It has been a very long time since Scottish football has been in this situation, but there is a three-way title race heading into the post-split fixtures.
On Tuesday afternoon, Celtic, Hearts and Rangers all learned their title fate for the post-split matches, with the champions of Scotland facing current leaders Hearts on the final day of the season in what could be a showdown for the ages.
That game will be played on 16 May, and there is every chance it could be a final-day title decider, with Rangers travelling to Falkirk on the same day at 12:30.
The Glasgow derby itself, which will be played at Parkhead, has been pencilled in for 10 May, with a 12 noon kick-off, and will be the third-last set of fixtures.
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Celtic’s post-split fixtures revealed
Of course, the headlining act is Celtic’s final home game against Hearts. It may well decide the title, and it could be a crazy, crazy end to the season.
Martin O’Neill’s side have one final league game left before the split fixtures, and that’s a home tie against St Mirren, before a Scottish Cup semi-final meeting against the same opponent the following week at Hampden.
And then? Let the chaos of the post-split fixtures commence.
- Saturday, 25 April, 17:30, Celtic vs Falkirk (H), Selected for Sky Sports coverage
- Sunday, 3 May, 12:00, Hibernian vs Celtic (A), Selected for Sky Sports coverage
- Sunday, 10 May, 12:00, Celtic vs Rangers (H), Selected for Sky Sports coverage
- Wednesday, 13 May, 20:00, Motherwell vs Celtic (A)
- Saturday, 16 May, 12:30, Celtic vs Hearts (H), Selected for Sky Sports coverage
Your first thought when you see the fixtures…
How many points will we pick up?
And what about Hearts and Rangers?
Both Hearts and Rangers will be on the road for the final day. Of course, the Jambos will be in Glasgow and Rangers will be at Falkirk.
But whilst everyone talks about Celtic facing Hearts on the final day, the impact the Glasgow derby can have on matters, you also have the small matter of the Edinburgh derby. That is going to be huge for Hearts.
| Date | Hearts’ Opponent | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26 | Hibernian | Away | 16:30 |
| May 4 | Rangers | Home | 17:30 |
| May 9 | Motherwell | Away | 20:00 |
| May 13 | Falkirk | Home | 20:00 |
| May 16 | Celtic | Away | 12:30 |
| Date | Rangers’ Opponent | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26 | Motherwell | Home | 15:00 |
| May 4 | Hearts | Away | 17:30 |
| May 10 | Celtic | Away | 12:00 |
| May 13 | Hibernian | Home | 20:00 |
| May 16 | Falkirk | Away | 12:30 |
Hibernian are going to have a big say on who wins the title, and they don’t want to provide a helping hand to their bitter rivals, that’s for sure.
But you also presume Rangers’ back-to-back away games between May 4-10 could be defining for all, given that it’s Hearts and Celtic.
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