Scottish Premiership Kickoff: A New Season of Rivalries and Unforgettable Moments

Another title battle on the cards between two Scottish giants, Celtic and Rangers

Deny it all you want, but it's undeniable that the biggest talking point in the 2026-27 Scottish Premiership remains the bitter rivalry between Celtic FC and Rangers FC. The two Glasgow giants have been at the centre of dominance for decades now, but it's the Celts who have enjoyed much of the recent success.

The Celts' dominance came close to being challenged last season by an unexpected challenger - Heart of Midlothian FC. No team other than the Edinburgh side mounted a serious challenge for the championship until the very end. However, Celtic triumphed on the final day to move up the table and retain their status as Scotland's leading force.

Just over two months have now passed since they last lifted the Scottish Premiership title for the 14th time in just 15 years! This further underlines the remarkable consistency that they'll want to continue in the current campaign. 

Standing in their way is a Rangers FC side who should not be taken lightly as they are determined to mount a serious challenge this season. The Glasgow giants, however, have experienced some setbacks in previous seasons, considering they are still searching for their first league title since the 2020-21 season.

The Gers begin their title ambitions with an away match against Dundee United this Friday night, and SportyTrader betting experts are already expecting them to struggle in their opener, as explained in our Dundee United vs Rangers prediction, which highlights the potential challenges they face on day one. 

There have been some changes made by Rangers FC for the 2026-27 season, and that includes a change in management. There's a twist, though, in terms of the name that'll lead the team to glory after former head coach Danny Röhl left the club by mutual agreement in June.

Derek McInnes is the new face of Rangers' title ambitions. He was in charge of Heart of Midlothian FC last season and led the chasing pack for seven months. If successful, he could've led the club to their first league title since 1960. Now, the responsibility lies with him to end Celtic's dominance and bring the crown to Ibrox.

More on the Scottish Premiership

Challengers Looking to Break the Old Firm Dominance

As noticed last season, there were teams ready to disrupt the usual title picture, such as Heart of Midlothian FC's impressive run. The Edinburgh outfit may have lost their head coach to Rangers FC, but replacement, Wouter Vrancken, brings a wealth of experience.

The 47-year-old has won two major trophies in his managerial career during his time in Belgium, where he led KV Mechelen to the Belgian Cup and won the Belgian second division. His Scottish Premiership debut starts this Saturday with a clash against Aberdeen. See our Aberdeen vs Heart of Midlothian FC prediction ​​​​​​for more insights into the game.

Apart from Heart of Midlothian, other names look primed to break the Old Firm Dominance; this includes Hibernian, who remained unbeaten against Rangers in the final two games, including a 2-1 upset at Ibrox Stadium in the Championship Group. 

Of the three teams, Motherwell can be considered one of the most intriguing outsiders, and their participation in the Europa Conference League qualifiers represents a reward for their consistency. The Steelmen caused some major upsets in the previous season, triumphing against Celtic and Rangers and are not one to be overlooked.

Newly Promoted Club To Face a Tough Challenge

At the other end of the table, St. Johnstone, who recently got promoted to the top flight from the Championship, are going to have a difficult time settling in and competing against established Premiership sides.

There's no secret formula in this one when it comes to the Saints, as their primary objective as a promoted side is to avoid relegation to Scotland's second-tier football.

They've been offered a lifeline in their first two matches as they square off with Kilmarnock and St. Mirren before meeting defending champions Celtic FC on August 22. Their form before matchday three will either determine if they are genuine contenders for a strong
campaign or expose early weaknesses.

A detailed table of matchday one fixtures:

Check out our football predictions