Celtic vs Rangers
- Venue: Celtic Park
- Date: Saturday, January 3, 2026
- Kick-off: 12.30pm GMT
- Where to Watch: Live stream on SPOTV NOW (Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Macau)
Celtic’s season is teetering on the brink. Since taking charge, Wilfried Nancy has struggled to inject consistency into the Scottish giants, leaving their title ambitions in serious doubt.
From seven matches, Nancy has managed just two wins. His woes deepened after a crushing defeat to St Mirren in the League Cup final—a stark contrast to the success enjoyed under Martin O’Neill during a similar spell.
O’Neill, stepping in as interim boss after Brendan Rodgers’ departure, delivered six wins and a single Europa League defeat in his seven games tenure. He guided Celtic to four straight league victories and a League Cup final appearance—only for Nancy to falter at the last hurdle.
Now, the Frenchman’s future hangs by a thread. A loss in Saturday’s Old Firm derby at Celtic Park could seal his fate. While Nancy admits the pressure is mounting, he insists his job does not hinge on this result.
“No, not at all,” Nancy said. “Each game is important for me and for the team. I don’t think about my future—I focus on what we need to do now to improve.”
This festive clash comes with an unusual twist. For the first time since 1993/94, neither Celtic nor Rangers sit atop the Scottish Premiership. It was Aberdeen who were at the summit on that occasion and this time it’s Hearts.
Rangers, meanwhile, are on the rise. Danny Rohl replaced Russell Martin on October 20, inheriting a side eight points behind Celtic and 13 adrift of Hearts.
Since then, Rohl has masterminded eight wins in 11 league games, cutting the gap to Celtic to just three points. Victory at Parkhead would see Rangers draw level with their fiercest rivals.
Rohl remains grounded despite the surge.
“We’ve reduced the gap, but in football that means nothing,” he said. “It’s about what comes next. If we keep this momentum, we’ll have a strong second half of the season.”
As the city braces for one of the most pivotal Old Firm derbies in recent memory, both managers know the stakes couldn’t be higher. For Nancy, defeat could spell the end. For Rohl, it could ignite a title charge.
