Scottish Premiership Table 2025/26: Hearts Lead Celtic and Rangers in Dramatic Title Race
Hearts sit one point clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership with the title race entering its final five games. Full table, fixtures and analysis of the three-way battle.
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Scottish football is heading towards one of the most dramatic title finales in living memory. For the first time in over a decade, neither Celtic nor Rangers leads the Scottish Premiership with five games to play. Instead, it is Hearts who sit at the summit — one point clear of Rangers and three ahead of reigning champions Celtic — with a series of explosive fixtures still to come.
Title Race at a Glance
- 01Hearts lead by ONE point from Rangers and THREE from Celtic
- 02The league has now split — final five fixtures confirmed for each club
- 03Hearts face a final-day decider away to Celtic at Parkhead on May 16
- 04Rangers must travel to Celtic Park on May 10 in a decisive Old Firm clash
- 05Celtic host Rangers on May 10 — then face Hearts on the final day
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hearts | 33 | 21 | 6 | 6 | 69 |
| 2 | Rangers | 33 | 21 | 5 | 7 | 68 |
| 3 | Celtic | 33 | 20 | 6 | 7 | 66 |
| 4 | Aberdeen | 33 | 16 | 8 | 9 | 56 |
| 5 | Hibernian | 33 | 15 | 7 | 11 | 52 |
How Hearts Came to Lead Scottish Football
Hearts' rise to the top of the Scottish Premiership is one of the great stories of this football season. Under their manager, the Edinburgh club have been transformed from inconsistent challengers into a team that has outrun the Old Firm across the full length of the campaign.
Their defensive record is the best in the division. They have scored more goals than any team outside Celtic. And in key head-to-head matches against both Rangers and Celtic earlier in the season, they collected crucial results that shifted the title conversation entirely.
Scottish Premiership Title Race — Numbers.
The Run-In: Who Plays Who?
The post-split fixtures have created a breathless conclusion. Each of the top three has at least one direct clash with another title contender in their final five games.
Hearts' Final Five Fixtures
Hearts' run-in is the most strategically complex of the three:
- April 26 — Edinburgh derby vs Hibernian (home)
- May 4 — Rangers (home) — direct title six-pointer
- May 9 — Away at Motherwell
- May 16 — Away at Celtic Park — potential title decider
The prospect of Hearts needing a result at Parkhead on the final day — in front of a Celtic crowd of 60,000 — is simultaneously thrilling and terrifying for the Tynecastle faithful.
Rangers' Final Five
Rangers' challenge is complicated by three away games in their last five:
- April 26 — Motherwell (home)
- May 4 — Away at Hearts — must-win potential
- May 10 — Away at Celtic Park (Old Firm)
- Additional fixtures TBC
Celtic's Route to the Title
Celtic, as champions, are chasing an unprecedented tenth consecutive title. Their path to it requires winning all or most of their remaining games AND relying on Hearts and Rangers to drop points. Their fixtures include:
- April 25 — Falkirk (home)
- May 3 — Away at Hibernian
- May 10 — Rangers (home) — Old Firm decider
- May 16 — Hearts (home) — season finale
Final Day Drama
Should all three clubs go into the final weekend level on points, goal difference will decide the Scottish Premiership title. Hearts' overall goal difference is currently the strongest of the three, which gives them an additional advantage in the most extreme scenarios.
The Hearts Factor: Why This Is Different
Previous challenges to the Old Firm's dominance have faded in the spring. The pressure of needing results against Celtic or Rangers — before their own crowds — has historically been too much for Edinburgh and Aberdeen clubs to sustain.
But this Hearts squad is built differently. They have already beaten both Old Firm clubs in direct matches this season. Their captain and top scorer has been in the form of his career. And crucially, their manager has won trophies before — he understands what it takes to cross the line.
Hearts' Psychological Edge
Hearts have beaten both Celtic and Rangers in direct league meetings this season. That record — rarely achieved in Scottish football outside the Old Firm — is both the foundation of their lead and a source of confidence heading into the final stretch.
What a Hearts Title Would Mean
The last time a club outside Celtic and Rangers won the Scottish Premiership was Aberdeen in 1985. A Hearts triumph would be the greatest achievement in Edinburgh football for decades, ending one of the most enduring duopolies in European football.
It would also have significant financial implications. Winning the Premiership means entry to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds — bringing millions in European revenue and the prestige of competing at the highest level of the club game.
Celtic's Case: Experience and History
Celtic remain the most experienced title-winning club in the race. Their squad has navigated final-day pressure before, and the Parkhead crowd on May 16 — knowing the title is potentially on the line — will create an atmosphere of extraordinary intensity.
Manager Ange Postecoglou's successor knows this environment. Celtic's away record — technically the home side in two of their last five games — suggests the gap to Hearts is manageable if they win everything.
Rangers: The Dark Horses
Rangers sit just one point behind Hearts and three ahead of Celtic — a position that makes them the most dangerous team in the race. They can win the title without needing Celtic to lose. They simply need to win every game and hope Hearts slip up.
The Old Firm game at Celtic Park on May 10 is, effectively, a winner-takes-all match for Celtic's title hopes. If Rangers win that game, Celtic are almost certainly out. If Celtic win, Hearts might need only a draw on the final day.
Scottish football has rarely served up a climax quite this perfectly constructed. Every result over the next five weeks will matter enormously.
Follow the Scottish Premiership title race live with UK News Live — updated after every match. Latest UK football news here.
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