Scottish Premiership post-split fixtures confirmed as Hearts, Rangers and Celtic discover path to title
Top six and bottom six post-split fixtures announced by SPFL
Hearts, Rangers and Celtic have discovered their potential path to the Scottish Premiership title following confirmation of the post-split fixtures by the Scottish Professional Football League.
It promises to the most exciting climax to a league season in decades with three clubs separated by just three points at the top of the table with six matches remaining.
Hearts are bidding to make history by winning the title for the first time since 1959-60 and becoming the first non-Old Firm champion since Aberdeen in 1984-85. The Jambos currently lead the way on 67 points, one point ahead of Rangers with Celtic third on 64 points.
They will each play their final match before the split this weekend with Hearts hosting Motherwell and Celtic welcoming St Mirren on Saturday, before Rangers travel to Falkirk on Sunday. The Premiership will then take a two-week break before resuming for round 34 on the weekend of April 25 and 26.
Post-split fixtures confirmed
Hearts will begin with an Edinburgh derby against Hibs at Easter Road on Sunday, April 26, kick-off 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports. Celtic host Falkirk the previous day in a 5.30pm kick-off, also live on Sky Sports, while Rangers entertain Motherwell at 3pm on the Sunday.
Celtic then travel to Hibs on Sunday May 3, kick-off 12 noon, and then a potential title decider between Hearts and Rangers at Tynecastle is scheduled for the Monday bank holiday of May 4, kick-off 5.30pm, with both games live on Sky Sports.
Fixture round 36 follows with Sky Sports showing the meeting of Motherwell and Hearts at Fir Park on Saturday May 9, kick-off 8pm, while Sunday, May 10, brings the final Old Firm clash of the season between Celtic and Rangers, with a 12 noon kick-off at Celtic Park, live on Sky Sports.
Broadcast selections for round 37 will be announced in due course but all three top-six fixtures that midweek - Hearts v Falkirk, Motherwell v Celtic and Rangers v Hibs - will be played on Wednesday May 13, kick-off 8.00pm. Bottom-six fixtures will take place the previous evening, Tuesday May 12, kick-off 7.45pm.
The top-six will conclude on Saturday May 16, when Celtic host Hearts at Celtic Park in a possible final day decider while Rangers go to the Falkirk Stadium and Hibs play Motherwell at Easter Road. Broadcast selections will be confirmed nearer the time, but all three games will kick off at 12.30pm.
In the bottom-six, Premier Sports will show three post-split matches live, including the Dundee derby at Tannadice on Sunday April 26, kick-off 2pm. They will also cover Livingston v Aberdeen on Friday May 1, kick-off 7.45pm, and Livingston v Kilmarnock on the final day of the season - Sunday May 17, with a 2pm kick-off.
These confirmed TV picks mean this season will feature a record number of Premiership matches shown live on TV in the SPFL era, with 72 games already chosen for broadcast across Sky Sports and Premier Sports and more to be announced.
Scottish Premiership post-split fixtures in full:
Saturday, April 25
Celtic v Falkirk, 5.30pm - live on Sky Sports
Aberdeen v Kilmarnock, 3pm
St Mirren v Livingston, 3pm
Dundee United v Dundee, 2pm - live on Premier Sports
Sunday, April 26
Rangers v Motherwell, 3pm
Hibs v Hearts, 4.30pm - live on Sky Sports
Friday, May 1
Livingston v Aberdeen, 7.45pm - live on Premier Sports
Saturday, May 2
Falkirk v Motherwell, 3pm
Dundee v St Mirren, 3pm
Kilmarnock v Dundee United, 3pm
Sunday, May 3
Hibs v Celtic, 12pm - live on Sky Sports
Monday, May 4
Hearts v Rangers, 5.30pm - live on Sky Sports
Saturday, May 9
Falkirk v Hibs, 3pm
Motherwell v Hearts, 8pm - live on Sky Sports
Aberdeen v Dundee United, 3pm
Dundee v Livingston, 3pm
St Mirren v Kilmarnock, 3pm
Sunday, May 10
Celtic v Rangers, 12pm - live on Sky Sports
Tuesday, May 12
Aberdeen v St Mirren, 7.45pm
Dundee United v Livingston, 7.45pm
Kilmarnock v Dundee, 7.45pm
Wednesday, May 13
Hearts v Falkirk, 8pm
Motherwell v Celtic, 8pm
Rangers v Hibs, 8pm
Saturday, May 16
Celtic v Hearts, 12.30pm
Falkirk v Rangers, 12.30pm
Hibs v Motherwell, 12.30pm
Sunday, May 17
Dundee v Aberdeen, 2pm
Livingston v Kilmarnock, 2pm - live on Premier Sports
St Mirren v Dundee United, 2pm
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