Despite a strong start, Rangers were unable to maintain a two-goal lead last weekend against Celtic, who managed to secure an equalizer in injury time at Ibrox. The Hoops had also eliminated them from the League Cup semifinal, setting the stage for another challenging match as they face each other again in the Scottish Cup quarter-final.
Celtic has regained their momentum in the Premiership following a midweek win against Aberdeen, moving ahead of Rangers in the league standings, though they still trail the leaders, Hearts, by five points with nine games left to play. A domestic double remains a possibility for both teams, making Sunday’s fixture crucial.
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Predicted 4-3-3 Celtic Lineup to Face Rangers
Defence
Kasper Schmeichel, who has been struggling for form, has missed training due to an unspecified illness and is not expected to feature. His backup, Viljami Sinisalo, is set to continue in goal after playing the last three matches.
Julian Araujo has emerged as a standout player on the right, solidifying his position over Colby Donovan and Anthony Ralston during Alistair Johnston’s injury absence. Auston Trusty, although suspended from league play, is eligible for the Cup match and should step in for Benjamin Arthur, partnering with Liam Scales, who needs to show more discipline after conceding a penalty against Aberdeen. While Marcelo Saracchi has performed well on the left, Kieran Tierney remains the preferred choice for his skill and creativity.
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GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MARCH 1: Reo Hatate of Celtic takes a penalty during the William Hill Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium on March 1, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)
Midfield
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was substituted at half-time during his first Old Firm derby due to a lackluster performance and did not feature against Pittodrie. Managerial trust is likely to fall on Reo Hatate after his last-minute equaliser on Sunday. Benjamin Nygren, widely regarded as their best signing of the season, scored the winner against Aberdeen shortly after coming off the bench. He could take Luke McCowan’s spot, playing box-to-box alongside the Japanese international. Arne Engels remains out with a thigh injury, but Callum McGregor continues as a reliable deep-lying playmaker orchestrating the midfield.
Attack
Celtic has faced difficulties in attack despite signing several forwards in recent transfer windows. However, Sebastian Tounekti may be the only new addition to start, playing from the left. Despite a disappointing streak, Daizen Maeda is likely to start as the central striker over competition from Tomas Cvancara, Junior Adamu, and Kelechi Iheanacho. Hyun-Jun Yang is expected to feature on the right flank, with James Forrest potentially coming off the bench as a ‘super sub’.