park I asked the Celtic manager Martin O’Neill what his main message to the players is today. His answer was simple: “Just win.” Celtic have the destiny of the title in their own hands. If they win their next three games, it will be a 14th Premiership crown in 15 years.
“All we can do is attempt to win our games,”
Simple isn’t it, really. I wish it was that simple. Of course, that’s important. We have to try and win our games, they’re not easy matches, the three games that we have ahead of us. “I can’t look any further forward than in the next couple of hours. This is really big for us today. Celtic-Rangers game, it can go either way, regardless of where the teams are positioned in the league. “We’ve just got to go and play, play strongly, play with your hearts, play with your heads and try and get the result. We have to try and win. A draw’s actually probably no good to us because of the goal difference. We’re going to put our utmost energy into trying to win. “We’re still in there fighting with a chance and that’s all you can ask for. We have to find a way to win the game. We can find ourselves a goal behind, as we did at Ibrox a couple of months ago, we can find ourselves two behind. We have to try and find a way to win the football match. “Luke [McCowan] can play. He’s going to get support as well too from Alistair Johnston. It’s just a little tweak.”
Martin O’Neill pre match
: “It’s a crazy week, we’re not going to have time to dissect it, it’ll just be match after match after match. “These kind of weeks are when you rely on your squad. “We know if we win three matches, we’ll put ourselves in a good position and leave the season with our heads held high. “We haven’t put in a complete 90 minute performance against [Rangers] in a while. You do that, you find a way to win, and it would bode well for the rest for the week.”
Alistair Johnston (prematch)
“It was a big win for us and I thought we were terrific in the second half, coming from behind against big rivals,” he tells BBC Scotland. “I couldn’t be more delighted with the team and certain individuals were magnificent. “The captain was magnificent and Daizen [Maeda] has pulled it through again. “Rangers came to play and did well, but it was the manner we fought back.” Asked about what it means for the title race, he adds: “The midweek game is going to be extremely difficult – Motherwell are a fine footballing team. “But the game at Dundee United when we questioned ourselves, the team have come roaring back The whole effort from the team has been terrific. “We might fall short at the end of it all, who knows? But it’s been a fabulous effort and we are roared on here by a raucous crowd who I believe have carried us through a few times.”
(On Maeda) “He is in a rich vein of form at the moment and it’s delightful to see and he was sensational for usThe negative part of the game, he is absolutely adept at that, but he galvanises the team too and he deserved the goals. They were brilliant.”
Martin O’Neill
“Huge win, they all are, especially the home games. There’s big expectations to go win the game and the manner we did was outstanding, considering the circumstances and the context of the season.” On Maeda’s overhead kick, McGregor said: “Unbelievable. He keeps getting better better, the first finish trademark and the second, he’s on cloud nine. The atmosphere in the stadium was something special. “To win big games, you have to peak at the right time. The team is starting to look more like its usual self. It’s about turning up and performing and making sure you win them. “We started well, but you know Rangers are a threat on the counter. They have good ball carriers, a striker who is good on transition moments. We knew if we were too gung-ho, we would get picked off and that’s what happened. “It was a case of resetting. We had good momentum, got a goal at a good time and didn’t really look back. “It’s in our hands. We just approach every game the same way we’ve always done, work as hard as we possibly can. We have to bring that to Wednesday night and that sets us up for the end of the week.”
McGregor
Daizen Maeda scored the goal of his life. A sensational overhead kick into the top left-hand corner of Jack Butland’s net. A moment of extraordinary quality. The Celtic fans in front of me went absolutely berserk, nearly bringing down the reporters benches. This place is literally rocking. A Daizen Maeda double that may well have turbo-charged Celtic’s title tilt.
BBC on Maeda’s goal of a lifetime
Tounekti coming on made such a difference and also the complete control of the midfield was so noticeable in that 15-20 minutes after it.
LLB of KDS:
Huge result amongst four cup finals to end the season (The last 3 games and the Scottish Cup Final).
Desire and determination got us over the line in the second half, after indifferent first half.
Maeda finding form at the right time. Yang a great performance on both wings. Engles and McGregor excellent in the second half. Tounetki provided energy and invention. Tierney a excellent game and assist.
Another cup final vs Motherwell on Wednesday.
Teams
Celtic
Manager: Martin O’Neill
Formation: 4 – 2 – 3 – 1
Starting lineup
12, V. Sinisalo
63, K. Tierney,78′, Yellow Card at 78 mins, subbed for M. Saracchi at 84 mins
05, L. Scales,79′, Yellow Card at 79 mins
06, A. Trusty,67′, Yellow Card at 67 mins
02, A. Johnston,39′, Yellow Card at 39 mins, subbed for A. Ralston at 81 mins
42, C. McGregor (c), Captain
27, A. Engels
13, Yang Hyun-Jun, subbed for K. Ịheanachọ at 81 mins
08, B. Nygren, subbed for R. Hatate at 76 mins
14, L. McCowan, subbed for S. Tounekti at 46 mins
38, D. Maeda,82′, Yellow Card at 82 mins
Subs:
31, R. Doohan
49, J. Forrest
41, R. Hatate,89′, Yellow Card at 89 mins
47, D. Murray
21, A. Oxlade-Chamberlain
56, A. Ralston
36, M. Saracchi
23, S. Tounekti
17, K. Ịheanachọ
Goals:
Yang Hyun-Jun (23′)
D. Maeda (53′, 57′)
Assists:
A. Engels (23′)
K. Tierney (53′)
TheRangers
Manager: Danny Röhl
Formation: 4 – 2 – 3 – 1
Starting lineup
01, J. Butland
25, T. Rommens,78′, Yellow Card at 78 mins
37, E. Fernandez
24, N. Djiga
02, J. Tavernier (c), Captain, subbed for D. Sterling at 59 mins
42, T. Chukwuani, subbed for B. Miovski at 76 mins
08, C. Barron
47, M. Moore
10, M. Diomandé, subbed for T. Aasgaard at 59 mins
18, O. Antman, subbed for D. Gassama at 59 mins
09, Youssef Chermiti,19′, Yellow Card at 19 mins
Subs:
03, M. Aarons
11, T. Aasgaard
14, N. Bajrami
23, D. Gassama
21, D. Sterling
31, L. Kelly
30, J. Meghoma
28, B. Miovski
07, A. Skov Olsen
Goals:
M. Moore (9′)
Assists:
Referee: Nick Walsh
Video Assistant Referee: John Beaton
Assistant Referee 1: Frank Connor
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel McFarlane
Fourth Official: Matthew MacDermid
Assistant VAR Official: Chris Graham
Att:
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Stats
Basic Stats
Overall possession
Celtic 50.9%
Rangers 49.1%
Shots
Celtic 9
Rangers 9
Shots on target
Celtic 4
Rangers 3
Total touches inside the opposition box
Celtic 24
Rangers 25
Goalkeeper saves
Celtic 2
Rangers 1
Aerial duels won
Celtic 19
Rangers 14
Fouls committed
Celtic 25
Rangers 13
Corners
Celtic 1
Rangers 7
In-depth match stats
Attack
Shots
Celtic 9
Rangers 9
Shots on target
Celtic 4
Rangers 3
Shots off target
Celtic 4
Rangers 3
Attempts out of box
Celtic 1
Rangers 0
Hit woodwork
Celtic 0
Rangers 1
One-on-one attempts
Celtic 1
Rangers 0
Total offsides
Celtic 1
Rangers 2
Distribution
Total passes
Celtic 423
Rangers 400
Pass accuracy %
Celtic 81.3
Rangers 77.5
Backward passes
Celtic 68
Rangers 62
Forward passes
Celtic 154
Rangers 134
Total long balls
Celtic 37
Rangers 53
Successful final third passes
Celtic 106
Rangers 43
Total crosses
Celtic 16
Rangers 24
Defence
Total tackles
Celtic 15
Rangers 20
Won tackle %
Celtic 46.7
Rangers 50
Fouls committed
Celtic 25
Rangers 13
Total yellow cards
Celtic 6
Rangers 2
Total clearances
Celtic 35
Rangers 22
Pre Match facts
Celtic are without a win in their last six league meetings with
Rangers (D3 L3), last going longer without a win in league Old Firm derbies from September 1995 to November 1997 (10).
Rangers have won both of their last two league visits to Celtic, as many as their previous 19 beforehand (W2 D4 L13). The Gers last won three successive league trips to their Old Firm rivals in November 1992 under Walter Smith.
Celtic have only won the final Old Firm derby of a Scottish Premiership season (including curtailed 2019-20 campaign) in one of the last seven seasons (D2 L4), a 2-1 win in 2023-24.
Celtic have won each of their last four league games; their longest winning run of this season is five matches, which came during Martin O’Neill’s first spell in charge of the campaign from October to December.
Rangers have lost both of their last two league games, as many as their previous 39 beforehand (W21 D16 L2), but haven’t lost three in a row since October 2000 under Dick Advocaat.
After overseeing a 3-1 victory at Celtic Park in January, Danny Röhl could become only the second ever manager to win both of his first two away league games against Celtic in charge of
Rangers, after Walter Smith (first 3 from 1991 to 1992).
Daizen Maeda has scored three goals in Celtic’s last two league games, as many as his previous 20 Scottish Premiership appearances beforehand. Maeda is looking to score in three successive appearances in the competition for the first time since March 2025 (run of 5), while he has two goals in his last three league games against
Rangers at Celtic Park.
Youssef Chermiti has scored four goals in two Scottish Premiership appearances against Celtic this season, the most by a
Rangers player in a single league campaign since Mark Walters in 1988-89 (also 4). No player has ever scored five against their Old Firm rivals in one league season.
Articles
Celtic wonder goal kills off Rangers’ title hopes as gap closed on Hearts and Champions League slots confirmed
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/scottish-premiership/latest-premiership-news/celtic-wonder-goal-kills-off-rangers-title-hopes-as-gap-closed-on-hearts-and-champions-league-slots-confirmed-8515493
Mark Atkinson
By Mark Atkinson
Head of Sport
Comments
Published 10th May 2026, 13:55 BST
Maeda’s stunning overhead kick helps champions to massive result
Celtic moved to within a point of Premiership leaders Hearts with a 3-1 win over Old Firm rivals Rangers at Parkhead.
In-form Japanese forward Daizen Maeda scored a brace for Celtic, the second of which was a spectacular overhead kick, as the defending champions recovered from going a goal down early on.
After Hearts drew 1-1 at Motherwell on Saturday night, Celtic knew that a victory was vital if they were to keep the pressure on the Tynecastle outfit going into the final two matches of the season. And they will have gained significant confidence and momentum from this result, one of their best of the season.
Hearts remain top on 77 points with a goal difference of +32, with Celtic on 76 points (+29). Rangers’ defeat leaves them on 69 points. They are out of the title race and will finish third, meaning Hearts and Celtic are guaranteed Champions League qualifiers next season.
Rangers had entered the post-split matches with confidence after beating Falkirk 6-3, but have since lost to Motherwell, Hearts and now Celtic. Danny Rohl’s men started brightly, but once again wilted at a pivotal time in the match.
Rangers’ game at home to Hibs on Wednesday is now a dead rubber for the Ibrox club, but the two other top-six matches carry extreme weight on the same night. Hearts host sixth-placed Falkirk at Tynecastle, while Celtic travel to fourth-placed Motherwell. Hearts will win the title in midweek should they beat Falkirk and Celtic lose at Fir Park. The final match of what has been a gripping season is Celtic against Hearts in Glasgow on Saturday.
Rangers won at Celtic Park earlier in the campaign and made a dream start on nine minutes. Youssef Chermiti bullied Celtic defender Auston Trusty and while Liam Scales blocked the Portuguese striker’s shot, the ball fell kindly for Mikey Moore and he netted from close range.
Celtic rallied and were level on 23 minutes. Luke McCowan slipped Arne Engels in down the right with a neat pass and the Belgian’s cutback found Yang Hyun-jun and he converted from close range. Rangers claimed that their goalkeeper Jack Butland was impeded by the offside Celtic midfielder Benjamin Nygren but the goal survived a VAR check.
After the break, Celtic took a hold of the match and moved in front on 53 minutes. Kieran Tierney scampered on to a clipped ball and his low cross was netted by a sprawling Maeda from inside the penalty box.
His goal four minutes later was far prettier. In fact, it is a contender for goal of the season. Tuur Rommens blocked Sebastian Tounekti’s cross, but the ball looped up into the air and Maeda launched a bicycle kick that sailed past the stranded Butland and into the far corner of the net.
Rangers attempted a comeback, but the closest they came to scoring against was a stoppage-time Bojan Miovski that struck the crossbar and Celtic saw out what could prove to be a pivotal victory in this engrossing title race.
Martin O’Neill mulls over Celtic-Hearts momentum and critiques Daizen Maeda’s moment of brilliance
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/latest-celtic-news/martin-oneill-mulls-over-celtic-hearts-momentum-and-critiques-daizen-maedas-moment-of-brilliance-8515534
Mark Atkinson
By Mark Atkinson
Head of Sport
Comment
Published 10th May 2026, 15:32 BST
Forward’s goal up there with Larsson, says manager
Grounded Celtic manager Martin O’Neill hailed Old Firm derby hero Daizen Maeda for downing Rangers – but maintained that his team have no margin for error in this gripping Premiership title race.
Maeda scored twice in a 3-1 win over Rangers, the second of which was a stunning overhead kick, to move Celtic a point behind league leaders Hearts, who drew 1-1 with Motherwell on Saturday night. The champions head to Fir Park on Wednesday, while Hearts host Falkirk.
Celtic’s situation is still precarious given that a defeat by Motherwell would hand Hearts the title should they overcome the Bairns at Tynecastle. But a positive result – and in particular a victory – would set up a winner-takes-all showdown with Hearts at Celtic Park next weekend.
O’Neill knows that further fortitude will be required in the closing stages of what has been a trying season. Rangers briefly led through Mikey Moore’s ninth-minute opener before Yang Hyun-jun restored parity on 23 minutes.
“It was really obviously important to win the game,” said O’Neill. “It was a great fight back by the players and lovely to win. We played some really great stuff. Strangely enough, so did the Rangers as well too, so the first half was just really hectic. It was one of those, you have the ball, they have the ball, you have it, they have it, and they made the most of it. So, coming from behind today was great for us.”
He cautioned about getting carried away. “We have to win [at Motherwell], we have no grounds for dropping points, we can’t afford to do it,” warned O’Neill. “I would expect Hearts to win their game. We’ve a really difficult match at Motherwell, really difficult. I couldn’t even think about the following game (against Hearts) until that match was played. Really difficult, that was proved last night.
“We’ve been fighting a long way. We know what’s ahead of us now at this minute. Wednesday will be really tough, as shown from last night. But I think the run that we’re on gives us confidence to go and compete. And also the fact that we’ve come from behind today as well too.
“I know we’re at home, the crowd were brilliant for us, but to come from behind against Rangers and play in the manner in which we did, particularly in the second half, that should give us a boost.”
Celtic are now on a five-game winning run in the league but O’Neill played down its significance. “People have said to me about momentum, and I think momentum can get shifted at any given moment,” the 74-year-old explained. “We’re doing fine, really doing fine in the games, but we’re just trying to find a way to win.
“Today is obviously special against Rangers, but eventually, in the scheme of things, it’s just three points and we can look no further than Wednesday.
“I said before, even if Hearts had won it was very much in their hands as the goal difference would be too great. But at least, yeah, it’s in our hands. We have to try and do something about it.”
The manager was moved to lavish Maeda with praise after his bicycle kick. “Sensational, really sensational,” purred O’Neill. “His second goal was out of this world. But his whole performance… he starts off with his closing down and the negative part of the game. It galvanises the side because he’s so good about it. Then his own performance, with the ball and scoring the goals, was magnificent.”
O’Neill drew comparisons with an iconic Old Firm goal by Henrik Larsson back in 2000. “Yeah, it is very much so,” added the manager. “Henrik will disagree of course, but it was great goal. He was super today.
“Honestly. Which goal was better? I’m going to take him out tonight. He was terrific, really terrific. I don’t know where he gets the energy from. When he did it, I knew it was going in. Because there was enough pace to carry it across. It was incredible.”
…
Derby day delight for Celtic at Paradise
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2026/may/10/derby-day-delight-for-celtic-at-paradise/
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
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10 May 2026, 2:15 pm
Scottish Premiership
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Celtic Park
CELTIC…3
(Yang 23, Maeda 53 & 57)
RANGERS…1
(Moore 9)
Celtic defeated Rangers 3-1 at Celtic Park this afternoon, with goals from Yang and Daizen Maeda securing a massive three points for the Hoops.
The atmosphere inside Celtic Park was at fever pitch by the time the first whistle went, and the Hoops responded with a quick start, with Daizen Maeda’s relentless energy causing problems for the visitors early on.
Maeda’s pressing produced a shooting opportunity for Arne Engels, who forced a save from Butland with a shot from distance.
Moments later, the visitors had their first chance of the afternoon, but Chermiti’s strike from the edge of the box drifted wide of the target.
Rangers took the lead in the 10th minute through Mikey Moore who found himself with a chance from close range after Viljami Sinisalo had made a save from a Youssef Chermiti shot.
Celtic came close to an equaliser with just over 15 minutes gone when Yang slipped a good ball through to Daizen Maeda, but the Japanese forward’s effort crept just wide of the post.
The equaliser that Martin O’Neill’s had been searching for was delivered with just shy of 25 minutes gone. A brilliant pass from Luke McCowan found Arne Engels, who cut the ball back towards Yang in the box.
The Korean winger, whose strike against the Ibrox side earlier in the year was voted as Celtic’s goal of the season, made no mistake as he sent his shot beyond Butland to make it 1-1.
With the match level, both sides looked to put the other under pressure, though the visitors created more chances throughout the remainder of the first half.
Celtic, however, did find themselves with a decent opportunity with five minutes of the half remaining when Luke McCowan fed a pass through to Daizen Maeda in the box, but the Rangers defence forced the ball clear.
51%
Possession
49%
9
Shots
9
4
Shots On Target
3
1
Corners
7
25
Fouls
13
6
0
Cards
2
0
Martin O’Neill made one change at half time, bringing Sebastian Tounekti on in place of Luke McCowan.
And Celtic went agonisingly close to taking the lead five minutes in to the second half when Benjamin Nygren flashed a ball across the face of the Rangers goal.
Daizen Maeda slid in at the back post attempting to divert the ball in to the net, but he was unable to connect with the ball.
Moments later however, the Japanese foraward put the Hoops 2-1 up with a good finish at the front post following a wonderful first-time cross from Kieran Tierney.
Credit also has to go to Liam Scales, whose initial pass gave Tierney the opportunity to fire a cross in to the box.
Then, less than five minutes later, Celtic Park was treated to one of the finest Glasgow derby goals ever, and, once again, Daizen Maeda was the man to deliver it.
A scuffed clearance from a Rangers defender sat up nicely for Maeda, and where most forwards in that instance may have been inclined to bring the ball under control, Maeda produced an overhead kick, which looped high in to the air and dipped under the cross bar in to the top corner, leaving the Rangers keeper helplessly rooted to his goal line as Celtic went 3-1 ahead.
The quality of the finish was quite simply sensational, and for everyone inside the stadium, it will undoubtedly live long in the memory and will be watched over and over again for years to come.
With 15 minutes to go, Martin O’Neill made his second change of the afternoon, with Benjamin Nygren replaced by Reo Hatate.
The visitors, sensing that any slim hopes they had of challenging for the title were fading by the minute, started to press forward, attempting to create an opportunity to bring themselves back in to the match, but the Celts showed their resilience and battled for every ball to keep their two-goal lead intact.
The final Celtic changes of the afternoon saw Alistair Johnston, Kieran Tierney and Yang replaced by Anthony Ralston, Marcelo Saracchi and Kelechi Iheanacho.
In the third minute of injury time, Bojan Miovski went close to reducing the deficit to just one goal when he got his head to the ball in the box, but his headed effort crashed off of the bar and the rebound was collected by Sinisalo.
The 3-1 derby victory means that Celtic are now just one point behind Hearts with two games remaining, and Martin O’Neill’s men will turn their attentions to Wednesday night’s match against Motherwell at Fir Park.
Celtic: Sinisalo, Johnston (Ralston 81′), Trusty, Scales, Tierney (Saracchi 84′), Engels, McGregor, McCowan (Tounekti 45′), Nygren (Hatate 76′), Hyunjun Yang (Iheanacho 81′), Maeda
Subs: Iheanacho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tounekti, Doohan, Saracchi, Hatate, Murray, Forrest, Ralston
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier (Sterling 59′), Djiga, Fernandez, Rommens, Barron, Chukwuani (Miovski 76′), Antman (Gassama 59′), Diomande (Aasgaard 59′), Moore, Youssef Chermiti
Subs: Aarons, Skov Olsen, Aasgaard, Bajrami, Sterling, Gassama, Miovski, Meghoma, Kelly
Callum McGregor & Daizen Maeda reflect on 3-1 derby victory
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2026/may/10/callum-mcgregor—daizen-maeda-reflect-on-3-1-derby-victory/
By Matthew Campbell
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10 May 2026, 3:06 pm
It was a beautiful Sunday at Paradise as Celtic defeated Rangers 3-1 to keep themselves well in the fight for this season’s Premiership title.
Martin O’Neill’s men showed their fighting spirit all afternoon, conceding an early goal for the visitors but going on to make it a day to remember for everyone of a Celtic persuasion.
The equaliser from Yang cranked the noise levels inside Paradise up a few notches, and when Daizen Maeda’s second goal of the afternoon hit the back of the net to make it 3-1, the celebrations all around the stadium were a joy to behold.
That goal, which put the game beyond the visitors, was a thing of sheer beauty and will rightly be regarded as one of the greatest goals ever scored in a Glasgow derby, with Daizen Maeda producing a moment of magic with an incredible overhead kick to sink the Ibrox side’s season.
From back to front, the Hoops commanded the game, and, speaking after the match, Callum McGregor heaped praise on the Celts’ performance.
“It was outstanding,” McGregor said. “The way the boys worked and ran for each other was brilliant and there were moments of quality.
“We scored really good goals, everything we work on and Daizen’s is a special moment in itself.
‘When you get the game to that level and intensity then it’s hard for teams to live with that.’
“We got hit with a sucker punch on the counter-attack, but the response to that was excellent. We stayed calm and were in control of the game and once we scored we didn’t really look back.”
Alongside Callum McGregor was today’s Man of the Match Daizen Maeda, who was typically humble when describing his wonder goal.
He added: “Everything that came to me came from the hard work of the team, so I really appreciate their work.
“Regarding my goal, naturally my body started to move and that’s how it ended up being a goal!”
Manager: It was a wonderful derby display by the team
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2026/may/10/martin-o-neill–it-was-a-/
First Team
By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor
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10 May 2026, 2:59 pm
It was a momentous victory for Celtic, sealed with a magnificent goal, and the three points Martin O’Neill’s side secured with a 3-1 Glasgow derby win has reduced the gap at the top of the Premiership table to just one point with two games remaining.
While attention will now very quickly turn to this Wednesday night’s fixtures – with Celtic facing Motherwell at Fir Park while Hearts play host to Falkirk – Martin O’Neill was able to savour the win over Rangers and praised the performance of his team on an afternoon when they needed to get the victory.
Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, the Celtic manager said: “I’m absolutely delighted – delighted with the team and delighted with the way we fought back.
“We conceded the goal and were under a bit of pressure, but it was just a wonderful display by the team. In the second-half we really got after them and deserved to win.”
“I felt we were capable of fighting back in the game because this side has shown plenty of resilience.”
After losing an early goal, Celtic fought back and equalised midway through the first half when Yang fired home his 10th goal of the season.
And in the second half, Daizen Maeda hit a double, including a spectacular overhead kick which will take its place as one of the finest derby goals ever witnessed at Paradise.
“Daizen was magnificent from start to finish in the game,” Martin O’Neill said. “First of all, the negative part of the game – closing players down – he’s terrific at that and I don’t know where he finds the energy from.
“But then his display was magnificent. He never gave the Rangers defence a moment to settle today, and his goal was just magnificent.
“The Motherwell game becomes absolutely immense for us now. It was great to win and it keeps us going, and that’s the point.
“It gives us a chance and that’s all you can ask for, but that’s what we’ve been doing for months and months.”
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cj9p1dvvyxyt
Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland at Celtic Park
A sensational Daizen Maeda overhead kick helped propel Celtic within a point of Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts, as a compelling Old Firm derby ended with Rangers condemned to a third-place finish.
Maeda’s astonishing moment of quality, hooking the ball over his shoulder into the top left-hand corner of Jack Butland’s net, sealed a crucial comeback victory for the defending champions.
It also tightens up an epic title race, with Celtic a point behind Hearts with two games to play and the sides meeting in Glasgow in the final game of the season next Saturday.
And it confirms both Celtic and Hearts will be in the Champions League qualifiers next season.
Martin O’Neill’s side trailed to Mikey Moore’s early opener here but were level by the break when a fine move enabled Hyun-Jun Yang to equalise.
If the first period was evenly contested, the second was an altogether different story with Maeda the difference-maker.
Hearts host Falkirk on Wednesday, while Celtic travel to Motherwell. Then the top two meet at Parkhead on Saturday
His first telling involvement was to turn in an excellent Kieran Tierney cross to put Celtic ahead for the first time.
If the noise which greeted that was deafening, the reaction to Maeda’s second was off the decibel chart. Time seemed momentarily suspended as the Japan striker’s overhead effort arced inexorably beyond Butland’s flailing left hand.
It was a moment of outstanding quality which put the game beyond a dispirited-looking Rangers, who have now lost three league matches in a row for the first time in more than a quarter of a century.
At the other end of the scale, it’s six wins in a row for O’Neill’s Celtic in all competitions.
They know victory in their final two matches of the league season will secure an unlikely 14th Premiership crown in the last 15 seasons.
And with Hearts hosting Falkirk on Wednesday, while Celtic travel to Motherwell, it could all be decided by a winner-takes-all confrontation at Celtic Park on Saturday.
Celtic fans celebrate Old Firm win
Nothing tests your mettle more in a title race than going a goal down at home to your bitter rivals.
The way Rangers flew into this one, with wide men doubling up on Celtic down the flanks, could have unsettled the home side completely.
How would they recover from the loss of an early goal? They were level by half-time and two ahead midway through the next period. O’Neill will have asked his troops to up their game and they duly delivered.
A moment of genuine, world-class quality always helps of course.
Maeda’s overhead wonder goal will be replayed over and over again. It was the physical manifestation of the control Celtic had wrested in the contest overall.
It was his second of the game. He could, and should, have had a hat-trick.
He’s saved his very best form for these crucial end of season matches. Hearts will have to take note, should things come to the crunch at Celtic Park in six days’ time.
It should be added, all of Celtic’s goals were good. Maeda’s first was a smart finish from an excellent Tierney cross, and Yang’s equaliser was built by Luke McCowan and Arne Engels and superbly dispatched by the South Korean.
Graphic
Rangers analysis: Close but not good enough
Where do you start? Three big post-split fixtures, three defeats.
Manager Danny Rohl had labelled them all as ‘cup finals’ but they lost them all, against Motherwell, Hearts and now Celtic.
Questions have been asked of his side’s mentality. They have not come up with many answers.
Rangers were top of the league on goal difference not so long ago, while Hearts played the next day. They’re now condemned to finish in third place, a long way off the pace.
They went close in the final moments when substitute Bojan Miovski rattled the woodwork with a header.
It sums up their whole season – close but not good enough. Yet another summer of introspection lies ahead at Ibrox.
Martin O’Neill post Rangers victory
Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill: “It was a big win for us and I thought we were terrific in the second half, coming from behind against big rivals.
“I couldn’t be more delighted. Certain individuals were magnificent. The captain was magnificent and Daizen [Maeda] has pulled it through again.
“The midweek game is going to be extremely difficult – Motherwell are a fine team. We might fall short at the end of it all, who knows?
“But it’s been a fabulous effort and we are roared on here by a raucous crowd who I believe have carried us through a few times.”
Rangers head coach Danny Rohl: “It is a very disappointing result. We started well, but then it’s football and to take something everything has to be perfect and in some moments we made some wrong decisions.
“We had a great position before the split and this is hard to take and we have to improve and develop quick. We have to learn in these key moments to be clinical and play without mistakes. We will learn from this.
“I will take a lot from the last three games to be prepared the best way possible. I will lead this group and I am clear about what we have to improve.”
…
Celtic eye own fairytale as Hearts’ story continues to captivate
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cdxpkqrj4qko
Daizen Maeda scored twice as Celtic beat Rangers to move within a point of HeartsImage source, PA Media
Image caption,
Daizen Maeda scored twice as Celtic beat Rangers to move within a point of Hearts
By
Tom English
BBC Scotland’s chief sports writer
Published
3 hours ago
Celtic v Rangers highlights
10/05/26
Watch on iPlayer
And so the main event is upon us, the headline act. One week to go and the last of the supporting cast, Rangers, have been ushered to the wings and it’s only Hearts and Celtic left in the spotlight now.
A football nation is in thrall regardless of their colours. You don’t have to be maroon or green to be stirred by this. You can be blue or tangerine, red or black, claret and amber – everybody has some sort of skin in the game, some reason to be gripped.
A watching audience in the UK, in Europe, and from many points around the globe.
Hearts have spent months dealing with media requests from all sorts of wonderful places, all wanting a piece of the would-be miracle on the Gorgie Road.
That interest will only ratchet upwards now. Celtic have taken care of Rangers and are coming for Hearts. Can Derek McInnes’ side hold them off in the final days of a tumultuous campaign?
Thirty-six games down and just two to go. One point and three goals separating the protagonists.
Hearts seeking the fairytale story of a first league title in 66 years and Celtic, steered by Martin O’Neill, looking to pull off a win like few others.
This would be a different type of fairytale for O’Neill in his last week as one of the most storied of all Celtic managers.
Earlier in the season there was only bitterness and rancour at Celtic Park.
The place was alive with the sound of protest, fury directed at the board, thunder fired at the unwitting Wilfried Nancy, the greatest piece of managerial miscasting since, well, Russell Martin at Rangers a few months before.
A title win was not uppermost in the minds of many Celtic fans back then. The trophy they wanted most of all was a resignation letter or two.
While bedlam was breaking out in Glasgow, there was nothing but serenity in the capital.
And now? You can hear their hearts beating from a thousand paces. Fans of both clubs have been on a journey and the toughest steps on that road are now ahead of them both.
Celtic took care of Rangers on Sunday to set up the grandest finale, a round of fixtures on Wednesday and then the last stirrings on Saturday. We’ve not seen anything like this since Methuselah was a lad.
Hearts host Falkirk on Wednesday, while Celtic travel to Motherwell. Then the top two meet at Parkhead on Saturday
More twist & turns to come
Daizen Maeda was a huge figure in the Old Firm derby, setting Rangers’ faint hopes of a late title bid ablaze with two goals in four minutes just after the break, the second a bicycle kick that looped into Jack Butland’s net.
They’re now done, some of them complaining about a first-half tackle by Alistair Johnston on Mikey Moore that brought yellow when they wanted red, others questioning the legitimacy of Celtic’s opening goal. Noise.
Having spent £35m-£40m in the last two transfer windows their race is run. Rangers have a leadership deficit that has cost them their place in the denouement, they have a weakness at their heart that caught up with them in the end.
Roll on Wednesday when Hearts will have a one-point and a three-goal advantage at the top as they host Falkirk. Celtic have to travel to Fir Park, a place that might as well have red warning signs outside reminding all visitors of the danger ahead.
Twists and turns to come? You can almost hang your hat on that.
O’Neill said two wins from the last two games is going to be like climbing two mountains, but if it happens they’ll be champions. Not pretty champions, not convincing or easy on the eye, but champions none the less.
00:55
Figure caption,
Martin O’Neill post Rangers victory
And his team is improving at the right time. Bang in the middle of it is Maeda.
He’s not repeated his imperious goalscoring of last season, or looked all that happy at various times over the last 10 months having had a move to Germany cancelled amid the slapstick antics of what passes for Celtic’s recruitment department.
In April, though, he ended a run of 17 games without a goal – last season he never went more than six without scoring. Most lately, there’s been a sense of a gathering force. The hustling and harrying, the scarcely human work-rate, the big-time mentality – it was all key to the win over Rangers.
And the goals. When Celtic needed him most, Maeda was there for them. Two in a 3-1 win over Falkirk, one in a 2-1 win over Hibs and now the critical two in the 3-1 win over Rangers that puts them in Hearts’ slipstream.
At the break, the derby was in the balance at 1-1. It was tempestuous stuff. Frantic and enthralling. Chances at both ends. What happened next was no surprise. It was the most predictable thing.
Celtic have not been a good team this season, but they’ve shown a lust for battle, an ability to keep playing and winning even when their performances have never risen above the mundane.
It was a racing certainty that Celtic would remain in the fight. Rangers? It was almost as certain that they would go down and, pretty much, stay down.
Maeda landed the blows. Eight minutes into the new half and Kieran Tierney ran off James Tavernier, whose only answer to his counterpart’s run was to stick his arm in the air and hope for offside. That’s your Rangers captain.
‘O’Neill has made Celtic players better’
Tierney’s cross was swept home by Maeda and was soon followed by his piece-de-resistance, the overhead kick that nobody saw coming, Butland most of all.
The goalkeeper watched as it dropped in, as impotent in the moment as any of the visiting support. Not a bad time in the season to score your finest ever goal for the club. Not a bad time to be finding your best stuff.
Hearts and Celtic carry on to Wednesday. O’Neill will assume that Hearts will beat Falkirk – he has to think that way. So his side has to get something in Motherwell. A point, or three, takes it to the wire.
Celtic taking the title from Hearts at this stage would be a gigantic anti-climax for those dreaming of one of the greatest stories in the history of Scottish football.
It would be a trauma beyond words for Hearts fans everywhere.
That’s what would make it so delicious to Celtic people, a chance to state that even when miles from their best they’re still too good for the rest, even when losing ground under the hapless Nancy the blessed Martin got the job done.
O’Neill was measured and wise in the aftermath of Sunday, an old dog who’s been down this long road before. He knows that nothing is won until it’s won and nothing is lost until it’s lost. McInnes will be preaching the same mantra.
Pure theatre. In a word: Wow!