Mexican Defender Julián Araujo Makes Old Firm Debut With Celtic Against Rangers

Mexican right back Julián Araujo played his first official minutes with Celtic FC, making his debut in one of the toughest possible settings — the Old Firm derby against Rangers. The young defender was called up only hours after completing his move to the Scottish giants and was immediately thrown into the club’s most intense rivalry.

Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy showed confidence in the former Barcelona player by naming him in the matchday squad, although Araujo began the contest on the bench. The Hoops took the lead in the first half, igniting hopes among the home supporters at Celtic Park.

Everything changed after the break. Rangers responded decisively, scoring twice in under fifteen minutes and turning the match on its head. With Celtic’s defense struggling to cope with the pressure, the coaching staff made urgent changes and introduced Julián Araujo in the 68th minute, asking him to stabilize the right flank.

Unfortunately, just three minutes after his introduction, Rangers struck again with a third goal that effectively decided the derby. The Mexico international had little time to influence the flow of the game, but he still logged more than 20 minutes on the pitch, an impressive achievement given the speed of his integration into the squad.

Despite the loss, local Scottish media highlighted how quickly Araujo earned his first opportunity, emphasizing that Celtic’s packed schedule could fast-track his path toward a starting role. The club will look to quickly move past the derby defeat and refocus on the coming league fixtures, while Araujo continues adapting to the physicality and tempo of Scottish football.

The Mexican defender now sets his sights on his next appearance — hoping it will come with a much better result.