Can Hearts, Rangers, or Celtic claim Premiership crown by Sunday 2026?

Three top Scottish Premiership sides—Hearts, Rangers, and Celtic—are separated by three points with five games remaining.

Tight title race intensifies The Scottish Premiership title fight has narrowed to three teams—Heart of Midlothian, Rangers, and Celtic—who sit within three points of each other with just five matches left. Over the next three weeks, these sides will clash with the rest of the top six to decide Scotland’s best team. Historically, only three times have all three leading teams won on the same weekend, so surprises are likely. This weekend’s fixtures promise high drama as the chase reaches its climax. ## Celtic seek early advantage Celtic, usually the dominant force in Scottish football for the past two decades, currently sit third, three points behind Hearts. However, they get to strike first this weekend, hosting Falkirk at home on Saturday (17:30 BST). Their path to closing the gap looks promising despite a turbulent and inconsistent season. Celtic have beaten sixth-placed Falkirk in all four meetings this season, with the away side’s only goal arriving in a 4-1 League Cup loss in August. ## Key Celtic players may feature Celtic supporters will be eagerly awaiting team news to see if strikers Kelechi Iheanacho and James Forrest start against Falkirk. Both players made a significant impact last Sunday in the Scottish Cup semi-final, coming off the bench to score four goals in six minutes and secure victory over St Mirren in extra time. The lack of a consistent striker has been a persistent issue all season, so Iheanacho’s fitness and readiness could be crucial when Celtic need it most. ## Tavernier to leave Rangers after season finale Rangers captain James Tavernier has confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season after 11 years at Ibrox. His impending departure adds extra significance to Sunday’s match, his penultimate appearance at home. Tavernier will face Motherwell at 15:00, a team he has scored against frequently in the past, with only Aberdeen having conceded more goals to him. ## Rangers chase win to close title gap Rangers aim to strengthen their title push with a victory against Motherwell, who have struggled recently with four losses in their last five games. Rangers have been unbeaten at home in the league for 10 matches, winning nine of those, while Motherwell are on their worst run of the season. A win for Rangers would put them two points clear of Hearts and pile pressure on the league leaders ahead of their big Edinburgh derby. ## Hearts face toughest test in derby clash Hearts head coach Derek McInnes has labeled Sunday’s derby against Hibernian as the toughest challenge yet in their title bid. Hibs stunned Hearts with a 3-0 lead at Easter Road in December before Hearts pulled two back late on. Hibs are chasing European football for a second straight season and will be eager to upset Hearts’ title hopes and secure bragging rights in the derby. ## Hearts’ away struggles add to pressure Hearts’ away form has been a concern, with just one point picked up from their last four trips away from Tynecastle, including a draw at bottom side Livingston. Three of their final five fixtures are on the road, so improvement is vital. If Rangers or Celtic win on Sunday, Hearts would start their derby match two points behind Rangers and level with Celtic, adding to the psychological strain. ## Momentum shift could define title race A victory for Hearts against Hibs could provide a huge momentum boost in their title bid. The derby is more than just local pride—it’s a potential turning point in the Premiership race. McInnes’ assessment of the fixture as their toughest test reflects the stakes, but a win could propel Hearts toward their first title since 1960.