Preview: Rangers vs Hearts – prediction, team news and lineups
The top two sides in the Scottish Premiership meet on Sunday as Rangers host Hearts at Ibrox in a potentially decisive title showdown.
Rangers sit second with 52 points from 26 matches, while Hearts lead the table on 57 points from the same number of games, giving this clash huge significance in the race for the crown.
Match preview
Rangers’ 2025-26 season has unfolded in two sharply contrasting chapters. The campaign began in disappointing fashion, with the Gers enduring a torrid opening stretch under Russell Martin. They managed just one win in their first eight league matches, drawing six and losing once, while also crashing out of the Champions League qualifiers.
That poor run ultimately cost Martin his job, with Danny Rohl stepping in. Although the German endured a difficult start — winning two of his first five matches and losing three — performances soon improved dramatically.
Across the following 22 matches in all competitions, Rangers suffered only three defeats, collecting 14 victories and five draws in that spell. Their league form in particular has been outstanding, with nine wins, two draws and just one loss from 12 Premiership fixtures under Rohl.
That surge has lifted the Gers to second place, five points behind Hearts. Victory on Sunday would cut the gap to just two points and intensify the pressure at the summit.
Hearts, however, can strengthen their grip on top spot. A win at Ibrox would open up an eight-point advantage and hand Derek McInnes’ side a major boost in the title race.
Recent form has been slightly less convincing for the leaders. The Jambos have won only two of their last five matches in all competitions, alongside two draws and one defeat — including a penalty shootout exit to Falkirk. That represents a dip compared to their impressive earlier run of 19 wins in 27 matches.
Still, confidence was restored with a dramatic 1-0 derby win over Hibernian in midweek, courtesy of Tomas Magnusson’s 88th-minute strike.
Hearts will also take encouragement from their away record, having collected 26 points on the road this season — more than any other Premiership side — thanks to eight wins, two draws and three defeats. They were also victorious on their last visit to Ibrox, when Lawrence Shankland scored twice in a 2-0 win in September 2025.
Form guide
Rangers (Scottish Premiership): W W W D W D
Rangers (all competitions): W L D W W D
Hearts (Scottish Premiership): W W D W L W
Hearts (all competitions): W D D W L W
Team news
Rangers are expected to be without Bailey Rice, Connor Barron, Derek Cornelius and Max Aarons through injury.
Following a below-par display in the 1-1 draw with Motherwell, Youssef Chermiti could make way for Bojan Miovski in attack, while the remainder of the side is likely to stay unchanged.
Hearts, meanwhile, are missing Calem Nieuwenhof, Cameron Devlin, Finlay Pollock, Lawrence Shankland and Stephen Kingsley due to fitness concerns.
After scoring the winner off the bench against Hibernian, Tomas Magnusson is pushing for a start, which could see Beni Baningime drop to the bench. Otherwise, McInnes may stick with the same core lineup.
Possible starting lineups
Rangers:
Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Djiga, Meghoma; Raskin, Chukwuani; Gassama, Diomande, Moore; Miovski
Hearts:
Schwolow; McEntee, Kent, Findlay, Milne; Leonard, Magnusson; Chesnokov, Braga, Kyziridis; Kabor
Leave a Reply