The Scottish Premiership’s post‑split round is set to begin this weekend, and with only five matches remaining the drama is reaching a fever pitch. Three clubs – Rangers, Hearts and Celtic – are still mathematically alive, each eyeing the coveted league trophy as the season draws to a close.
On Saturday, Celtic travel to Falkirk for a home fixture that will be televised live on Sky Sports. A win would see them draw level on points with the leaders, keeping their title hopes very much alive.
The following day, Rangers face Motherwell, while the league leaders Hearts travel to Hibernian for the final Edinburgh derby of the campaign, also shown on Sky Sports. At the moment Hearts sit top of the table with five games left, Rangers sit just a single point behind, and Celtic trail by another two points. Despite Derek McInnes’ Rangers having led the pack for much of the season, the betting markets now list Rangers as the favourites, and Opta’s sophisticated prediction engine concurs.
According to the model, Danny Röhl’s Rangers are most likely to finish first on 16 May, with McInnes’ side in second place and Celtic in third. The history of the Scottish top flight adds extra weight to the current situation. Rangers have not finished outside the top two since 1995, while the last time Hearts broke the Old Firm duopoly to finish second was in 2006, and the last time they topped the table was back in 1960. All three clubs will be hoping to defy the odds and prove the computer and the bookmakers wrong.
Three‑way title battles have been rare in Scotland, but they are not unheard of. The most genuine recent example came in 1983, when Dundee United won their final six games to clinch the league by a single point ahead of Celtic and Aberdeen. A similar scenario unfolded in 1998 when Hearts, Celtic and Rangers were all in contention deep into the season. A late‑season derby defeat for Hearts and a stumble for Rangers allowed Celtic – despite losing to Rangers in their head‑to‑head meeting – to finish two points clear and deny Rangers a historic ten‑in‑a‑row.
Going back further, a twelve‑year‑earlier title race saw Hearts, Celtic and Dundee United battling for supremacy with two games left. United’s penultimate loss knocked them out, and Hearts needed only a draw on the final day but were beaten, handing the crown to Celtic on goal difference after a 5‑0 demolition of St Mirren. Fans of Hearts and Rangers will be hoping history does not repeat itself, while Celtic supporters may be daring to dream of a third‑place finish turning into a championship triumph. Celtic’s path to the current showdown has been anything but smooth.
After Brendan Rodgers’ departure, the club cycled through three managers in quick succession, including the brief tenure of Wilfried Nancy, who was sacked after just 33 days. Martin O’Neill was then appointed to steady the ship and has managed to revive a campaign that looked destined for mediocrity. The question now is whether Celtic’s strong home form can give them the edge. At Parkhead they have won four of their last five league games, whereas Rangers have managed only one win in their last five away fixtures, and Hearts have collected a single point from their five most recent road matches.
Celtic also benefit from having three home games in the final stretch, while both Rangers and Hearts each have three away games in their last five. This scheduling advantage could prove decisive, but the season has been full of twists, and head‑to‑head results remain crucial.
In December, Hearts travelled to Celtic Park and secured a win, while Rangers also won their only visit to the East End of Glasgow earlier in the season. Both clubs will meet again in the run‑in – Hearts will host Rangers at Tynecastle on 4 May, and Rangers will travel to Falkirk on 10 May – with both matches broadcast live on Sky Sports. During a free week, Hearts and Rangers took the opportunity to train in the sunshine of southern Spain, while Celtic were busy at Hampden Park preparing for the Scottish Cup final. Derek McInnes described his side’s break as a chance to enjoy a brief period of "calm" before the crucial Edinburgh derby, while Danny Röhl called his pause "a little time for recovery and to work on small details, refreshing the mind".
Celtic’s recent 6‑2 victory over St Mirren, orchestrated by Martin O’Neill, put them within striking distance of a possible league‑and‑cup double – a scenario that seemed far‑fetched just a few months ago. However, four of those six goals came after the 90‑minute mark, raising questions about whether the team can dominate within regular time or relies on extra‑time fireworks. Social media is buzzing with fan predictions about how the title race could unfold on the final day. It is still mathematically possible for all three clubs to be in contention when the last round kicks off on 16 May.
Celtic will host Hearts, while Rangers travel to Falkirk – the same side they thrashed 6‑3 in the final pre‑split match. If the Hoops are eliminated before the finale, will they cheer for one of their rivals at Parkhead? After 13 titles in the past 14 seasons, Rangers fans will be bitter if they miss out, and the prospect of seeing the green and white of Celtic backing the maroon and white of Hearts to claim a first league crown in 40 years would be a bitter pill to swallow for the Old Firm faithful.
In a season defined by unexpected turns, anything can happen. The final weeks will test the resolve, depth and mental strength of all three clubs, and the outcome will likely be written in the margins of history for years to come. Whether the supercomputer’s forecast holds true or the bookmakers are shocked, Scottish football fans are in for a thrilling climax.