Scottish Title Race Goes to the Wire: Hearts vs Celtic

McInnes eyes history as Hearts face Celtic in title finale  

Hearts go into Saturday unbeaten at home and on 80 points. Celtic must win in Glasgow to retain the title after a late win over Motherwell.

After a controversial penalty kept Celtic one point behind, the Hoops travel to Hearts needing victory to secure a 14th title in 15 years...

Hearts manager Derek McInnes says his side has a chance to stun Celtic and end a 66-year wait for the Scottish title when they meet on Saturday.

Hearts go into the final-day clash in Glasgow as league leaders. A draw or win against second-placed Celtic would be enough to clinch the trophy.

If Hearts win the league, they’d be the first club outside Celtic and Rangers to lift the Scottish title since Aberdeen in 1984/85.

Celtic kept the race alive on Wednesday with a 3-2 win at Motherwell, thanks to a hotly disputed penalty in stoppage time. The result left them one point behind Hearts.

Had that late winner not gone in, Celtic would have needed to beat Hearts by three goals on Saturday to hold onto the title.

As it stands, any win for Celtic in Glasgow will see them retain the trophy.

McInnes called the penalty decision “disgusting” after the match, but said he’s now focused on what he expects to be a “box office” finale to a dramatic title race.

“It's a perfect ending to a season for the league, for Scottish football, for drama and excitement... It's pure box office,” said McInnes ahead of Scotland's first final-day title shoot-out since 1991.

“It'll be bedlam, it'll be an unbelievable atmosphere. There might be people out there who think everything's back on script, 'Celtic win their home game, they win the league'.

“But we've ripped the script up so often this season, and we've got one more in us I think, and it's up to us to try and make that happen.”

Hearts have taken advantage of an inconsistent season for both Celtic and Rangers, and have led the table since September.

They’ve already broken the club’s points record with 80, and went through the entire league campaign without losing at Tynecastle.

But Celtic will be their toughest test yet. Martin O’Neill’s side are chasing a 14th title in 15 years.

𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄: 𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐊 𝐌𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐒

Derek McInnes meets the media ahead of tomorrow's season finale at Celtic Park 🗣

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— Heart of Midlothian FC (@JamTarts) May 15, 2026

The Hoops have hit form at the right time, winning six league games in a row to close the gap under interim boss O’Neill.

“Regardless of what happens tomorrow, it has been a brilliant campaign, but it could be the most special campaign,” added McInnes.

“With the records broken internally as a club, and what we've done this season, I think they'll always be regarded as a special team. But obviously if we want to elevate that, we have to go and win it.

“It's up to us to try and create our own history and our own legacy with a big performance.”