Rangers, founded in 2012 and based at Ibrox Stadium, remain Celtic’s most familiar domestic rival, with the modern club carrying enough resources and expectation to make underperformance conspicuous. Their squad is valued at around £114.5m by Transfermarkt, with 34 players and an average age of 24.
Their recent honours give the current set-up its main frame of reference: the 2020/21 Premiership title and the 2021/22 Scottish Cup. Overall, Rangers have won four Premiership titles, three Scottish Cups and two League Cups since formation, a record substantial enough domestically but not one that permits much patience when results drift.
The 2026/27 season has opened awkwardly. After three Premiership rounds they sit seventh with four points, while their cup and European programme has already taken in a League Cup quarter-final, the Europa League qualifying third round and a Conference League qualifying play-off round.
The early numbers are uneven: at Ibrox they are averaging one goal scored and two conceded per match, while away from home the figures are one scored and 0.5 conceded. Ryan Naderi and Lawrence Shankland lead their scoring with two goals each, with Thelo Aasgaard, Vanja Dragojević and Djeidi Gassama also on the scoresheet.
For Celtic supporters, Rangers remain a direct measure in the Premiership race, even from a mid-table starting position. The squad has money, size and some recent pedigree; the present league standing is the part that needs explaining.
📈 Key stats and insights
⚔️ How they compare to Celtic
Against Celtic, Rangers are disadvantaged in attack and in home defence: Celtic's attacking output and shut‑out record at home put them ahead, while Rangers' best comparative edge is their away defensive solidity and corner generation — useful weapons, but not enough to offset Celtic's superior firepower and home stability.
