Hearts boss relishes Celtic box office potential as he sees no issue with possible Parkhead drama
Celtic will face Hearts at home on the final day of the Premiership season
Derek McInnes has no complaints about Hearts’ split schedule and is looking forward to facing Celtic at Parkhead on May 16th.
The SPFL have broke a 13-year tradition in not allowing the league leaders to have home advantage on the final day, however, instead of going in a huff, McInnes likes the idea of having ‘the most dramatic fixture you can have’ at the very end of the season. The 2025/26 Premiership campaign is set up for a thrilling finale as Celtic currently trail their Edinburgh rivals by three points and Rangers by two.
Hearts will face Rangers at Tynecastle at 5:30pm (GMT) on a Bank Holiday Monday in another post-split fixture that caught the eye. Celtic’s advantage over their title rivals is that they face both the Light Blues and the Jambos in front of their own fans. While McInnes originally had some reservations about the final day trip to Glasgow, he then realised it could be an opportunity for a title decider.
Hearts excited for box office Hoops finale
McInnes said: "The first (thought) was for the fans because obviously there's an effect on them getting 600 tickets, which is the way. But I also thought that the league's going to try and get a fixture at the death that would be pretty key and hopefully we're still in a chance of winning the title going into the last game. I think it's an unbelievable fixture if we are, particularly if Celtic have still got a chance as well. If both teams are still in the mix for winning the league, it's the most dramatic fixture you can have.
“Obviously Rangers are going to have a lot to say about that and they've got a difficult away game in last game of the season as well. I think it's up to the league and the TV companies to try and maximise the drama and we've got to accept that. But a brilliant game to be involved in, particularly if we still have an opportunity. When you look at the way the league is just now with six games to go, I think it's more likely to go to the last game than not."
Post-split fixtures chosen for TV
In a three-horse title race that Scottish football hasn’t seen in recent memory, broadcasters are hoping to take full advantage of the fact teams are playing those around them, at both ends of the league table. Celtic’s first three post-split fixtures will all be broadcast live on Sky Sports against Falkirk (A), Hibs (H) and Rangers (H) respectively. Their final two fixtures against Motherwell (A) and Hearts (H) are still to be confirmed.
Elsewhere, Sky will be showing the Edinburgh Derby as well as Rangers’ Monday afternoon trip to Tynecastle. The Jambos’ trip to Motherwell will also be broadcast the day before the Old Firm. At the other end of the table, Premier Sports will be airing the Dundee Derby as well as some potential relegation dogfight scraps, including Livingston vs Aberdeen and Livingston vs Kilmarnock. The latter will take place on the final day.