The final stretch of the Scottish Premiership promises a whirlwind of excitement, with five games remaining and three clubs still alive in the hunt for the league crown. The post‑split schedule kicks off this weekend, and the stakes could not be higher for Celtic, Rangers and Hearts.
Celtic have a chance to level on points with the league leaders on Saturday if they can secure a win over Falkirk at home, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. A victory would see them draw level with the top‑placed side and keep their title hopes very much alive. On Sunday, Rangers travel to Motherwell, while the current leaders, Hearts, head to Hibernian for the season's final Edinburgh derby. That clash will also be shown live on Sky Sports, adding another high‑profile fixture to an already packed calendar.
At present, Hearts sit atop the table with five games left to play. Rangers trail by a single point, and Celtic are a further two points behind the Jambos.
Although Derek McInnes’s Rangers have been the most consistent side for much of the campaign, the betting markets now list Rangers as the favourites to win the championship, and Opta’s sophisticated predictive model concurs. According to the computer’s simulation, Danny Röhl’s Rangers are most likely to finish first on the final day of the season (May 16), with McInnes’s side projected to finish second and Celtic 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 way back in 1960.
Both clubs will be eager to defy the odds and prove the super‑computer and the bookmakers wrong. Three‑way title battles are rare in Scottish football, but they have happened.
The most notable recent example was in 1998, when Hearts, Celtic and Rangers were all in contention until the final matchday. A late‑season loss for Hearts and a stumble by Rangers allowed Celtic to clinch the title by a two‑point margin, ending Rangers’ attempt at a historic ten‑in‑a‑row. The last genuine three‑way showdown before that occurred in 1983, when Dundee United won their final six games to capture their only top‑flight trophy, edging out both Celtic and Aberdeen by a single point.
Going further back, the 2005‑06 season saw Hearts in the mix with Celtic and Dundee United. United’s penultimate defeat knocked them out, and Hearts needed only a draw on the final day to win the league. Instead, they lost, and Celtic secured the championship 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 triumphant finish. Celtic’s path to this point has been anything but smooth.
The club have cycled through three managers since the departure of Brendan Rodgers. Wilfried Nancy was sacked after just 33 days, leaving Martin O’Neill to take over a campaign that looked destined for disaster. O’Neill has managed to steady the ship, and Celtic now sit in contention for both the league and the Scottish Cup.
Home advantage could prove decisive. Celtic have won four of their last five league games at Parkhead, and they will host both Rangers and Hearts in the run‑in. By contrast, Rangers have managed only one win in their last five away fixtures, and Hearts have collected just a single point from their previous five trips away from Tynecastle.
Celtic are the only club among the three with three home games left in the final stretch, while Rangers and Hearts each have three away fixtures. This imbalance could influence the title race, especially given the tight margins.
Recent head‑to‑head results add another layer of complexity. Hearts travelled to Celtic Park in December and won, while Rangers also secured a victory in their only visit to the east end of Glasgow earlier this season.
Hearts then beat Rangers at Tynecastle ahead of their May 4 meeting, which will also be televised on Sky Sports. While Hearts and Rangers used a free week to train in the sunshine of Spain, Celtic were busy at Hampden Park, booking their place in the Scottish Cup final.
Derek McInnes described his side’s break as an opportunity to enjoy some "calm before the storm" of the crucial Edinburgh derby that could determine whether Rangers finally lift their first top‑flight title since 1960. Danny Röhl echoed a similar sentiment, calling the pause "a little time for recovery and to work on small details, refreshing the mind". Celtic’s recent 6‑2 demolition of St Mirren, a match in which four of the six goals came after extra‑time, has reignited talk of a possible league‑and‑cup double – something that seemed unlikely just a few months ago.
Yet the fact that the match was level after 90 minutes has given some fans pause, wondering whether the team can maintain intensity for the final 30 minutes of regular time when it matters most. Social media is buzzing with fan predictions. Some argue that all three clubs could still be mathematically alive on the final day, with Celtic hosting Hearts at Parkhead while Rangers travel to Falkirk – the side they thrashed 6‑3 in their last encounter before the split.
If Hearts are eliminated, the question arises whether they will cheer for one of their rivals, perhaps preferring a Celtic triumph over an Old Firm victory. Hearts supporters have endured a season of near‑misses; with 13 titles claimed by the Old Firm in the last 14 seasons, a title for Hearts would be a monumental achievement. Could we witness the green and white of Hearts finally overtaking the maroon and white of Rangers to claim their first league crown in four decades?
In a campaign defined by unexpected twists, anything is possible. The drama will culminate on May 16, when the three clubs face each other in their final fixtures.
The outcome will decide whether the title goes to the traditional powerhouses or if Hearts can break the duopoly and write a new chapter in Scottish football history. For those looking to add a little extra excitement, the Super 6 competition offers a chance to win £250,000 – entry is free, and it provides another way for fans to stay engaged as the season reaches its climax.