Eight-goal thriller fails to make top spot in five greatest-ever Celtic wins against Rangers
COMMENT
Celtic go into their next match on Sunday hoping to once again defeat their bitter rivals Rangers, this time in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
The rivalry is still a deep and bitter one, and the games don't seem to have lost any of their bite even after the Gers' liquidation and subsequent promotion to the Scottish Premiership.
The match is still the one that supporters want to win the most, judging by the frenzied celebrations which mark any goals scored against the Ibrox side.
The only thing that seems to be missing from the rivalry at the moment is a title challenge from the Gers, but that's not for the Hoops to worry about, as the Bhoys have continued to win trophies, and are set to win their seventh consecutive league title.
With the teams set to do battle again in a matter of days, we thought we'd take a look at some of the Hoops' most notable Old Firm triumphs in recent years.
Here, Football Insider looks at the Hoops' best wins over Rangers from the last 25 years.
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5. CELTIC 2-0 RANGERS, 2009
A bit of an obscure game perhaps, but one memorable for fans as the Hoops won their first cup final against the Gers since 1982.
The league cup final had ended goalless after full-time, but the Hoops took the lead in the opening minute of extra time, Darren O'Dea heading home Shunsuke Nakamura's cross.
The Bhoys killed the game off in injury time, when Aiden McGeady fired home from the penalty spot after being brought down by Kirk Broadfoot to give the Hoops a memorable win and a trophy into the bargain.
They haven't defeated the Gers in a cup final since.
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4. RANGERS 0-3 CELTIC, 2001
The Hoops cliched their first win at Ibrox in seven years in memorable style, as Henrik Larsson's 50th goal of the season rounded off a superb win.
The game was goalless at half-time, but two great goals by Lubomir Moravcik broke the game wide open for the Bhoys, who had already clinched the league title.
The win was the perfect end to a Hoops season which saw the team transformed by Martin O'Neill from a bunch of no-hopers to a side which went on to clinch the treble.
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3. CELTIC 5-1 RANGERS, 2016
Celtic welcomed Rangers back to the Scottish Premiership in emphatic style, in the side' first league meeting in four years.
Summer signing Moussa Dembele was the star man, as his hat-trick was the first in an Old Firm league game since 1966, with Scott Sinclair and Stuart Armstrong also scoring as the Gers were swept aside.
The victory gave Brendan Rodgers' side huge confidence going forward, and the season ended with not only the first domestic treble in 16 years but also an unbeaten league season, a remarkable achievement.
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2. CELTIC 6-2 RANGERS, 2000
The Martin O'Neill era got off to the best possible start as the Hoops demolished their great rivals in an eight-goal thriller at Celtic Park.
The Hoops got off to a whirlwind start, and goals by Chris Sutton, Stan Petrov and Paul Lambert had them 3-0 ahead in the first 10 minutes of the game.
The second-half belonged to Henrik Larsson, who added a double including a sensational chip over Gers goalkeeper Stefan Klos.
Sutton added a sixth in injury as the Bhoys served notice that Rangers' days of domination were about to come to an end.
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1. CELTIC 2-1 RANGERS, 2008
When it comes to drama, this game has it all, as the Hoops had to win to keep their title hopes alive against a Gers team who reached the UEFA Cup Final.
A Shunsuke Nakamura thunderbolt gave the Hoops the lead, before Nacho Novo equalised for the Light Blues.
With time running out on the Hoops title dreams, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink popped up with an injury time winner which served as a catalyst for the Hoops to go on a winning run which clinched the league title.
And we haven't even mentioned Scott MacDonald missing a penalty and Gary Caldwell and Davie Weir getting sent-off for fighting after the final whistle yet.
In other Celtic news, Moussa Dembele is set to start for the Hoops in the Scottish Cup semi-final


