Scottish Premiership Preview: Celtic vs Rangers and More
The Scottish Premiership embarks on its 2026 campaign this Saturday, featuring all 12 teams in action.
Here are the key matches and players to watch.
Game of the Day - Celtic vs Rangers (12:30 GMT)
The matchup between Glasgow's two giants is always a highlight in the Scottish football calendar, but Saturday's clash at Celtic Park carries extra significance.
Under new manager Wilfried Nancy, Celtic has struggled recently, suffering five losses in their last seven matches, including three in the league. This downturn has left the defending Premiership champions with a total of five league losses at the season's halfway mark.
Saturday will mark Nancy's first encounter with Rangers, who are just three points behind Celtic in the standings. Rangers, managed by Danny Rohl, have had a strong season with eight wins and two draws, although early-season draws under former manager Russell Martin have kept them six points adrift of league leaders Hearts.
Rohl has faced Celtic once before, losing 3-1 in extra time during the Premier Sports Cup semi-final in November. The stakes are high for both teams as they aim to keep pace with Hearts; any dropped points could allow Derek McInnes' team to extend their lead.
Additionally, both Motherwell and Hibernian are close behind the Glasgow rivals, albeit having played one more game. An exciting derby is on the horizon.
Player to Watch - Charlie Reilly (Dundee)
Another derby day is set to unfold at Tannadice, where Dundee will face Dundee United for the second time this season, following United's victory in their first encounter.
For Dundee, this match presents an opportunity to achieve three consecutive wins for the first time this season. The Dark Blues secured back-to-back victories with goals from Ashley Hay and Charlie Reilly in a 2-1 win against Kilmarnock on Tuesday, propelling them to ninth place in the league.
Reilly's decisive goal, which followed his assist for the equalizer, showcased the talent that led him to Dundee after a remarkable 24-goal season with Albion Rovers in 2022-23. After struggling with injuries, Reilly expressed that Tuesday's performance was "a long time coming," and scoring against United would certainly endear him further to the Dundee supporters.
Manager Watch - Derek McInnes (Heart of Midlothian)
Derek McInnes has experienced three defeats as Hearts manager, including two in the Scottish Premiership. The latest setback was a 3-2 loss to Edinburgh rivals Hibernian, a match that nearly ended in a draw despite Hearts trailing 3-0 at one point.
This Saturday, Hearts return to Tynecastle to face bottom-placed Livingston. McInnes has bolstered his squad with the addition of right-back Jordi Altena, who may make his debut against Livingston.
With a large and versatile squad at his disposal, McInnes will be keen to bounce back from recent disappointments. Following a defeat to Aberdeen in November, Hearts managed to recover with two draws before returning to winning form. The manager will be determined to avoid further slip-ups.