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The Scottish Premiership title race could take another dramatic twist this weekend, with the Glasgow derby showdown looming on Sunday and pacesetters Hearts in action 24 hours earlier.
At the start of the campaign, not even the most optimistic Hearts fans could have imagined the team leading the Premiership at this stage of the season, but they have given them every reason to dream big.
Despite alternating between victories and defeats across their last five league outings, Hearts are sitting at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, four points clear of Rangers.
With only five games left until the end of the regular season, the margin for error is rapidly shrinking, and every point could prove decisive in what promises to be a nerve-shredding finale.
Hearts will be looking to hold up their end of the bargain when they take on mid-table Aberdeen at Tynecastle Park on Saturday and extend their lead at the summit ahead of Sunday’s Glasgow derby.
Although Rangers and Celtic are part of the chasing pack, Sunday’s mouth-watering showdown at Ibrox has all the makings of a ‘top-table six-pointer,’ given that a potential slip-up for either side would significantly derail their title chances.
Let’s see how the upcoming weekend could determine the 2025/26 title race in Scotland’s top flight.
Hearts vs Aberdeen
Hearts bounced back from a calamitous 4-2 defeat at Rangers in one of the standout Scottish Premiership fixtures a fortnight ago with a narrow 1-0 home victory over sixth-placed Falkirk last time out.
Seeking only their fifth Premiership title and first since 1959/60, Hearts must go back-to-back for the first time since mid-January if they’re to preserve their slender lead at the top of the tree.
There’s no better setting to inspire Hearts to what would be a priceless win than Tynecastle Park, where they haven’t lost a single league game all season (W10, D4), including a pair of 1-0 triumphs over Falkirk and Hibernian in their last two outings.
Visiting Aberdeen also feel like a perfect victim, with McInnes’ title-bidding side emerging victorious from six of their last seven league meetings between the teams on this ground (D1).
Adding to Hearts’ confidence, the Dons have picked up just a single point from their last seven away league matches (D1, L6), failing to get on the scoresheet in six consecutive such games since a 3-1 loss at Celtic in mid-December.
Rangers vs Celtic
Regardless of the outcome of Hearts’ home clash against Aberdeen, three points will be imperative for Rangers and Celtic when they renew hostilities in the famous Glasgow derby on Sunday.
Danny Rohl is desperate to follow in the footsteps of Steven Gerrard, who was the last Gers boss to win the league title back in 2020/21, but their recent form fails to inspire confidence.
Despite going unbeaten in their last 11 league matches (W8, D3), the Ibrox giants have shared the spoils three times in five Premiership fixtures since the beginning of February.
However, they have recently flourished in the match-up, avoiding defeat in their last five league encounters against Celtic (W3, D2), including a 3-1 victory at Parkhead in January’s reverse fixture.
Sitting two points clear of their arch-rivals, Rangers could kill two birds with one stone this weekend as they prepare for a season-defining meeting against the downtrodden reigning champions.
In addition to getting significantly closer to breaking the tie with another triumph here, Rangers would likely land a knockout punch on Celtic’s title ambitions.
It’s been a disappointing domestic season for the Hoops, who have already lost seven league matches, three more than they endured during their title-winning 2024/25 campaign.
Motherwell vs Dundee United
While all eyes will be on Ibrox this weekend, Motherwell could further complicate matters for the Glasgow giants, especially if they can maintain their rich vein of form against Dundee United on Saturday.
Jens Berthel Askou’s men have hit a purple patch after a 1-0 loss at Rangers in late December, racking up an eye-catching eight-game unbeaten league run (W6, D2).
The Steelmen have been particularly impressive on home turf, where they’ve only lost one league game all season (W9, D4) while conceding the division-low six goals in the process.
With Dundee winning just once in their last seven top-flight matches (D2, L4), Motherwell are well-positioned to strengthen their formidable home record and bolster their hopes of finishing second.