Celtic 1-1 Rangers: Hosts closer to 52nd title after thrilling Old Firm derby draw

Celtic inched nearer to a 52nd Scottish title regardless of being held to a draw at house by nearest challengers Rangers.

Celtic overcame early Rangers stress to take the lead by means of Jota’s close-range end.

With the guests searching on their ft, Trend Sakala fired them degree to extend the title race.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst had gone into the sport admitting that it was a must-win sport for his Rangers facet, who’re between legs of their Europa League semi-final with RB Leipzig.

Now unbeaten in 29 league video games since September, Postecoglou’s facet successfully solely want three factors from their three remaining video games – at house to Coronary heart of Midlothian and Motherwell and away to Dundee United – to formally safe Celtic’s tenth title in 11 years.

Rangers had turned the tables on their Glasgow rivals to win final month’s Scottish Cup semi-final to make sure there can be no home treble for the League Cup winners and champions elect.

Van Bronckhorst, although, confronted a dilemma of whether or not to make wholesale adjustments forward of Thursday’s try to beat a 1-0 deficit with Leipzig.

Bringing in Scott Arfield, Steven Davis and Sakala for Ryan Jack, Glen Kamara and Scott Wright was sufficient recent legs to permit Rangers to ascertain an early edge.

It ought to have led to a gap objective when Ryan Kent stole in entrance of Anthony Ralston to satisfy a James Tavernier cross however couldn’t discover the goal from 10 yards.

Celtic had been wanting shaken however confirmed Rangers the way it needs to be performed after an analogous transfer minutes later as ahead Daizen Maeda’s cross into the six-yard field discovered Jota stealing in entrance of Borna Barisic on the again put up to prod house.

Jota had an excellent probability so as to add to his twelfth objective of the season when discovered free contained in the penalty field by Reo Hatate’s by means of ball, however this time the on-loan Benfica winger headed wastefully over.

With Rangers wanting more and more hesitant, the unmarked Maeda additionally missed a golden alternative as he headed clear from 5 yards from a Jota chip.

A Sakala header struck Matt O’Riley’s again in entrance of objective and Connor Goldson shot wastefully over as Rangers began the second half as they’d the primary, whereas Maeda once more scooped over on the different finish.

Simply when Rangers’ heavy European schedule appeared to be catching up with them, Kent arrange Sakala for a low drive inside goalkeeper Joe Hart’s close to put up.

Virtually instantly, one other Sakala drive stung Hart’s fingertips and the Zambia striker ought to have performed higher than head over from 12 yards.

A late Hart double save from Scott Arfield and Ryan Kent, then a Sakala shot towards the within of a put up, denied Rangers the victory they wanted to actually revive the title race.

Man of the match – Trend Sakala

What did we be taught?

The Outdated Agency rivals are all sq. with two victories apiece in 5 derbies this season, however it’s Celtic who did sufficient when it got here to the Premiership crunch and are all however house and dry as champions.

There’s been a 10-point swing of their league fortunes since Giovanni van Bronckhorst took over from Steven Gerrard in November, however even below the Englishman they dropped house factors towards Motherwell, Hearts and Aberdeen as they did not capitalise on Celtic’s early struggles below new supervisor Postecoglou.

As soon as the Australian stabilised that home kind right into a relentless depth, Rangers had been unable to reply as they reserved their greatest performances for Europe and the Scottish Cup.

Two derby wins within the league made up for a gap defeat by Rangers and the newest draw emphasised the shift in momentum and has all however ended the Ibrox facet’s transient maintain on the Premiership crown bar a late and unlikely Celtic collapse.

Van Bronckhorst will now consider the Europa League earlier than turning his consideration to constructing a squad able to regaining the title in his first summer season switch window as Postecoglou appears to be like to capitalise on his second piece of Celtic silverware.

What’s subsequent?

Celtic subsequent host third-top Coronary heart of Midlothian on Saturday (12:00 GMT) whereas Rangers entertain RB Leipzig in Thursday’s second leg of their Europa League semi-final earlier than Dundee United are their subsequent league guests on Sunday (15:00).

Extra to comply with.