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Why Sunday's derby is Celtic's most vital game of the season
TL;DR
Celtic's upcoming derby against their Glasgow rivals is deemed the most crucial match of their season, despite not being a title-decider. The outcome could still influence the title race involving Hearts.
Key points
- Celtic's derby is not a title-decider.
- The match is crucial for Celtic's remaining games.
- The result could impact Hearts' title chances.
[BBC]
Much has been made of how refreshing it is that the final derby of the season between Glasgow's big two is not, in itself, a title-decider.
Unless, of course, the result at Celtic Park helps decide things in Hearts' favour.
No matter the slightly diminished status of Sunday's noon kick-off, it will still be the most important game of the four the Parkhead side has left to play.
More important than a final-day decider against Hearts? More important than the Scottish Cup final? The argument can certainly be made.
On the line for manager Martin O'Neill and his men this weekend is a potential double bonus: entry into next term's Champions League qualifiers and the elimination of arch-rivals Rangers from the same competition.
If Celtic win on Sunday, they're guaranteed to finish in the top two. Their chances of catching Hearts would be boosted and in one fell swoop they would also demote Rangers to third in the table.
There would be no vital top-tier European funding for the new American regime at Ibrox with which to bankroll their ongoing rebuild.
The nightmare scenario for Celtic fans and board alike, after the calamities of their own season, would have been to watch Rangers walk off with the Premiership - and with it the possibility of dropping directly into the league phase of the continent's premier club competition.
It is now exceptionally unlikely Rangers can catch both Celtic and Hearts from a seven-point deficit to the league leaders with just three games left.
Guaranteed second, at worst, isn't exactly the bar the defending champions had in mind at the start of the season but they can't be too choosy now.
Were Hearts to drop any points at Motherwell on Saturday evening, a first league derby win over Rangers since September 2024 takes on even greater significance.
O'Neill is keen, wherever possible, to wrest control of the title race away from Tynecastle before the top two meet a week on Saturday.
To do so, beating Rangers will be essential unless the men from Gorgie lose at Fir Park the night before.
Regardless of the result in Lanarkshire, putting Rangers officially out of the title race would go some way to restoring relations between the fanbase and those who run the club.
It would give Celtic not just a final push in the defence of their title but would also give them a route into the Champions League.
Given they couldn't get past Kairat Almaty a few months ago, no one at Parkhead is banking on that road.
However, with the chance to reduce the title chase to a two-horse race, the opportunity to send their arch-rivals back to the drawing board, and the potential to start properly breathing down the necks of long-time leaders Hearts while guaranteeing some sort of Champions League involvement, it could easily be argued none of Celtic's four remaining games is more important than their next one.
Q&A
Why is the Celtic derby considered the most important game of the season?
The derby is seen as crucial because it is one of the last four matches Celtic has to play, impacting their overall performance and potential title implications.
What could be the consequences of Celtic's derby result for Hearts?
If Celtic loses, it could significantly aid Hearts in their pursuit of the title, making the derby influential beyond just the teams involved.
When is the Celtic derby taking place?
The Celtic derby is scheduled for Sunday at noon.
