Celtic vs Rangers: Trying again at Scotland’s closest top-flight title fights because the Outdated Agency battle for prime spot | Soccer Information

It’s all to play for in what’s the closest top-flight title race in Scotland for years.

The hole between Celtic and Rangers stood at seven factors when Philippe Clement took cost. With three video games to go – three factors is now the distinction.

Celtic paved the way and a win in Saturday’s Outdated Agency would all however seal the title, nevertheless, ought to Rangers win then we could possibly be set for a remaining day shootout. It’s the tightest top-flight title race since 2010-11, a season through which Rangers lifted the trophy, edging Celtic by a single level.

As we gear up for an exciting finish to the Scottish Premiership season, Sky Sports activities appears at among the closest and most dramatic title fights in Scottish soccer’s current historical past…

2010-11

Champions: Rangers

Runners-up: Celtic

In one of the dramatic title races in Scottish soccer historical past, Rangers would pip Celtic to the trophy on the ultimate day of the season after a marketing campaign crammed with controversy and leisure.

Each side of the Outdated Agency had received their opening eight league fixtures going into their first conflict of the season at Parkhead, with Rangers profitable 3-1 – their solely derby victory within the league that time period.

An unprecedented referees’ strike in November rocked Scottish soccer however Celtic had raced into an eight-point lead by late February after an emphatic 3-0 win over their rivals, even when Walter Smith’s aspect did have two video games in hand.

When Celtic left Ibrox with a 0-0 draw on April 24 – a degree behind however with a sport in hand – many believed the title was theirs. Nonetheless, a shock 3-2 defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in Could handed the initiative again to Smith’s aspect.

A win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on the ultimate day would hand Rangers their third title in a row and any pre-match nerves had been extinguished immediately because the guests raced right into a three-goal lead after seven minutes, ultimately profitable 5-1 in Smith’s remaining match in cost.

2008-09

Champions: Rangers

Runners-up: Celtic

Celtic went into this season trying to full four-in-a-row nevertheless it was Rangers who would end in prime spot after one other chaotic title race went all the way down to the ultimate day.

Regardless of Rangers profitable the primary Outdated Agency conflict of the season at Parkhead, due to a double from Kenny Miller, it was Celtic who proceeded to tug clear on the prime of the desk, profitable 12 video games in a row whereas Rangers stuttered.

An Outdated Agency victory at Ibrox meant Celtic had been seven factors clear going into the brand new 12 months however Gordon Strachan’s aspect would win simply seven of the subsequent 14 video games forward of the ultimate assembly between the 2 groups in Govan on Could 9.

Steven Davis scored the one aim of the sport to maneuver Rangers two factors clear on the prime of the desk and, whereas Celtic briefly clawed floor again after Rangers might solely observe that up with a draw at Hibernian, Strachan’s aspect additionally then performed out a stalemate at Easter Street on the penultimate weekend of the season.

That meant Rangers went into the ultimate spherical of the season two factors clear and a 3-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice sealed their first title in 4 years, whereas Celtic had been held at house to Hearts.

2007-08

Champions: Celtic

Runners-up: Rangers

One other action-packed season within the Scottish prime flight noticed Celtic make it three title wins in a row on the ultimate day of an all-consuming marketing campaign.

Walter Smith’s first full season again at Ibrox noticed his aspect within the working for a home and European quadruple however they might fall brief on the ultimate day within the league, eight days after dropping the UEFA Cup remaining to Zenit St Petersburg in Manchester.

The closing phases of the season had been clouded in controversy as Rangers battled a fixture backlog that noticed them play 9 video games in simply over three weeks in Could, with the season being prolonged by 4 days as a consequence of their involvement within the European showpiece on Could 14.

Gordon Strachan’s aspect got here out on prime in an Outdated Agency double in April, taking six factors at Parkhead to maneuver away from their rivals because the fixture pile-up started to take its toll on Rangers. Attracts both aspect of these defeats to Celtic, in addition to one other stalemate at Motherwell on Could 17 meant the 2 sides went into the ultimate day degree on factors, with Celtic on prime due to their superior aim distinction.

It didn’t come all the way down to objectives ultimately as Celtic beat Dundee United 1-0 at Tannadice, whereas Rangers lastly succumbed to the schedule, taking place 2-0 to Aberdeen at Pittodrie. They’d console themselves with a Scottish Cup remaining win over Queen of the South at Hampden two days later to safe a cup double.

2004-05

Champions: Rangers

Runners-up: Celtic

When a bunch of Celtic followers unfurled a banner at full-time declaring that the league had been sealed at Ibrox in April 2005 only a few might have disagreed. Martin O’Neill’s aspect had simply received 2-1 to maneuver 5 factors clear with 4 video games remaining – the title was certainly achieved. What adopted, nevertheless, was one of the exceptional episodes in Scottish soccer historical past.

Celtic adopted up that win with a shock 3-1 defeat at house to Hibernian and, with Rangers profitable in Aberdeen the identical weekend, the hole was again to 2.

It remained that manner till the 88th minute on the ultimate day.

Rangers had achieved all they might – profitable 1-0 at Hibernian. Over at Fir Park, Celtic squandered their 1-0 lead and the title with two minutes remaining, with boyhood Celtic fan Scott McDonald scoring a looping equaliser for Motherwell because the clock ticked down, earlier than including one other 60 seconds later at hand the title to Rangers in probably the most dramatic of circumstances.

With that equaliser, one of the iconic items of commentary in fashionable Scottish soccer historical past was born as journalist Peter Martin advised radio listeners “the helicopter is changing direction” because the circling top-flight trophy started its journey alongside the M8 to Easter Street. Ready was a jubilant however surprised group of Rangers gamers celebrating on a day now often called ‘Helicopter Sunday’.

2002-03

Champions: Rangers

Runners-up: Celtic

This race went all the way down to the ultimate kick of the season as Rangers clinched their fiftieth title amid extraordinary scenes at Ibrox.

Alex McLeish’s aspect had been eight factors away from Celtic on April 19 after their Outdated Agency rivals misplaced 2-1 to Hearts at Tynecastle, though they did have a sport in hand. Nonetheless, Celtic wouldn’t drop a degree after that whereas Rangers began to stutter.

A 2-1 derby defeat at Ibrox was adopted by a 2-2 draw at Dundee as Celtic worn out the deficit and each side went into the ultimate day degree on factors and with the identical aim distinction.

That remaining day swung forwards and backwards – Alan Thompson’s 54th-minute penalty at Kilmarnock gave Celtic a 3-0 lead which put them on prime of the desk for 10 minutes as Rangers had been beating Dunfermline 3-1 at Ibrox.

Stiliyan Petrov added a fourth for Celtic however Thompson missed a second spot-kick as Rangers, 5-1 up at that time, had been awarded a penalty of their very own in time added on. Present Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was the best man within the nation as his kick clinched the title.

Rangers would go on to win the treble, whereas Celtic, who had misplaced the UEFA Cup remaining to Jose Mourinho’s Porto simply 4 days earlier than that heartbreaking remaining day, would remarkably finish the season with nothing.

1997-98

Champions: Celtic

Runners-up: Rangers

Rangers’ bid to win the Scottish holy grail of 10-in-a-row was to fall flat on the ultimate day as Celtic lastly ended Walter Smith’s reign of success in his first spell at Ibrox.

It had been introduced in October of 1997 that Smith was to depart the membership on the finish of the season however he had goals of doing so with a tenth successive title in tow. The prospects of that regarded promising after an Outdated Agency win at Ibrox in April moved Rangers again to the highest of the league.

Nonetheless, Rangers’ hopes of changing into record-breakers imploded within the remaining 4 video games of the season with defeats at Aberdeen after which, crucially, at house to Kilmarnock on the penultimate weekend of the season seeing Celtic took benefit to win the title, regardless of drawing two of their final three video games of the season.

The Parkhead aspect had been revitalised since Fergus McCann’s takeover in 1994 and had been pushing Rangers nearer below Tommy Burns nevertheless it was Wim Jansen who would lastly lead Celtic again to the highest after a decade within the wilderness.

1990-91

Champions: Rangers

Runners-up: Aberdeen

Rangers had appeared heading in the right direction to retain their Scottish Premier Division title with a seven-point lead on the prime (two factors for a win) by the top of January 1991 earlier than their marketing campaign was almost derailed within the closing phases of the season.

Graeme Souness was to depart Ibrox for Anfield with simply 4 video games remaining after utterly revitalising the membership throughout his time in Glasgow. His assistant Walter Smith took over however Rangers had been stuttering even earlier than then.

Certainly, Aberdeen had been prime on objectives scored going into the ultimate day of the season after a exceptional run of type noticed them drop only one level in 12 video games. Rangers, against this, had stumbled badly – dropping three, together with a 3-0 defeat away to Motherwell on the penultimate weekend of the season – and drawing twice in the identical interval.

Because it occurred Aberdeen would go to Ibrox on the ultimate day understanding {that a} draw could be sufficient to seal the title in what turned a championship decider. As an alternative, two objectives from Mark Hateley clinched Rangers’ third successive title and set Smith off on a path of success that might culminate in nine-in-a-row.

1985-86

Champions: Celtic

Runners-up: Hearts

Hearts had been heading in the right direction to assert their first league title in 26 years going into the ultimate day of the season in 1986.

Alex MacDonald’s aspect had began the marketing campaign poorly, with simply two wins from their opening 9 league fixtures. Nonetheless, a defeat to Clydebank in late September could be their final till Could as a 27-game unbeaten run propelled them to inside a degree of glory.

They had been two factors away from Celtic (within the days of two factors for a win) and had a superior aim distinction of 4 forward of their go to to Dundee on Could 3, 1986. They wanted only a level to ensure of the title, whereas even a defeat could be sufficient so long as Celtic didn’t get the objectives they wanted to disclaim them.

As an alternative, two objectives from Albert Kidd within the remaining seven minutes broke their hearts. Celtic would go on to carry the title in dramatic vogue after a 5-0 win over St Mirren noticed them pip the Jambos on aim distinction.

Rangers completed in fifth earlier than Graeme Souness actually began his Ibrox revolution however this was an enthralling title race with Dundee United and Aberdeen concerned after the Dons had received the earlier two titles following United’s success in 1983.

1982-83

Champions: Dundee United

Runners-up: Celtic

Jim McLean led Dundee United to their first and solely Scottish top-flight title in 1983, ending only a level forward of Celtic and Aberdeen in a exceptional league marketing campaign that ended with the ‘Metropolis of Discovery’ being on the coronary heart of Scottish soccer on the ultimate day.

The Tannadice aspect put a formidable run collectively within the second half of the season that noticed them lose simply as soon as in 17 video games as they beat Celtic in April, with Billy McNeill’s aspect additionally faltering three days later in opposition to title rivals Aberdeen.

It meant United might assure title success with a win on the ultimate day at Dens Park – house of metropolis rivals Dundee. Each Aberdeen – who had overwhelmed Actual Madrid within the remaining of the European Cup Winners’ Cup three days earlier – and Celtic received their remaining fixtures, in opposition to Hibernian and Rangers respectively.

Early objectives from Ralph Milne and Eamonn Bannon helped to seal a 2-1 win, guaranteeing United topped the desk by a single level forward of Celtic and Aberdeen.

The league win took Dundee United into the European Cup the place they reached the semi-finals the next season solely to be eradicated in hugely-controversial circumstances in opposition to Roma.

1979-80

Champions: Aberdeen

Runners-up: Celtic

Alex Ferguson clinched the primary of his three top-flight titles as Aberdeen boss in Could 1980 after a exceptional season which noticed his aspect get better from a 12-point deficit to be topped champions forward of Celtic.

Billy McNeil’s aspect let the title slip from their grasp as they misplaced twice to the Dons in April, both aspect of a 3-0 defeat to Dundee United and a 5-1 loss to Dundee.

In contrast, Aberdeen misplaced simply as soon as in 20 as they battled re-arranged fixtures and cup remaining heartache to emerge victorious within the league with a 5-0 win over Hibernian at Easter Street all however confirming the title whereas Celtic had been held at St Mirren.

The win put Aberdeen degree on factors with Celtic however with a superior aim distinction. Certainly, Ferguson’s aspect nonetheless had a sport to play at Partick Thistle after the Parkhead aspect had accomplished their fixtures. Mathematically, Celtic nonetheless might have been declared champions had Thistle overwhelmed Aberdeen by 10 objectives however the Dons would ultimately end a degree clear within the standings after a 1-1 draw.

Most of the Aberdeen gamers would go on to ship extra silverware below Ferguson, together with a European Cup Winners’ Cup three years later.

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