Celtic and Rangers do battle for the third time this season, as the two sides clash in the Scottish Premiership at Parkhead on Saturday afternoon.
Both behind Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership, both Old Firm giants have found themselves embroiled in crisis during the first half of the 2025/26 campaign, with Celtic and Rangers both switching managers in the same season for the first time in history.
It was Celtic who emerged victorious last time the two sides met in the Premier Sports Cup back in November, as they ran out 3-1 winners at Hampden Park. However, after going unbeaten in their last four league games against their bitter rivals, Rangers have the slight upper hand when it comes to head-to-heads.
As is so often the case, when the two sides debate each other, the debate over which players are the best from each side is on the agenda.
Would John Souttar get into Celtic’s starting XI? Is Kasper Schmeichel a better goalkeeper than Jack Butland? Which Old Firm side has the best midfield? And what would a combined Celtic and Rangers XI look like if the two squads were fused?
Using popular football statistics website FotMob, we’ve put together the combined Celtic and Rangers starting XI, based each players’ 2025/26 average rating*
Do you agree with the picks?
*FotMob player ratings are calculated using an advanced algorithm that analyses hundreds of in-match statistics from data providers like Opta, assigning weighted values to positive (goals, assists, tackles, interceptions, chances created) and negative actions (fouls, errors, lost duels, penalties conceded), along with some other advanced metrics.
5. LB: Kieran Tierney - Celtic
The versatile defender took a little while to get going upon his return to Parkhead in the summer, but now appears back to full fitness and has a strong average rating of 7.41 for the season. Has scored three league goals, and assisted a further three, while producing 54 recoveries for Celtic. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
6. CM: Callum McGregor - Celtic
Not for the first time, the Celtic skipper is the highest ranked midfielder between the Old Firm sides with an average rating of 7.46. Has created 17 chances for his team, and has a near perfect passing accuracy rate of 93.6%. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
7. CM: Nico Raskin - Rangers
The next highest rated midfielder is the Belgian maestro. After being dropped from the team under Russell Martin, the 24-year-old has found his way back into the team under Rohl, and tallies an average rating of 7.42 for the season so far. Has created 24 chances for Rangers this season, and won 107 of his duels. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
8. CM: Thelo Aasgaard - Rangers
Having struggled to make an impact until recently, the inclusion of Aasgaard in this XI is perhaps a surprise. He makes the team with an average rating of 7.14, though. The Norway international has scored three goals since his arrival, and has a 69.7% dribble success rate, while winning more than half of his duels. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group