Can Rangers end their barren streak against Celtic? The Scottish Premiership clubs have just four games remaining as the relegation race intensifies, and Rangers will be going up against Celtic in search of their first win of the year. The only thing on the line, when Michael Beale’s team hosts their Old Firm adversaries on Saturday, is pride. While Aberdeen takes on Hibernian in an attempt to climb up to third place, Hearts must defeat St. Mirren to keep the pressure on the Dons. With only five points separating Ross County in last place from ninth-place St. Johnstone, the relegation race appears to be getting down to the wire, but anything can happen. Ange Postecoglou’s team defeated the opposing squad in the first league meeting, 4-0, at Celtic Park. Michael Beale’s first Old Firm match in charge of Rangers ended in a 2-2 draw at Ibrox in January.
Can Rangers end their barren streak against Celtic? | Scottish Premiership
Kyogo Furuhashi’s double assisted Celtic in keeping the Scottish League Cup when they defeated their rivals 2-1 at Hampden Park and 3-2 the following month at Parkhead in the league. The champions then ended Rangers’ Scottish Cup championship defense on April 30 by defeating them 1-0 in the semifinal at Hampden Park. While Celtic continues on course for a homegrown high pitch, Beale’s team has no ambition for hardware and only the goal of finishing the season with one victory over their most formidable rivals.
When Aberdeen meets Hibs at Pittodrie, the fight for slots in Europe is very competitive. The Barry Robson-led team is currently in third position by five points and has won five straight home games without giving up a goal. The Easter Street team is currently in fifth place, just one point behind Edinburgh rivals Hearts as they aim to return to the European stage the following campaign.
The final meeting between the teams saw Lee Johnson’s Hibs triumph 6-0, marking the conclusion of Jim Goodwin’s tenure as the Wears’ manager.
St. Mirren genuinely has a slim chance of qualifying for Europe, but they will need a turnaround in form after losing their past three association games while giving up nine goals in a row. Hearts’ recent performance has also been lacking, as shown by their five road league losses. Steven Naismith is aware that until they win in Paisley, they won’t be able to overtake Aberdeen and retake third position in the league. Ross County and Dundee United will play in a major game at Tannadice Park on Saturday.
A Staggies victory may move County, who are presently in 10th place in the Premier League, up a spot and close the gap on United.
The match is nearly sold out, but United’s supporters are aware that a victory might lift their team four points above the relegation zone. St. Johnstone, who relied on a victory in the playoffs last year, could all but guarantee their survival this weekend if they overcome Motherwell. Only one of their previous eight contests against the Steelmen has been lost by the Perth club, which is now without management. They will try to capitalize on their previous weekend’s 1-0 triumph over Dundee United. They must stop Kevin van Veen, the Motherwell striker nominated for Player of the Year, from talking if they want to get anything done. He has scored in each of their previous seven games.
Jim Goodwin’s team has lost three times at home in Premiership games to Malky Mackay’s squad. Another team seeking points is Kilmarnock, which has been attempting to return to the top flight for more than a season. If Killie defeated Livingston by four points, they would eliminate themselves from the relegation play-offs. David Martindale’s Livi team, who has lost six straight away games without scoring, missed out on a spot in the top six. Both teams’ goal-scoring records are dismal; in 2023, they combined for the most goals in the Scottish Premiership.