With Hearts three points clear at the top and Rangers arriving at Parkhead tomorrow, Celtic face a match that may well decide whether this season ends in triumph or heartbreak.
Celtic have navigated one of the strangest campaigns in recent memory. Three managers, a period of genuine freefall and, now, a six-game winning streak that has dragged them back into a title race nobody expected them to be in. Hearts lead the table, three points clear of Celtic, as tomorrow’s Old Firm derby approaches. Win, and the pressure shifts decisively back onto a Hearts side that has shown signs of nerves. Drop points, and the Edinburgh club could be just one victory away from their first top-flight title since 1960.
The stakes could hardly be higher. Celtic host Rangers tomorrow at 12:00, and the six days that follow will shape how this season is remembered: a midweek trip to Fir Park to face Motherwell, then Hearts at Parkhead on the final day in what could yet be a winner-takes-all climax. Martin O’Neill, recalled to steady a sinking ship, has done precisely that. The question now is whether he can steer Celtic to something far greater.
The ice man who changed everything
Much of the credit for Celtic’s recent resurgence belongs to Kelechi Iheanacho. Over his last few games, the Nigerian forward has had seven shots, put five of them on target and scored four goals. Those numbers tell a story that goes beyond fortunate timing. Iheanacho has changed games from the bench with a composure that has left Celtic supporters wondering why he was not trusted sooner.
His winning goal against Hibernian at Easter Road on 3 May, where Celtic eventually won 2–1, is the most recent example of that quality. Celtic were camped outside a disciplined Hibs defensive block, running out of ideas, until Iheanacho arrived and altered the tempo within minutes of coming on. It was his third match-winning contribution in the league this season, the others coming against Dundee and in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
“Iheanacho’s numbers in the final third since April are striking. Four goals from five shots on target is not a purple patch. For Celtic, it is a lifeline, and it will define whether O’Neill’s second spell is remembered as a rescue job or something more.”
One analyst, speaking to Freebets.com, an independent platform whose expert-tested guides to the top UK licensed betting sites and bookmaker reviews are widely read across Scottish football.
Callum McGregor, Celtic’s captain, has been consistent in framing the mentality required. McGregor has insisted Celtic must win every game, describing it as part of the club’s DNA. That attitude, often cited as a platitude in quieter periods, carries real weight now. The players know what losing on Sunday would mean for their title ambitions, and there is little evidence of a squad that does not.
What Rangers bring to Parkhead
Rangers have effectively been eliminated from the title race following back-to-back defeats against Motherwell and Hearts, with Lawrence Shankland’s late goal at Tynecastle leaving Danny Rohl’s side seven points behind the leaders and four behind Celtic, with three games remaining. That result removed Rangers from contention, but it did not remove their ability to cause Celtic enormous damage.
Rangers now have the opportunity to land a hammer blow on Celtic’s campaign in the final Old Firm clash of the season. For Rohl’s players, a win at Parkhead would represent something tangible to take into the summer, even if the title is gone. History, rivalry and pride all argue that they will not approach this as a dead rubber. O’Neill has described his side as facing a “wounded animal” at the weekend, which is an accurate reading of where Rangers find themselves.
Celtic’s home form has been the foundation of their run-in. Hearts beat Celtic at Parkhead earlier in the season, as did Rangers on their previous league trip to the east end of Glasgow. O’Neill will know both results. His team cannot afford a third home defeat to either of their title rivals, particularly with Hearts visiting on the final day.
You can follow the latest build-up and match reaction on Celtic Quick News, which has been providing detailed daily coverage of every development in the run-in.
Three games, one chance
The maths is clear. If Rangers hold Celtic to a draw and Hearts beat Motherwell on Saturday, the Edinburgh club could wrap up the title before the Old Firm match even kicks off on Sunday. Whatever happens at Tynecastle on Saturday evening, Celtic must win all three of their remaining fixtures to give themselves the best chance. They can only control their own results, and Sunday is where it starts.
Alistair Johnston’s return to fitness adds something concrete to the optimism. Johnston started his first game since October against Hibs, assisted the opening goal, and showed strong athletic form throughout. His presence has been missed in a back line that has occasionally looked fragile when pressed at pace. With Johnston fit, Iheanacho in form, and an unbeaten record against Rangers in three meetings this season, Celtic have reasons to believe. O’Neill inspired a 3-1 win in the League Cup semi-final, a 2-2 comeback at Ibrox from two goals down, and a 4-2 penalty-kick victory in the Scottish Cup quarter-final. Rohl has yet to beat Celtic. The record matters.
A win on Sunday would not settle the title. But it would make the final week of the season Celtic’s to control, which is the only place a club chasing a fifth successive championship should want to be.
The William Hill Scottish Premiership season concludes on 16 May, and every game between now and that final Saturday matters.
Image Source: unsplash.com
