Old Firm stakes, kick-off time and the mood on both sides
Few fixtures grip a country like the Celtic vs Rangers derby. The latest Old Firm clash lands at Celtic Park on Sunday, August 31, 2025, with a 12:00 PM BST kick-off, and it already feels like a tone-setter for the season. Celtic want to keep their grip on the domestic scene. Rangers, winless in their last three league matches, need a jolt and a result that changes the conversation.
Rangers’ 1-1 draw at St Mirren last time out was the third straight league stalemate. The goal conceded sparked familiar criticism: space in midfield, gaps between the lines, and a soft transition that allowed trouble to build. Analysts called it “a typical goal that Rangers lose,” the kind that drains confidence fast if it becomes a pattern.
Inside both camps, the talk has been blunt. Celtic defender Kieran Tierney, speaking to Celtic TV, put it simply: “It’s a game we’re looking forward to and we need to go out and win it.” Rangers captain Joe Rothwell called it “a defining week,” with the derby arriving just as a Champions League qualifier looms. Manager Russell Martin has hammered home the basics—compete, fight, and earn the right to play—after admitting his side must be harder to play against.
Form and narrative aside, the backdrop is classic Old Firm: noise, pressure, and a small margin for error. An early goal can tilt the place. A red card can tip the whole afternoon. Celtic Park will be on the front foot; the early kick-off often sharpens duels and tackles with little time for anyone to settle.
TV and streaming details, plus what to expect on the pitch
In the UK, the match is live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event. The build-up starts at 10:30 AM, with pundits and former players in the studio before the 12:00 PM BST kick-off. Sky subscribers can stream it on Sky Go, and non-subscribers can watch via NOW with a day or monthly membership. In Ireland, coverage is also on Sky Sports. In the United States, the game is expected to be available on Paramount+. Elsewhere, broadcast rights vary by country, so check local listings for your region.
Expect the opening 15 minutes to be frantic. Celtic at home usually lean into quick tempo and aggressive counter-pressing, with full-backs stepping high and midfielders hunting second balls. That forces a question for Rangers: can they play through the first wave, or do they go more direct and try to pin Celtic back with territory, throw-ins, and set-pieces?
Rangers’ midfield shape will be under the microscope after recent draws. The immediate fix is simple on paper and hard on grass: compress the space between midfield and defence, keep the distances tight, and avoid being stretched side-to-side by Celtic’s switches. If Russell Martin wants a calmer first half, he may value a sitter who screens and stays, rather than two eights who both roam. That’s where the criticism around Joe Rothwell’s positioning becomes part of the story—he has to show he can set the tempo and close the door behind the press.
For Celtic, control usually starts with the captain keeping the ball moving at a smart clip and the forwards attacking the gaps inside the full-backs. The wide overloads matter here. If Celtic can isolate a Rangers full-back or drag a centre-half into the channel, cutbacks will follow. Set-pieces are another swing point; derbies often turn on one decent delivery and one poor clearance.
Key questions to frame the afternoon:
- Can Rangers end the run of draws and bring edge to midfield without losing the ball-playing intent?
- Will Celtic’s press pin Rangers in, or will Rangers’ first pass out beat the trap and create transitions of their own?
- Who wins the set-piece battle—both delivery and the second contact?
- Does the early kick-off tame the chaos, or does it amplify it?
There’s also the management of moments. A derby rarely gives you ten chances; it gives you two or three. That makes decision-making in the box—and the patience to wait for the right shot—vital. Expect VAR to be in operation, so players have to keep their heads on penalty shouts, borderline offside runs, and potential red cards.
If you’re planning your day around the TV, here’s the simple plan: the pre-match show starts at 10:30 AM on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event, kick-off is at noon, and there will be post-match analysis after the final whistle. Sky Go covers mobile and tablet streaming for subscribers. NOW offers contract-free access in the UK and Ireland, and device compatibility covers most smart TVs, consoles, and streaming sticks. In the U.S., Paramount+ is expected to carry the match live; timing will reflect local time zones.
What does the result mean? A Celtic win adds to early momentum and keeps rivals on the back foot. A Rangers win flips the mood fast and eases the pressure heading into Europe. A draw keeps the noise going—especially if it looks like a missed chance for either side.
Quick guide:
- When: Sunday, August 31, 2025
- Kick-off: 12:00 PM BST
- Where: Celtic Park, Glasgow
- UK TV: Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event (build-up from 10:30 AM)
- UK/IE streaming: Sky Go (subscribers), NOW (membership required)
- U.S.: Expected on Paramount+ (check local listings)