Celtic all but sealed their latest Scottish Premiership title after withstanding a late Rangers fightback in a thrilling five-goal Old Firm derby epic on Saturday.
Kyogo Furuhashi netted another Old Firm brace to ensure that Ange Postecoglou’s side earned Glasgow bragging rights once again with a 16th consecutive victory across all competitions and opened up a surely unassailable 12-point lead at the summit with just seven games left to play this season.
Jota was also on target for Celtic after a defensive nightmare in the second period from spirited Rangers, for whom captain James Tavernier netted twice - including a sensational free-kick on the stroke of half-time - to bring up a century of goals for the club from right-back, but it wasn’t enough to claim a share of the spoils.
Instead it was a third win in four derbies this season for dominant Celtic, who remain firmly on track for a potential domestic treble this term after another Kyogo double secured a 2-1 win over Rangers in the Viaplay League Cup final at Hampden Park last month.
Celtic and Rangers return to Hampden on April 30 to contest their high-profile Scottish Cup semi-final tie, with Gers boss Michael Beale desperate for his first taste of Old Firm glory to pump the brakes on that treble tilt.
Rangers, winners of 10 straight themselves, handed a first start since the opening day of the season to John Souttar in defence with Connor Goldson absent through injury, with Nicolas Raskin back in midfield as John Lundstram dropped out following the defeat of bottom club Dundee United last time out.
Celtic’s only change from their win over Ross County, meanwhile, saw the fit-again Aaron Mooy replace Tomoki Iwata in midfield, while Greg Taylor shook off a knock to continue at left-back.
Rangers will feel particularly aggrieved that they were denied the lead inside 20 minutes after Alfredo Morelos turned home from a corner but the effort was quickly and somewhat harshly ruled out for an alleged push on Alistair Johnston.
Kyogo had already seen an early goal of his own rightly chalked off for offside after a lively start to derby day in the spring sunshine at Celtic Park, where there were 60,000 home supporters and no away fans at all in attendance amid an ongoing ticket dispute.
But there was no doubt about the Japan striker’s next effort despite a sloppy start in possession from Celtic as he took a touch and rifled past Allan McGregor from inside the box after Taylor’s cross had been put through the legs of Tavernier and smartly cut back by Matt O’Riley.
Jota and Callum McGregor were also asking questions of the veteran Rangers ‘keeper, with Malik Tillman also flashing wide for Rangers.
The derby heat was turned up a notch as a typically fast and furious first half wore on, with a slew of yellow cards for both teams. Rangers went in level after O’Riley fouled Tillman and Tavernier unleashed a terrific long-range free-kick that flew past a helpless Joe Hart and in off the underside of the crossbar.
That equaliser lifted spirits for an early second-half charge from the visitors, with two quick-fire chances for Morelos and a lashed volley wide from Todd Cantwell. Allan McGregor slapped the ball away from the feet of Jota before Borna Barisic did brilliantly to deny Kyogo on the line with the offside flag up.
Jota hit the side netting before Celtic did retake the lead, Kyogo boosting his tally for a superb season to 28 goals after some woeful defending from former Liverpool centre-back Ben Davies.
Kyogo was denied a hat-trick before Celtic looked to have safely wrapped up all three points, Souttar leaving the 41-year-old Allan McGregor with far too much to do with an errant back-pass as the more sprightly Jota nipped in first and went around the goalkeeper to finish with ease.
But Rangers to their credit still would not lie down, with Tavernier setting up a grandstand finish just minutes later after ghosting in at the back post to head beyond Hart and bring up his century. He then went agonisingly close to a third as another header whistled just past the post.
Morelos was too hesistant to shoot to waste another key Rangers chance, while Celtic substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu was sent through but could not find a finish. Antonio Colak had an effort blocked with the flag up again before one final Rangers opening saw Barisic blast over a last-gasp free-kick.
