Rangers 3-0 Celtic: Neil double knocks Celtic out of cup
Rangers beat Celtic 3-0 at Ibrox on Sunday, September 13, 2026, to win the Glasgow derby and knock their rivals out of the Premier Sports Cup.
Rangers led 1-0 at half-time and then pulled clear. Dan Neil scored twice in the victory, according to Rangers. The SPFL lists the tie as a Scottish League Cup quarter-final finishing Rangers 3-0 Celtic, according to SPFL.
The Premier Sports Cup is Scotland's League Cup, the early-season knockout competition that runs alongside the league. This tie was the quarter-final, played with a noon kick-off at Ibrox after the draw paired the two Glasgow clubs together in August.
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill changed his defence for the derby. He broke up the centre-back pairing — the two central defenders — of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty, who had started seven of Celtic's nine games this season. Kieran Tierney returned at left-back, with Liam Scales moving inside to partner Carter-Vickers, according to BBC Sport.
There was a change in goal too. On-loan Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone started for Celtic. He came in for Viljami Sinisalo, who had kept four clean sheets — four games without conceding a goal — in eight appearances before the trip to Ibrox.
Celtic's attack had a shuffled look as well. Kasper Hogh started through the middle, with Camilo Duran moved out wide. Hogh went off on 64 minutes. Duran then moved centrally before being replaced by Shim Mheuka 13 minutes later.
Out wide, Sebastian Tounekti started but lasted only the first half. He was replaced at the break by Haissem Hassan. Tounekti had made his second start of the season in Celtic's 1-0 win over St Johnstone on the Wednesday before the derby. Yang Hyun-jun, another wide option, was away on international duty.
Hassan arrived in the summer from Spanish club Real Oviedo in a deal reportedly worth up to £9m. He had less than 45 minutes to change a derby that was already slipping away.
O'Neill took responsibility afterwards. If you've been beaten you always think about selection, he said, adding that he would think about his own part in proceedings first.
There is recent history here. Celtic beat Rangers in extra time in the League Cup semi-final last season, then lost the final to St Mirren. This time Rangers turned the story round in 90 minutes. Ibrox was loud. It got louder with every goal.
For fans, this means a quick reversal and a clear marker. Rangers go on to face Aberdeen in the competition, while Celtic are left with the league and the questions from one heavy afternoon.
