Old Firm Cup Clash
Rangers and Celtic Set for High-Stakes Scottish League Cup Quarterfinal Clash
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Key Points
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Neither club has been eliminated from the League Cup before the semifinals since the 2020-21 season. Celtic have reached each of the past four finals and won three, including last season’s competition.
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Celtic’s recent dominance includes a dramatic 2024 League Cup final: the teams drew 3-3 after extra time before Celtic won the shootout, with Rangers’ Rıdvan Yılmaz the only player to miss and Daizen Maeda converting the decisive kick.
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Despite Celtic’s stronger decade-long record, their recent regulation-time results have been far more even: across 2025 and 2026, Celtic have won only two of nine Old Firm matches in regulation, plus one victory on penalties.
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The rivalry’s recent six-game run produced 16 goals, including two unusually scoreless draws, underscoring the contrast between the fixture’s frequent drama and the cautious nature of some meetings.
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Celtic and Rangers have won a combined 111 Scottish national league titles—56 for Celtic and 55 for Rangers—illustrating the clubs’ extraordinary historical dominance of Scottish football.
Rangers defeated Celtic 3-0 in the Scottish League Cup quarterfinal at Ibrox, with AP News reporting that Rangers won their first Old Firm derby under new coach Derek McInnes. Daniel Neil scored twice and Kevin Kelsy added one goal, advancing Rangers to the semifinals and handing Celtic their earliest cup exit since the 2020-21 season.
The victory breaks a cycle of Celtic dominance in high-stakes matches. Winnipeg Free Press noted that Celtic had reached the past four League Cup finals and won three, but Rangers' dominant performance in this quarterfinal signals a shift in their recent head-to-head momentum.
Rangers' Clinical Victory Ends Celtic's Cup Run
Rangers dismantled Celtic with a convincing 3-0 performance that stunned the defending champions. AP News confirmed that Rangers scored three goals, with Neil's brace and Kelsy's two finishes overwhelming Celtic's defense. The scoreline marked Rangers' most dominant result in an Old Firm quarterfinal in years.
Derek McInnes' first Old Firm victory as Rangers manager demonstrates his team's readiness to challenge Celtic. The performance silenced doubters who questioned Rangers' ability to compete in crucial matches after several close encounters in 2025 and 2026.
Celtic's Decade of Dominance Under Severe Pressure
Celtic's exit marks their earliest League Cup elimination since 2020-21, snapping an impressive streak of reaching four consecutive finals. Star Democracy reported on the quarterfinal result, highlighting how Celtic's recent dominance has crumbled against a resurgent Rangers side. Celtic won three of the past four League Cup titles but cannot defend their crown.
The loss exposes cracks in Celtic's armor despite their 56 Scottish national league titles compared to Rangers' 55. Head-to-head in regulation time across recent seasons shows Celtic winning only two of nine Old Firm matches, revealing that their decade-long advantage has narrowed significantly in competitive fixtures.
A Rivalry Reaching Peak Intensity and Drama
The Old Firm remains football's most intense fixture, combining extreme competitiveness with commercial appeal. Recent six-game stretches between the clubs have produced 16 goals total, showing the unpredictable nature of these encounters. Some matches end scoreless while others explode into wide-open affairs.
Rangers will advance to the League Cup semifinals, while Celtic faces a summer without silverware for the first time in years. Both clubs have dominated Scottish football with a combined 111 national titles, but only Rangers will continue their chase for the League Cup trophy after this stunning result.
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