Rangers host Celtic in a crucial Scottish Premiership clash on Sunday.
Hearts are top of the table with 60 points from 28 games. Rangers are in second place with 56 points, while Celtic are third on 54 with a game in hand.
Rangers revival under Rohl
Rangers endured an atrocious start to the season, and even the most optimistic of fans won’t have assumed they’d still be in the title conversation at this point in the season.
The appointment of Danny Rohl as manager changed everything. The German tactician has overseen 14 wins, five draws and only one loss in 20 league games, dragging the Gers into title contention.
A stunning 4-2 win for Rangers over Hearts in mid-February, thanks to a Youssef Chermiti hat-trick, brought them within touching distance of the top spot.
Unfortunately, the 2-2 draw with bottom-placed Livingston exposed frailties.
Rangers have a soft underbelly. They have lost momentum after drawing Hibernian, Motherwell and Livingston.
However, Rangers have been formidable at Ibrox, and their recent Glasgow derby record of three wins, two draws and one defeat in six meetings will give them confidence.
Rohl will know that they desperately need three points on Sunday if they are to wrestle back the Scottish Premiership crown for the first time since 2021.
Celtic embrace the chaos
Celtic were expected to continue their dominance in the Scottish Premiership, but they have spent most of the season trying to keep their heads above water.
A turbulent spell under Wilfried Nancy derailed early momentum, but Martin O’Neill returned for a second stint and has steadied the ship.
Celtic have since secured nine wins in 13 matches across all competitions, including five from seven in the league.
The loss to Hibernian last weekend was a big blow, leaving them six points behind Hearts and two points adrift of Rangers.
But with that game in hand, their title chances are very much alive.
Celtic come into the game in high spirits following their 1-0 Europa League play-off win in Stuttgart.
The psychological dimension of this match-up is fascinating.
Rangers are the more harmonious club at present, but Celtic are more battle-hardened. One has momentum, the other has title-winning know-how.
Title implications: elimination territory?
A Rangers win moves them five points clear of Celtic and closer to the summit. However, even that might not be enough considering how consistent Hearts have been.
Meanwhile, defeat for the hosts would allow Celtic to leapfrog them, giving them title-tilting momentum for the run-in.
Hearts fans will be praying for a draw, allowing them to stretch their lead and leave the Glasgow giants chasing shadows.
Whoever loses is out of the title race, and the psychological blow could be fatal. Celtic cannot afford further slip-ups in a season already damaged by upheaval.
Besides the points up for grabs, this derby is about narrative control. Rangers want validation that their resurgence is real. Celtic aim to prove their dynasty still has life in it.
