Fashion Sakala strikes a late equaliser for The Gers in Old Firm derby to keep title chances alive

On the opening day of the league season no one offered Celtic much hope of winning the league when they lost to Hearts at Tynecastle. 

Beat the same opponents in Glasgow next weekend and the Parkhead side will be crowned champions of Scotland with two games to spare.

The final mile of a marathon is always the hardest. With a six point and 19 goal advantage, victory over Rangers would pretty much have finished it.

Celtic and Rangers drew 1-1 in the Old Firm derby to keep the Premiership title race alive

Jota (pictured) opened the scoring from close range for Celtic in the 21st minute of the match

Fashion Sakala (pictured) levelled the score for the Rangers in the 67th minute of the derby

With such an important second leg against the German side looming, and the league title almost a forlorn hope, there had been speculation around Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team selection – but the Dutchman chose a strong side.

Midfielder Steven Davis and Scott Arfield and Sakala replaced Ryan Jack, Glen Kamara and Scott Wright, with Joe Aribo the most central striker.

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou kept the same side which started the 2-0 win at Ross County last week, with Japan international Kyogo Furuhashi again preferred to Greek striker Giorgos Giakoumakis.

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou kept the same side which started the 2-0 win at Ross County 

Joe Aribo of Rangers contends with Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers for the ball

There were only around 700 Rangers fans allowed inside the 60,000-capacity stadium, drowned out by an expectant home support who watched the Ibrox side make the better start.

In the 12th minute Ryan Kent volleyed a cross from captain James Tavernier past the post from 12 yards when he should have at least tested Hoops keeper Joe Hart, who then had to deal with a decent long-range drive from the attacker.

The home crowd vented frustration at their side but that soon turned to cheers when Jota, on loan from Benfica, got away from Gers defender Borna Barisic and knocked in a cross from Daizen Maeda.

In the 31st minute, after Arfield had conceded possession, Jota headed a cross from midfielder Reo Hatate over the bar.

The Govan men worked their way back into the game but Celtic should have added to their lead. 

Greg Taylor (right) and Daizen Maeda (left) celebrate Celtic team-mate Jota’s opening goal

Anthony Ralston of Celtic (pictured, left) is challenged by Rangers Borna Barisic (right)

Unmarked Furuhashi, from an offside move, hooked a shot over the bar from a cross from Maeda, who then headed past the post with only McGregor to beat.

Rangers started the second half with promise and defender Connor Goldson blasted over the bar following a James Tavernier corner, before Maeda hastily flashed a shot over, another good chance wasted at the other end.

Postecoglou made a triple substitution on the hour mark with Giakoumakis, Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton replacing Furuhashi, Hatate and Matthew O’Riley.

For Rangers, Davis was replaced by Ryan Jack, with Wright on for Aribo, and four minutes later the visitors were level when Sakala combined with Kent before rifling a low drive past Hart at his near post.

Rangers midfielder Steve Davis battles for the ball with Celtic’s Reo Hatate in the derby

The Celtic keeper perhaps should have done better but he then tipped a powerful drive from the Zambia international over the bar, with Sakala then heading the subsequent corner over.

The game went from end to end at a ferocious pace.

In the 74the minute a Celtic penalty claim when Rogic’s cross struck John Lundstram was ignored by referee John Beaton, before Liel Abada replaced Maeda.

It was a frantic finish with Rangers going all out for the win they needed to keep their slim title hopes alive.

Hart then made a terrific save from Arfield before gathering Jack’s shot from the rebound and then Sakala struck the post after being put through by Arfield.

The Gers midfielder was replaced by Amad Diallo, who was immediately booked for bringing down Abada as he broke on a counter – the Israeli winger then putting the ball in the net with the flag up for offside well beforehand.

The final whistle ended a pulsating encounter, with Celtic all but champions.