Rangers and Celtic will go head-to-head in the first Old Firm derby of the Scottish Premiership season on Sunday lunchtime at Ibrox, with both teams looking to bounce back after disappointing European campaigns.
Russell Martin’s side have yet to win a league game this season, drawing all three, but crashed out of the Champions League at the qualifying stage after being thrashed 9-1 on aggregate by Club Brugge. Celtic on the other hand have a 100% record from their three league games, but also failed to qualify for the Champions League League Phase after defeat to Kazakhstan outfit FC Kairat.
Both managers have some big decisions to make for the game, and this is how GIVEMESPORT expects the teams to line up.
Rangers Team News
Rangers will continue to be without Dujon Sterling for the Old Firm clash as he continues to deal with an achilles problem, while Hamza Igamane has completed a move to Lille after refusing to come on as a substitute last weekend.
Martin said that Raskin had been training on Friday, however, it’s since been reported that he wasn’t with the first-team squad and won’t be part of the squad to face Celtic as speculation ramps up over his future at Ibrox.
|
Rangers Injuries and Suspensions |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Injury |
Potential Return Date |
|
Kieran Dowell |
Knock |
31/08/2025 |
|
Dujon Sterling |
Achilles |
Unknown |
|
Nicolas Raskin |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Martin Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Martin shared an update on his squad ahead of the game.
“I think everyone’s here, everyone’s available, and the squad and the team will be picked based on what we think is the best way to win the game. Nico [Raskin] is in training today.
“I’ve just said to you, the whole squad is here, things can change, transfer window’s open, so I can’t tell you anyone’s definitely going to be in the squad or not.
“I’d describe my relationship with all the players, all the staff as honest and open. I don’t think you can have anything else apart from that. There’s not a breakdown in any relationships here. If it’s honest and open, there can’t be a breakdown in any relationships.
Rangers Predicted XI
- Rangers Predicted XI: Butland; Aarons, Souttar, Djiga, Meghoma; Barron, Rothwell, Diomande; Antman, Danilo, Gassama.
- Rangers Predicted Substitutes: Kelly (GK), Tavernier (DEF), Fernandez (DEF), Cameron (MID), Rice (MID), Aasgaard (MID), Dessers (FWD), Moore (FWD), Curtis (FWD).
Despite the crushing defeat in Belgium in midweek, Martin is unlikely to make wholesale changes to his team for this game. Lyall Cameron should play in midfield with Raskin out, while Danilo is likely to continue leading the line.
That would mean £57,000-a-week duo James Tavernier and Cyriel Dessers are benched once more, alongside summer signings Lyall Cameron, Theo Aasgaard and Mikey Moore.
Celtic Team News
Celtic have had a strong start to their domestic campaign with four wins from four games, but they will want to bounce back following disappointment in Europe.
Alistair Johnston won’t be available after tearing his hamstring and will miss 12 weeks, while centre-back Auston Trusty is also set to miss out with a foot problem. Jota is still recovering after tearing his ACL, while Michel-Ange Balikwisha could make his debut after joining from Royal Antwerp.
|
Celtic Injuries and Suspensions |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Injury |
Potential Return Date |
|
Jota |
Knee |
February 2026 |
|
Auston Trusty |
Foot |
13/09/2025 |
|
Alistair Johnston |
Hamstring |
21/11/2025 |
Rodgers Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Rodgers shared an update on his squad ahead of the game.
“Tony Ralston didn’t train today but should be okay tomorrow. The guys that have been out, Auston [Trusty] is still out, Ali Johnston, but other than that it should be pretty much the same squad.
“Well Adam [Idah] had been out for a number of days before the last game and he came in, so no, I’m quite relaxed on that, I just need to see where we’re at over the next couple of days, and then we’ll just assess it from there.”
Celtic Predicted XI
- Celtic Predicted XI: Schmeichel; Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney; McGregor, Hatate, Nygren; Balikwisha, Maeda, Forrest.
- Celtic Predicted Substitutes: Sinisalo (GK), Simpson-Pusey (DEF), Donovan (DEF), Kenny (DEF), Bernardo (MID), Engels (MID), McCowan (MID), Idah (FWD), Yang (FWD).
Celtic are likely to go with a familiar-looking lineup for this game, which should see Daizen Maeda leading the line once more, but Balikwisha could make his debut for the club after signing this week.
That should see £44,000-a-week trio Paulo Bernardo, Arne Engels and Adam Idah named on the bench.
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