All is as it was. Or is it?
Both could have won it. Both could have lost it. Both were left catching their breath at the end of a frantic afternoon at Ibrox with questions now over who will hold their nerve for the title run in. Philippe Clement suggested his side were the “moral” victors of this one after they came from behind twice – once from 2-0 down – and then from 3-2 to burst the net in added time and take a point.
Celtic will feel like they allowed Rangers to wiggle off the hook after a dominant and composed opening period. Rangers will feel the manner in which they twice lifted themselves off the canvas will bode well for the pressurised finale to this campaign. Certainly, the Ibrox side showed a character and steel not to collapse after a dreadful opening period.
Rabbi Matondo’s 93rd minute leveller prevented Celtic extending their lead at the top and by the final stages of what was an afternoon of great theatre, the Ibrox side were pushing for a winner.
Celtic should have claimed that after Adam Idah had re-established their lead six minute prior to that. It had come just 71 seconds after Abdallah Sima had drawn a Rangers team who were two goals down at the break back onto level terms.
There remains just one point with Celtic at the top albeit Rangers have a game in hand to play. A win for them at Dens Park would out them back in front going into the final game before the split this weekend.
If Celtic were on the back-foot with news that Callum McGregor wasn’t fit enough to start, it did not take long for anxiety to dissipate.
21 seconds, to be precise. A simple long punt up the park from Joe Hart caught out James Tavernier who hesitated, with catastrophic consequences. With Maeda immediately on his heels, the full-back played the ball off the Japanese internationalist with the ball subsequently zipping low into the bottom corner with Jack Butland woefully exposed.
If it had the effect of immediately silencing what had been an expectant, eager Ibrox crowd, it also unsettled the Rangers captain. Time and time again Tavernier was exposed in the opening period with Maeda breaking in behind him while Kyogo ought to have put the game beyond Rangers before the break after Tavernier had gifted possession in the middle of the park.
The quick goal immediately muted the Ibrox crowd, although a few feisty tackles forced the noise levels back up a notch. Three sliding challenges in succession, one of which from Liam Scales where he won the ball but raised the heckles of the Ibrox support.
For all that Rangers looked to force the issue, it was Celtic who carried menace every time they went forward; an inviting Maeda ball dragged across the face of goal was just missed by Kyogo at the back post.
Connor Goldson had a glorious chance to restore parity when he rose above Cameron Carter-Vickers to head a Mohamed Diomande corner just over the bar but other than set-pieces, there was little from open play from Rangers to trouble Celtic.
By contrast, Celtic looked capable of punishing the Ibrox side every time they went forward.
Rodgers’ side ought to have taken a more commanding lead into the break. Maeda was denied by Butland when he ought to have steered the ball into the bottom corner while the Rangers goalkeeper, watched by England manager Gareth Southgate, pulled off the save of the game when he tipped an O’Riley effort over the bar.
As Celtic kept at it, Reo Hatate let fly with an effort that was just wide before Celtic doubled their advantage.
Goldson was guilty of using an elbow to push a Kuhn cross clear with referee John Beaton briefly consulting the VAR monitor before pointing to the spot. O’Riley took it, a calm and composed penalty as he dinked it straight down the middle.
For all that Rangers had been fairly toothless in the final third, Silva – having recovered from an Alistair Johnston shove a few minutes earlier that had him in contention for Hollywood recognition – was denied by Hart who spread himself widely to block the effort before Celtic cleared the subsequent second effort.
Rangers inevitably made the changes after the break with Sima introduced for the ineffective Scott Wright. It stemmed Celtic’s dominance.
Hatate forced another decent save from Butland when he unleashed a low, fierce effort from the edge of the box before VAR took another starring role to give Rangers a lifeline from the spot. Johnston clashed with Silva who threw himself to the ground. It was a soft call with Johnston and Celtic irked.
Tavernier kept his cool to rifle his penalty well into the top corner with Hart left with no chance.
It was Celtic’s turn to be rocked. Ibrox erupted when Cyriel Dessers thought he had levelled the scores only for Beaton to take a look at the monitor and judge that there had been a Tom Lawrence foul on Tomoki Iawata in the build-up.
McGregor was introduced alongside Yang shortly after the hour mark as Celtic looked to steady themselves.
Celtic continued to invite pressure with the composure and dominance of the opening period a memory as Rangers hustled and harried.
Still, though, Celtic could have given themselves breathing space. Adam Idah, barely on the park, saw his name in lights after scampering clear and breaking in from the left. With Yang in acres of space at the back post he opted to go himself and the chance was lost.
The leveller came. McGregor was short with a pass and Sima got a bit of fortune as his deflected effort nestled past Hart.
Celtic’s response was swift as Idah put them back in front.
As Ibrox demanded, Rangers went again. Yang was caught sleeping before Matonda curled a sumptuous effort into the top corner.
Get Instant Access To The Latest Football News To Your Phone
