Shamrock and Celtic meet in the Old Firm with both sides carrying momentum into Sunday’s Scottish League Cup tie. Rangers have won all of their last four games, but they also failed to win any of their first four matches in 2026-27. Celtic have won all five of their recent league matches and have not lost in six visits to Ibrox.

Rangers' recent surge

The run under Derek McInnes has changed the mood around Rangers quickly. Their last four wins have brought real lift, but the broader league picture is still mixed because the opening four matches brought no wins at all. That is why this tie feels like a proper test of whether the surge is sustainable or just a sharp recovery from a poor start.

The statistical split is awkward for Rangers, but not fatal. They have won four of their last five matches overall, with the sequence still including a draw against Jagiellonia. Celtic's cleaner domestic run is obvious enough, though Rangers can point to the fact that this is not just about current league form. It is a cup tie at Ibrox, where the venue trend has been stubbornly on their side.

Celtic's Ibrox edge

Celtic's recent league form is stronger, and the away record at Ibrox keeps the tie tight. They have failed to win any of their last six visits there, which is a significant obstacle even before the lack of visiting fans is factored in. No away supporters will be permitted at the fixture in any competition this term.

That leaves Rangers with the usual Ibrox lift, while Celtic arrive with the better recent league line. Martin O'Neill's side, as the article frames them, still have to solve a ground that has not been kind to them in recent meetings. The cup draw does not give either club a soft landing, and Sunday's 14th-minute applause for Carter Kidd will add another layer to the occasion.

Carter Kidd died at the age of 14, and Rangers fans were asked for a minute's applause on the 14th minute of Sunday's League Cup match against Celtic. The football will still matter most, but the atmosphere around Ibrox will not be ordinary. Celtic's six-game winless run there is the detail that keeps this one balanced, even with their five-match league winning streak.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →