GLASGOW, Scotland (Interstat) — Rangers delivered a stunning blow to their archrivals on Saturday, overcoming massive statistical odds to defeat Celtic 3-1 at Celtic Park in a Scottish Premiership match.

The result, played on Jan. 3, 2026, defied pregame projections that heavily favored the home side. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Celtic entered the match with a 95.90 percent probability to win. The firm’s game simulator had predicted a 1-1 draw. Instead, Rangers seized control with a second-half surge to open their league campaign with a decisive victory.

The match began with early tension, as Rangers’ Thelo Aasgaard received a yellow card in the 7th minute. Celtic, however, struck first. In the 19th minute, Yang Hyunjun found the net, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead that they carried into halftime.

The complexion of the match changed dramatically after the break. Rangers’ Youssef Chermiti leveled the score in the 50th minute, capitalizing on a period of sustained pressure. Just nine minutes later, Chermiti struck again, completing his brace to put the visitors ahead 2-1. The turnaround was sealed in the 71st minute when Mikey Moore added a third goal for Rangers, extending their lead and silencing the home crowd.

Celtic’s frustration grew as the match progressed. Djeidi Gassama was shown a yellow card in the 55th minute, and Bojan Miovski received one in second-half stoppage time, but the team could not mount a comeback against a disciplined Rangers defense.

The victory at the home of their greatest rival gives Rangers an immediate upper hand in the Premiership title race. They begin their league season with a record of 1 win and 0 losses, while Celtic starts 0-1. The records across all competitions for both clubs mirror those league marks.

The match will be remembered for Rangers’ resilient performance away from home, overturning a deficit and confounding expert predictions to secure a commanding three points in the season’s first meeting between the two Glasgow giants.