The final stretch of the Scottish Premiership is set to unfold over five matches, with three clubs still alive in the hunt for the league crown and a single piece of silverware to claim. The post‑split schedule begins this weekend, promising a climax that could rival any season in recent memory. Celtic have the chance to level the points tally at the summit on Saturday if they overcome Falkirk at home, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The following day Rangers travel to Motherwell, while the league leaders Hearts head to Hibernian for the season's last Edinburgh derby, also on Sky Sports. At this stage Hearts sit top with five games remaining, Rangers trail by a solitary point, and Celtic are two points further back. Although Derek McInnes’s Rangers have led the table for much of the campaign, the betting markets now list them as the favourites, and Opta’s sophisticated algorithm concurs.
The model predicts that Danny Röhl’s Rangers are most likely to finish first on 16 May, with McInnes’s side slipping to second and Celtic to third. Historical context adds extra intrigue.
The Hoops have not finished outside the top two since 1995, while Hearts last broke the Old Firm duopoly by finishing runners‑up in 2006 and were champions back in 1960. Both clubs will be eager to defy the odds and prove the super‑computer and bookmakers wrong.
Three‑way title battles have been rare in Scottish football. The most genuine occurred in 1983 when Dundee United won their final six fixtures to clinch their only top‑flight trophy, edging Celtic and Aberdeen by a single point. A comparable three‑way tussle unfolded in 1998, with Hearts, Celtic and Rangers all in contention.
A late‑season derby defeat saw Hearts collect just two points from five games, Rangers also faltered, and Celtic, despite losing to Rangers, secured the title by a two‑point margin, ending Rangers’ bid for a historic ten‑in‑a‑row. Earlier, in the 2006‑07 season, Hearts were again in the mix with Celtic and Dundee United. United’s penultimate loss knocked them out, and Hearts needed only a draw on the final day but were beaten, allowing Celtic to claim the championship on goal difference after a 5‑0 demolition of St Mirren. These three‑way races are few and far between, and both Hearts and Rangers supporters hope history will not repeat itself, while Celtic fans may still harbour a sliver of optimism.
Celtic’s path to the current title race has been anything but smooth. After Brendan Rodgers’s departure, the club cycled through three managers, including the brief tenure of Wilfried Nancy, who was dismissed after just 33 days. Martin O’Neill has now been tasked with rescuing a season that looked doomed.
Their recent form suggests home advantage could be decisive: Celtic have won four of their last five league games at Parkhead, whereas Rangers have managed only one win in their last five away fixtures, and Hearts have secured a single point from five road matches. Celtic enjoy the benefit of three home games during the run‑in, while both Rangers and Hearts each face three away trips in the same period. This scheduling quirk could prove pivotal, especially given the volatile nature of the campaign.
Head‑to‑head results further complicate matters. Hearts travelled to Celtic Park in December and emerged victorious, while Rangers also won their sole visit to the Glasgow east end earlier in the season. Both sides will meet again in May – Hearts at Tynecastle on the 4th and Rangers at Celtic Park on the 10th – each fixture broadcast live on Sky Sports.
While Hearts and Rangers used a free week to train under the Spanish sun, Celtic were at Hampden Park preparing for the Scottish Cup final. McInnes described the break as an opportunity for “calm” before the decisive Edinburgh derby, whereas Röhl framed it as a chance for “recovery and fine‑tuning,” allowing players to “refresh the mind.” Celtic’s 6‑2 victory over St Mirren, orchestrated by O’Neill, put them within striking distance of a league‑and‑cup double – a scenario that seemed improbable just months earlier. However, four of those six goals arrived in extra‑time, meaning the match was level after 90 minutes. Some supporters worry that reliance on late goals could expose a fragility in Celtic’s play.
Social media is abuzz with fan predictions about how the drama will resolve on the final day. It remains mathematically possible for all three clubs to stay in contention when the season concludes on 16 May. Celtic will host Hearts, while Rangers travel to Falkirk – the side they thrashed 6‑3 in the last pre‑split encounter.
Should Hearts be eliminated before the finale, the question arises whether their supporters will cheer for either rival. With the Old Firm having amassed 13 titles in the past 14 seasons, a Hearts triumph would be a seismic shift, while a Rangers victory would reinforce their recent dominance. Conversely, a Celtic title would mark the first league crown for the club in 40 years, ending a long drought. The season has been defined by unexpected twists, managerial upheavals, and tightly contested matches.
As the final five fixtures loom, the balance of power could tilt in any direction. Whether the supercomputer’s forecast holds true, the bookmakers’ odds shift, or a surprise underdog emerges, Scottish football fans are guaranteed a finale that could rewrite history. For those looking to add extra excitement, the Super 6 competition offers a chance to win £250,000 – entry is free, and the stakes are as high as the drama on the pitch.