Sports
The Premiership kingmaker out to make Motherwell Scotland's Bodo/Glimt
Can Motherwell replicate Bodo/Glimt's success in Europe?
BBC Sport1 min read
Sports
Celtic vs. Rangers: The Old Firm derby returns with historic Scottish Premiership title implications
TL;DR
The upcoming Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers has significant Scottish Premiership title implications, as neither team may win the title for the first time since the 1984-85 season. Hearts currently lead the league by just one point over Rangers and three points over Celtic.
Key points
- Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers has historic implications
- Neither team may win the title for the first time since 1984-85
- Hearts currently leads the league by one point over Rangers
- Celtic is three points behind Hearts
- A Celtic loss and Hearts win would create a six-point gap
CelticRangersHeartsScottish Premiership
Getty Images
This Old Firm is different. The match between Celtic and Rangers is one of the oldest rivalries in sports, but when these two teams take the field on Sunday, for the first time since the 1984-85 season, the Scottish Premier League title may not be won by either club. Only 19 total seasons of the Scottish Premiership in 129 seasons played have ended with someone other than Rangers or Celtic winning the title.
With only three matchdays remaining in the Championship Group split, Hearts lead the league by only one point over Rangers, while three points separate them from Celtic. Hearts can't officially win the title this weekend, but a loss for Celtic combined with a win by the Edinburgh club would open a six-point gap that would feel insurmountable to the home side.
How to watch Celtic vs. Rangers, odds
- Date: Sunday, May 10 | Time: 7 a.m. ET
- Location: Celtic Park -- Glasgow, Scotland
- TV:CBS Sports Network
- **Odds:**Celtic -110; Draw +270; Rangers +250
When breaking down this match, it's fair to wonder how 41 straight years of dominance came to an end so abruptly, especially considering the financial gap between the Glasgow clubs and everybody else. As it so often does, it begins at the top with managerial decisions. Ahead of the season, Rangers appointed Russell Martin as manager in what would be a disastrous 17-game stint where he threw players under the bus before Danny Rohl righted the ship. After taking over in October of 2025, Rohl has Rangers back in the hunt for the title, although a loss to Hearts last weekend now has their fate out of their control.
At Celtic, it has been even more of a roller coaster since Brendan Rodgers was dismissed as manager in October of 2025. He was replaced by Martin O'Neill for an interim spell, which went well, but then Celtic appointed Wilfried Nancy. Joining from the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer, he seemed like a good decision on paper, but in practice, it was anything but. Nancy lasted a total of eight games. After a spectacular blow-up ahead of the Old Firm in January, which ended in a two-goal Celtic loss, he was dismissed before O'Neill came back to steady the ship.
Q&A
What are the title implications for Celtic and Rangers in the upcoming derby?
The match could see neither Celtic nor Rangers winning the Scottish Premiership title for the first time since the 1984-85 season.
How close is Hearts to winning the Scottish Premiership title?
Hearts leads the league by one point over Rangers and three points over Celtic, making their position critical as the season nears its end.
When was the last time a team other than Celtic or Rangers won the Scottish Premiership title?
Only 19 seasons out of 129 have ended with a team other than Celtic or Rangers winning the title, highlighting the rarity of such an event.
What happens if Celtic loses to Rangers and Hearts wins?
If Celtic loses and Hearts wins, it would create a six-point gap, making it very difficult for Celtic to catch up in the title race.