The Scottish Premiership enters its decisive phase with five matches left for each of the three title contenders, and the drama is set to intensify. After the league splits, the final stretch promises a flurry of high‑stakes fixtures that could reshape the championship picture. Celtic have a chance to level on points with the leaders on Saturday if they secure a home win over Falkirk, a game that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The following day, Rangers travel to Motherwell, while the table‑topping Hearts head to Hibernian for the season's last Edinburgh derby, also on Sky Sports.
At present, Hearts sit atop the table with five games remaining, Rangers trail by a single point, and Celtic are two points adrift. Although Derek McInnes’ Rangers have led the pack for most of the campaign, the betting markets now list them as the favourites for the crown, and Opta’s analytical engine concurs.
According to the super‑computer, Danny Röhl’s Rangers are most likely to finish first on the final day of the season, with McInnes’ side in second place and Celtic in third. A quick look at recent history underscores how rare it is for the Old Firm to be displaced. Rangers have not finished outside the top two since 1995, while Hearts last broke the duopoly in 2006 by finishing second, and their only league triumph came back in 1960. Both clubs will be eager to overturn the predictions of the bookmakers and the Opta model in the coming weeks.
Three‑way title battles have occurred only sporadically in Scottish football. The most authentic example came in 1983 when Dundee United won their final six matches to clinch the league by a single point ahead of Celtic and Aberdeen.
A comparable three‑way scramble resurfaced in 1998, when Hearts, Celtic and Rangers were all in contention. A late‑season derby loss left Hearts with just two points from five games, Rangers stumbled as well, and Celtic, despite a defeat to Rangers, ultimately prevailed by two points, ending Rangers’ bid for a historic ten‑in‑a‑row. Earlier, in the 2006‑07 season, Hearts again found themselves in a three‑way race with Celtic and Dundee United.
United’s penultimate defeat knocked them out, and Hearts needed only a draw on the final day but lost, allowing Celtic to snatch the title on goal difference after a 5‑0 demolition of St Mirren. These rare three‑way contests have left both Hearts and Rangers supporters hoping history will not repeat itself, while Celtic fans may be daring to dream of another championship.
Celtic’s path to the current showdown has been turbulent. After Brendan Rodgers departed and Wilfried Nancy was dismissed after just 33 days, Martin O’Neill was appointed and has been tasked with rescuing a season that seemed doomed. The team has rallied, and their home form could be decisive. Celtic have won four of their last five league games at Parkhead, whereas Rangers have managed only one victory in their previous five away fixtures, and Hearts have collected a solitary point from their last five trips.
Celtic also enjoy the advantage of playing three of their remaining games at home, while both Rangers and Hearts must travel for three of their final five matches. This scheduling quirk could prove pivotal as the title race tightens. Head‑to‑head results add another layer of intrigue.
Hearts defeated Celtic at Celtic Park in December, and Rangers also won their sole visit to the East End earlier in the season. Hearts then turned the tables by beating Rangers at Tynecastle ahead of their May 4 clash, which will also be televised live on Sky Sports.
While Hearts and Rangers used a free week to train in the sunshine of southern Spain, Celtic were busy at Hampden Park, securing a place in the Scottish Cup final. Derek McInnes described the break as an opportunity for “calm” before the crucial Edinburgh derby that could decide whether the Jambos finally lift their first top‑flight trophy since 1960.
Danny Röhl echoed the sentiment, calling the pause “a little time for recovery and to fine‑tune some details,” allowing his squad to “refresh the mind.” Celtic’s recent 6‑2 triumph over St Mirren, orchestrated by O’Neill, put them on course for a potential league‑and‑cup double – a prospect that seemed remote just a few months ago. Yet four of those six goals came in extra‑time, prompting some supporters to wonder whether the match’s 90‑minute deadlock reveals lingering vulnerabilities. Social media is awash with fan speculation about how the title race could unfold on the final day, May 16. One scenario envisions all three clubs still alive: Celtic hosting Hearts, while Rangers travel to Falkirk – the same side they thrashed 6‑3 in the last pre‑split encounter.
If Hearts are eliminated before the finale, the question arises whether they will cheer for either opponent at Parkhead. With Rangers having claimed 13 of the last 14 championships, a Hearts victory would be a seismic shift, and the prospect of the green and white backing the maroon and white to capture their first league crown in four decades adds a romantic narrative to the climax.
In a season defined by unexpected twists, anything is possible. The final weeks will test the resilience, tactics, and mental strength of all three clubs as they chase the ultimate prize in Scottish football.