Celtic’s 2-2 draw with Rangers FC at Ibrox provided drama, late goals, and plenty of talking points. While Kieran Tierney and Reo Hatate rescued a crucial point for the Hoops, the first-half performance once again highlighted persistent defensive vulnerabilities.
Earlier in the season, Celtic faced Rangers at Parkhead under then-manager Wilfried Nancy. The Hoops began brightly, with Yang Hyun-jun scoring a brilliant solo goal, but defensive lapses led to a late turnaround, with Mikey Moore and Youssef Chermiti securing victory for the visitors. Sunday’s first-half display at Ibrox showed similar patterns, with Rangers controlling play and exploiting gaps in Celtic’s backline.
Celtic were repeatedly exposed down the right side. Tuur Rommens created the build-up for Chermiti’s opener, while Julian Araujo was beaten for the second goal following a misjudged delivery from Dane Murray. These moments highlighted that defensive problems extend beyond the goalkeeper, emphasizing the need for a cohesive backline.
Liam Scales Under Pressure
Scrutiny now shifts to central defenders, particularly Liam Scales. While he contributed with clearances and ground duels, he occasionally looked uncomfortable under pressure and struggled with ball distribution from the back. Scales has made significant progress from fringe player to regular starter, but the Ibrox encounter underscored areas for improvement, particularly when covering the left side in high-intensity matches.
Physical demands, positioning, and defensive awareness remain focal points for the young defender as Celtic seek consistency
The match demonstrated that defensive responsibility extends beyond the goalkeeper. While Schmeichel remained a strong presence, the team’s structural issues in front of him left the Hoops vulnerable early on. Celtic’s second-half rally was impressive, but the first-half weaknesses serve as a reminder that improvements are needed across the backline
Manager Martin O’Neill faces a key challenge in ensuring defensive stability as the season reaches its critical stages. Strengthening the backline and addressing tactical weaknesses will be essential if Celtic are to maintain their challenge for the title. Fans will be watching closely to see if these lessons translate into more consistent performances in upcoming fixtures.
While the point at Ibrox is valuable, the performance highlighted a central truth: Celtic’s ambitions depend on more than late comebacks, and defensive accountability must be addressed across the entire team.