Rousing Celtic produced a display packed with title-winning grit as they came from behind to defeat Rangers at Ibrox — and edged closer to Scottish Premiership glory.
Aaron Ramsey had the champions flying after he swept home the opener but Tom Rogic and Cameron Cater-Vickers netted to reverse their side's fortunes.
Ange Postecoglou 's side have been lauded for their thrilling football this season but it was their defensive rearguard that kept Rangers at bay in the second half.
And that win sees Celtic open up a six-point advantage over their great rivals — plus a huge 15 positive goal difference — with only six games remaining.
This fixture is famed for starting at breakneck speed and the latest instalment didn't disappoint with the home side setting out their intentions early.
And it only took Rangers three minutes to net the opener as Ramsey produced a measured finish amid 50,000 fans kicking the ball into the net with him.
Josip Juranovic was caught out as Ryan Kent ghosted in behind him and the Nigeria international teed up the former Juventus man to perfection.
Recriminations followed as the Celtic right-back felt he was left isolated his team-mates.
Rangers had their tails up and a couple of teasing crosses from both Calvin Bassey and Tavernier followed as the league leaders toiled.
Their woe was short-lived, however, as Ibrox was silenced following Rogic's equaliser against the run of play which had Ibrox appealing for offside in unison.
Celtic skipper McGregor sparked the fightback with a slaloming run into the box, Rogic's initial shot was blocked but he stayed goal side of Tavernier when Hatate's follow-up was palmed into his path by Allan McGregor. The Aussie made no mistake.
Nerve-shredding moments followed with the occasion clearly playing a part as Rangers started to sit off to the halfway line when Postecoglou's side were in possession.
Half chances were abound before Rogic scooped the ball over the bar from 10 yards out following Greg Taylor springing an offisde trap the ball rolling into his path.
Rangers, at their best on the break, claimed for a penalty when Joe Airbo clashed with Carl Starfelt just as Tavernier released his ball into the box.
But Willie Collum was unmoved and waved play on.
Celtic were growing in confidence and passed up a big chance when McGregor closed the angle Maeda as he raced into the box but the ball ricocheted into Rogic's who watched Bassey block his goal bound effort.
A manic end to the first half ensued as Maeda appealed for a penalty as he knocked it past McGregor and there was contact from the Rangers keeper.
John Lundstram was booked for a full throttle tackle on Giorgos Giakoumakis but the real drama would come from the resulting free kick.
A looping ball into the box went unclaimed and the resulting hesitance benefited Carter-Vickers who fashioned a half yard and tucked the ball under McGregor.
The interval was both an unneeded break in the white-knuckle action and a necessity for those invested to take a momentary pause for breath.
But the restart didn't go to plan as Hart's goal was left covered in glass from a broken bottle and that ridiculous incident delayed the restart by almost five minutes.
That moment, and the score at the break, combined to produce a sedate atmosphere as the second half started.
Celtic were happy to sit deeper but there was no doubt the energy levels appeared lower, but Rangers were unable to pin them in during the first 15 minutes of the second period.
The moment that got the home fans rocking again was for a tackle rather than a shot on goal as Giakoumakis was booked for wiping out Ryan Jack.
That sparked a siege on the Celtic backline that forced the visitors into multiple last-gasp clearances. The best of which was Carter-Vickers repelling Bassey's incredible ball across the six-yard box.
Fashion Sakala was then denied by a big hand from Hart before fellow sub Liel Abada fluffed his lines at the other end.
But if the Israeli was frustrated by that then he was gobsmacked minutes later when McGregor rolled back the years to produce a save for the ages to keep his team in it.
Roofe then headed wide just before added time but that was the best of their chances as the tock clicked away.
Here's 5 talking points from Ibrox.
Cal Mac plots his route
We're pretty sure the mask the Celtic skipper wears doesn't have any superpowers, however, it often felt the man who makes his side tick was ahead of the opposition at every turn. Take his role in the leveller, for instance. His bobbing and weaving with the ball at his feet eliminated three Rangers players and proved the spark that got Celtic back on terms.
But that was just a taster. McGregor was consistently in the right spot to spin away from danger and leave his Ranger counterparts chasing shadows. He often played wing man to Scott Brown on days like these but he's now the headline for the men from Glasgow's east end.
Aar you not entertained?
The marquee arrival from Juventus has had to bide his time for a signature moment in Light Blue but the injury niggles and cameo roles will have been worth it to fire his team into the lead.
The goal was big a moment but his impact was keenly felt beyond his composed finish. His ability to both mix it in the middle, while also acting as chief support to Kemar Roofe was absent in the 3-0 trouncing at Celtic Park. He faded as the game continued but there was plenty to like.
What's in a name?
Whether it's the Old Firm or the Glasgow Derby, there's no doubt this fixture brings an atmosphere unique to world football. The pre-match noise was crackling but that sounded like a polite applause compared to the crescendo that engulfed Ibrox once the action got under way.
The 700 away fans is not enough in the eyes of many, however, the return of the duelling support certainly added an extra element that was absent in the two previous fixtures this season.
Rog Day Afternoon
The Wizard of Oz isn't a pressing machine like team-mate Maeda but Rogic boasts an unnerving knack for producing on Glasgow's day of days. His equaliser was crucial as the league leaders were under the cosh following an electric start from Rangers.
His finish was cooler than the other side of the pillow but his impact stretched beyond finding the net. But there was flicks, tricks and the odd firm tackle underlined his deserved inclusion. He earned applause as he exited in the 61st minute.
A shocking moment
This fixture is incredible in so many ways but the scenes of visibly frustrated Hart highlighting to Collum and the ground staff that a broken glass bottle needed cleaned up was not a good look.
Pantomime protests and banter is one thing, a potentially life-altering incident on a pitch is another.
The football was thrilling, the atmosphere incredible, so seeing shattered glass across the six-yard box was a sobering reality that moments of madness are never far away. The guilty party deserves the strictest of punishments.
