Scottish Premiership
Sunday March 21 2021
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC… 1
(Elyounoussi 23)

RANGERS… 1
(Morelos 38)

Celtic were held to a draw against Rangers this afternoon (Sunday), following a dominant Glasgow derby display. Mohamed Elyounoussi fired the Hoops in front on 23 minutes before Odsonne Edouard was denied what looked like a certain penatly, the Frenchman instead booked for simulation inside the box. Soon after, Alfredo Morelos equalised for the visitors when he headed in a corner seven minutes from half-time.

Despite the home side forging a number of half and clear-cut chance in the second period, Rangers contained Celtic's high press well - denied often by the in-form Gers stopper Allan McGregor.

Opportunities were few and far between in the opening 10 minutes, with both sides building from the back and keen not to give away possession. In turn, much of the play was resigned to the team in possession’s defensive third, with their opponents seeking to press high and force errors.

On four minutes, Ryan Christie, David Turnbull and Odsonne Edouard combined well on the counter, which forced Filip Helander into a concentrated tackle down his left-hand side. At the other end, the same levelheadedness was required from the Hoops’ Stephen Welsh when he blocked the advances of Ryan Kent, after the latter forward pounced on a loose pass.

Celtic’s first sniff at goal came via a Callum McGregor volley sent high of the mark on 12 minutes, with Turnbull and Edouard forcing Allan McGregor to punch clear for a corner with 21 minutes on the clock.

While that set-piece was cleared, the home side fired themselves in front two minutes later, when Edouard showed great footwork and force down the left flank to cross for Elyounoussi in the box. After losing his man, the Norwegian threw himself at the ball with an unstoppable diving header past McGregor.

Four minutes after that again, and Celtic were denied a strong penalty claim. After some wonderful close control by Elyounoussi, the ball found Edouard and Barasic appeared to foul. Referee Willie Collum instead booked the Frenchman for simulation, despite replay footage showing clear contact.

From there, the Hoops peppered the Rangers goal with a string of clear-cut and half-chances, all denied by the heroics of McGregor. Having weathered the home side’s storm, Rangers pulled level on 37 minutes via Alfredo Morelos, when he headed in at the back post from an in-swinging corner.

With four minutes of normal first half time remaining, Allan McGregor again came to his side’s rescue with a double save against Edouard – first by blocking a point-blank range shot with his feet, and then by smothering the ball as it trickled towards goal.

Scott Bain was immediately called to action with a fine save of his own against Ryan Kent on the counter, before McGregor again prevented an Elyounoussi double when he scooped the ball off the line low to his left.

The Hoops returned for the second period to press the game, but McGregor extended his fine form between the sticks for the next 45. On 51 minutes, the keeper did well to keep out a fine Edouard volley from 18 yards, and did well again to thwart Kenny, Callum McGregor and Turnbull in succession – the latter’s effort on 71 minutes perhaps the best chance of the half.

Other half chances were forged via neat cross-box passes from McGregor and Kenny respectively in the closing quarter hour, but neither proved enough to edge the Hoops in front despite their dominance.

Despite the addition of James Forrest, Tom Rogic, Ismaila Soro and Leigh Griffiths over the course of the match, Rangers contained Celtic’s efforts in the final third until the final whistle. Celtic will now look ahead to their remaining post-split Scottish Premiership fixtures.

CELTIC: Bain; Kenny, Ajer, Welsh, Laxalt; Brown (Soro 88), Christie, Turnbull (Forrest 79), McGregor; Edouard (Griffiths 88), Elyounoussi (Rogic 85)
Subs: Barkas, Taylor, Duffy, Bitton, Griffiths, Klimala, Soro

RANGERS: McGregor; Balogun (Patterson 56), Goldson, Helander, Barisic; Kamara, Davis, Aribo (Wright 77), Hagi (Arfield 65); Kent, Morelos (Roofe 77)
Subs: McLaughlin, Bassey, Zungu, Defoe, Itten

Celts held to a draw in dominant derby display