Scottish Cup holders Celtic maintained Brendan Rodgers’ remarkable unbeaten run in the competition with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Premiership rivals Kilmarnock.
The Hoops made a strong start, taking the lead in the 12th minute through Callum McGregor. Despite dominating the first half, they were unable to extend their advantage.
Kilmarnock emerged for the second half with renewed energy and intensity, leveling the score just a minute after the restart.
For a brief spell, Derek McInnes’ side pressed for a second goal, but their attacking intent left them vulnerable at the back.
Celtic capitalized on the extra space in the 70th minute, as Daizen Maeda coolly finished a Nicolas Kuhn cross to restore the lead. The home side held on to secure their place in the fifth round after a closely contested match.
While Celtic faced a challenging battle, Rangers had a far easier outing, cruising to a 5-0 victory over Highland League side Fraserburgh at Ibrox.
Cyriel Dessers, amid intense transfer speculation, grabbed the headlines with a hat-trick, while Clinton Nsiala and Ross McCausland added to the scoreline.
Both Glasgow giants now shift their focus to European competition. Celtic are set to host BSC Young Boys, while Rangers travel to Old Trafford for an all-British clash against a struggling Manchester United side.
In transfer news, Celtic have suffered a setback in their pursuit of a high-profile target:
Celtic’s £8.5m Raul Moro bid on hold
Celtic’s plans to secure Real Valladolid winger Raul Moro in an £8.5m deal have been delayed following the player’s unfortunate injury.
Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph revealed that the Spain Under-21 international, who has contributed three goals and an assist in 23 La Liga appearances, sustained a fractured collarbone during Valladolid’s 2-1 loss to Espanyol. The injury is expected to sideline him for up to three months.
The Lazio academy graduate played a key role in Valladolid’s promotion last season and has been widely praised for his performances since their return to La Liga.
Despite this setback, Celtic remain keen on Moro and could revisit their interest in the summer, particularly as speculation continues to grow over the future of out-of-favour winger Luis Palma.
