Celtic ended 2025 with a major setback in the Scottish Premiership, slipping to a 2-0 defeat at Motherwell that stopped Wilfried Nancy’s side going above Hearts on goal difference and allowed Rangers to close the gap in the title race.
The loss at Fir Park keeps Celtic two points behind Hearts, who remain top, while Rangers’ 2-1 victory over St. Mirren at Ibrox moves Danny Rohl’s team to within three points of Celtic and six of the league leaders.
Motherwell struck first after 14 minutes when Stephen O’Donnell delivered a precise cross from the right and Ibrahim Said stooped to guide a low header beyond Kasper Schmeichel, punishing Celtic, who failed to register a single shot on target before the interval.
Rangers also relied on aerial strength
and set-piece planning, finally breaking St. Mirren’s resistance six minutes before half-time as a rehearsed short-corner routine ended with Jayden Meghoma crossing for Thelo Aasgaard, who headed past Shamal George from close range.
Celtic’s problems deepened on 58 minutes when Schmeichel miscontrolled possession inside the penalty area, allowing Elliot Watt to pounce on the loose ball and steer a simple finish into an empty net, effectively sealing three points for Jens Askou’s well-drilled Motherwell team.
Data underlined Motherwell’s control, with Askou’s side producing 1.45 expected goals compared with Celtic’s 0.62, and restricting Nancy’s team to limited clear chances, as Motherwell recorded a 10th clean sheet of the league campaign, more than any other Scottish Premiership club so far.
That defensive record has supported Motherwell’s rise to fourth place, and this win also ends a long sequence without success against Celtic; Motherwell had gone 35 matches in all competitions without beating the Glasgow side, a run stretching back to a 2-1 league victory in December 2015.
Full-time#MOTCEL | #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/fSJbOTeOoMCeltic Football Club (@CelticFC) December 30, 2025
Scottish Premiership: Rangers capitalise on Celtic slip
Rangers strengthened their position after the break when another corner caused problems for St. Mirren on 52 minutes; the visitors failed to clear a second-phase delivery, Youssef Chermiti fired the ball back across goal, and Emmanuel Fernandez volleyed through George’s legs.
St. Mirren still threatened a late response, as Jack Butland saved well from Miguel Freckleton, only for the rebound to drop kindly for Mikael Mandron to score, but Rohl’s side managed the closing stages and protected the advantage to secure three valuable points in the Scottish Premiership chase.
The combined results leave Hearts leading Celtic and Rangers into the new year, with Motherwell strongly placed in fourth, and the Scottish Premiership table tightening behind the leaders after a night when Celtic’s title defence faltered and Rangers, Motherwell and Hearts all gained important leverage in the race.
