[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"football-site-config":3,"world-cup-status-en":27,"news-detail-celtic-3-1-rangers-gap-to-hearts-cut-to-one-point":43,"news-related-celtic-3-1-rangers-gap-to-hearts-cut-to-one-point-en":75,"news-related-match-celtic-3-1-rangers-gap-to-hearts-cut-to-one-point-en":26},{"adSlots":4,"affiliateMode":5,"brandName":6,"contentStrategy":7,"currency":8,"friendLinks":9,"homepageLayoutKey":10,"leagueFocus":11,"locale":12,"planVisibility":13,"seoDescription":14,"seoTitleTemplate":15,"siteCode":10,"siteName":6,"siteType":10,"subscriptionMode":5,"timezone":16,"id":17,"tenantID":18,"primaryDomain":19,"countryCode":20,"logoUrl":21,"faviconUrl":21,"theme":22,"seoKeywords":24,"status":25,"ads":4,"focusLeagues":26,"affiliatePolicies":26},[],"shared","Football Prediction Platform","scores_predictions","USD",[],"main",[],"en-US",[],"Football fixtures, results, free predictions, subscriptions, and clearly labeled partner links.","{page} | Football Prediction Platform","America\u002FNew_York",323900000000000000,1,"football.easytestdev.online","US","",{"primaryColor":23},"#1677ff","football predictions, football fixtures, football results","active",null,{"active":28,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"leagueImagePath":31,"seasonId":32,"seasonName":33,"startingAt":34,"endingAt":35,"daysToStart":36,"daysToEnd":37,"phase":38,"includeQualifying":28,"hostCities":39},true,"326135624916537344","World Cup","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fleagues\u002F1.png","326255613308833792","2026\u002F2027","2026-06-11","2026-06-28",6,23,"upcoming",[40,41,42],"Mexico City","Monterrey","Zapopan",{"article":44},{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":45,"category":46,"excerpt":47,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":48,"leagueId":49,"leagueName":50,"matchId":51,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":52,"slug":53,"sourceName":54,"sourceURL":55,"teamId":56,"teamName":57,"teamIds":58,"teamNames":66,"title":74},"The Scottish Premiership title race has been distilled into a two-horse thriller, and after Celtic’s emphatic 3-1 victory over Rangers in the Old Firm derby, the stage is set for a finale that will be remembered for generations. Hearts, the league leaders and fairytale story, suddenly feel the breath of Martin O’Neill’s resurgent side on their necks. With just two matches remaining, a single point and a slender three-goal margin separate the top two, and the entire football world is watching.\n\nSunday’s derby was a microcosm of Celtic’s season: far from flawless, yet bursting with the kind of relentless grit that has defined their late charge. Rangers, who had spent fortunes in recent transfer windows, were expected to mount a serious challenge, but they wilted when it mattered most. The match was locked at 1-1 at halftime, a frantic, tempestuous affair with chances at both ends. Then Daizen Maeda took over. Eight minutes after the restart, Kieran Tierney exploited James Tavernier’s defensive lapses—the Rangers captain’s token arm raise for offside a sorry image of his side’s frailty—and delivered a cross that Maeda swept home. Barely four minutes later, the Japanese forward produced a moment of magic, an acrobatic bicycle kick that looped over Jack Butland and into the net. It was a goal that not only sealed the derby but also encapsulated Celtic’s transformation from also-rans into genuine title contenders.\n\nMaeda’s resurgence has been one of the subplots of the season. After a prolific previous campaign, he had endured a barren run of 17 games without a goal and looked unsettled, partly because a proposed move to Germany fell through amid chaotic scenes in Celtic’s recruitment department. Yet in April, he rediscovered his scoring touch, netting twice against Falkirk and once against Hibs before his derby heroics. His tireless work-rate, his big-game mentality, and his ability to deliver when his team needed him most have been instrumental. As O’Neill later remarked, Maeda is peaking at the perfect time, a player transformed from a frustrated wantaway into a potential title-winning talisman.\n\nRangers’ defeat was little surprise to those who have watched their campaign unravel. Despite heavy investment, they lack a strong leadership core, and their second-half capitulation was emblematic of a deeper malaise. Barry Ferguson’s men are now mathematically out of the running, their faint hopes extinguished by a Celtic side that simply refused to yield. The Ibrox club must now confront serious questions about their direction, while the two remaining protagonists prepare for the final act.\n\nHearts, under Derek McInnes, have been the story of the season. Seeking a first league championship in 66 years, the Gorgie club have captivated neutrals with their consistency and composure. While Celtic were engulfed in boardroom protests and fan fury over the ill-fated Wilfried Nancy appointment, McInnes quietly built a team that has defied all expectations. Now, however, the pressure is immense. They host Falkirk on Wednesday knowing that anything less than victory could hand the initiative to Celtic. The one-point cushion is as precarious as it is precious, and the three-goal advantage in goal difference adds another layer of psychological complexity.\n\nCeltic’s revival under O’Neill has been little short of remarkable. Earlier in the season, Parkhead was a cauldron of discontent; supporters demanded resignations, not trophies. The Nancy era was a catastrophic misstep, and the team languished far off the pace. O’Neill, the seasoned pragmatist, has steered them through the storm. He has never pretended that this is a vintage Celtic side—”not pretty champions, not convincing or easy on the eye,” as he put it—but their tenacity and improving form make them dangerous. The veteran manager knows the road ahead is arduous, likening the final two wins to climbing two mountains. His calm, measured leadership has been the antidote to the early-season chaos.\n\nWednesday’s fixtures are fraught with peril. Hearts should, on paper, overcome Falkirk, but the weight of history can do strange things. Celtic must travel to Fir Park, a ground that has often been a graveyard for title ambitions, to face a Motherwell side with nothing to lose. O’Neill will assume Hearts win, meaning Celtic must take at least a point to keep the race alive heading into the final day. A slip now would be fatal.\n\nIf both sides win on Wednesday, the Premiership will witness its most dramatic denouement in decades: Celtic versus Hearts at Parkhead on Saturday, winner takes all. For Hearts, it is the chance to complete a modern miracle, to etch their names alongside the legends of 1960. For Celtic, it is about redemption, about proving that even in a season of turmoil, their will to win remains unbreakable. The contrast in narratives is spellbinding—the underdog fairytale against the fallen giant’s resurgence. Scottish football has not seen such a climax in living memory, and the nation, regardless of allegiance, is hooked.\n\nO’Neill, speaking after the Rangers win, exuded a quiet confidence but refused to entertain premature celebrations. ”Two wins from two games is like climbing two mountains,” he said, a knowing nod to the mental and physical barriers that still stand between Celtic and glory. McInnes will be delivering the same message to his Hearts players: composure is everything. The race is a test of nerve as much as ability.\n\nAs the countdown to Wednesday begins, the air is thick with anticipation. Twists are guaranteed. Whether it ends with Hearts joyously ending a 66-year wait or Celtic snatching the trophy from their grasp in the most dramatic fashion, the 2025–26 Scottish Premiership will be remembered as one of the greats. What was once a procession has become pure theatre, and the final curtain is almost upon us.\n\nBased on reporting from BBC Sport.","news","Celtic's 3-1 Old Firm win cuts Hearts' lead to one point and three goals with two games left, setting up a final-day title decider at Parkhead.","328985003645997057","326135634953506816","Premiership","0","2026-05-10T17:39:50Z","celtic-3-1-rangers-gap-to-hearts-cut-to-one-point","BBC Sport","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fsport\u002Ffootball\u002Farticles\u002Fcdxpkqrj4qko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss","326257567011442688","Celtic",[56,59,60,61,62,63,64,65],"326257660145963008","326222712429088768","326222712076767232","326257567044997120","326257660225654784","326257769613103104","326257572183019520",[57,67,68,69,70,71,72,73],"Motherwell","Scotland","Germany","Rangers","Falkirk","Capital","Nancy","Celtic 3-1 Rangers: Gap to Hearts Cut to One Point",[76,103,131,183],{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":46,"excerpt":77,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":78,"leagueId":49,"leagueName":50,"matchId":51,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":79,"slug":80,"sourceName":54,"sourceURL":81,"teamId":56,"teamName":57,"teamIds":82,"teamNames":92,"title":102},"Celtic weigh O'Neill's trophy double against Keane's European exploits as the board seeks a permanent manager. A swift summer decision looms amid a rebuild.","337369473931546625","2026-06-02T21:04:29Z","celtic-manager-search-what-o-neill-vs-keane-decision-means","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fsport\u002Ffootball\u002Farticles\u002Fc1w2vxrqjz1o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss",[56,83,84,85,86,59,87,88,89,90,91],"326257546392244224","326257549311479808","326257660192100352","326257567338598400","326257545918287872","326257546094448640","326222712143876096","326257536179113984","326257664185077760",[57,93,94,95,96,67,97,98,99,100,101],"Nottingham Forest","Maccabi Tel Aviv","Dunfermline","Ludogorets","Liverpool","Tottenham","Portugal","Toulouse","Wales","Celtic Manager Search: What O'Neill vs Keane Decision Means",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":46,"excerpt":104,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":105,"leagueId":49,"leagueName":50,"matchId":51,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":106,"slug":107,"sourceName":108,"sourceURL":109,"teamId":110,"teamName":111,"teamIds":112,"teamNames":121,"title":130},"Ellie Kildunne, World Player of the Year, will leave Harlequins after 2025\u002F26, with 52 tries in 60 matches but no Premiership title. Her next club unknown.","337316690272456705","2026-06-02T18:02:00Z","ellie-kildunne-to-leave-harlequins-end-of-2025-26-season","Sky Sports","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.skysports.com\u002Frugby-union\u002Fnews\u002F12040\u002F13550203\u002Fellie-kildunne-england-star-to-depart-harlequins-at-end-of-season-with-new-club-yet-to-be-confirmed","326222711682502656","England",[110,113,114,115,116,117,118,119,120],"326222712622026752","326222713104371712","326257571990081536","326257808754348032","326222711976103936","326222712110321664","326257545754710016","326257807714160640",[111,122,123,124,125,126,127,128,129],"South Africa","New Zealand","Montpellier","Northampton","Australia","Argentina","Newcastle","Leicester","Ellie Kildunne to Leave Harlequins: End of 2025\u002F26 Season",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":46,"excerpt":132,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":133,"leagueId":49,"leagueName":50,"matchId":51,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":134,"slug":135,"sourceName":108,"sourceURL":136,"teamId":137,"teamName":138,"teamIds":139,"teamNames":161,"title":182},"Aberdeen, Celtic, Rangers among clubs active as free transfers dominate early window. Lawrence Shankland joins Rangers, Kasper Schmeichel retires.","336933975673016321","2026-06-01T12:00:00Z","scottish-premiership-2026-summer-transfers-key-ins-and-outs","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.skysports.com\u002Ffootball\u002Fnews\u002F12040\u002F13548430\u002Ftransfer-news-summer-transfer-window-2026-scottish-premiership-deals-ins-and-outs","326255038185869312","Aberdeen",[137,140,141,142,143,144,145,146,147,83,62,148,149,56,150,151,152,153,154,63,155,156,157,158,59,159,160],"326257659982385152","326257534430089216","326257536078450688","326257808385249280","326222712462643200","326257809152806912","326257534329425920","326257545712766976","326257808309751808","326257589987840000","326257660045299712","326257808477523968","326257610074361856","326257546325135360","326255042132709376","326257809769369600","326257660011745280","326257805017223168","326255038148120576","326257660112408576","326257804941725696",[138,162,163,164,165,166,167,168,169,93,70,170,171,57,172,173,41,174,175,71,176,177,178,179,67,180,181],"Kilmarnock","Eintracht Frankfurt","Paris Saint Germain","Sheffield Wednesday","Bosnia & Herzegovina","Milton Keynes Dons","Borussia Dortmund","Manchester United","QPR","Houston Dynamo","Dundee","Swansea","Brentford","Dundee Utd","Exeter City","ST Mirren","Ross County","Hibernian","Livingston","ST Johnstone","Scottish Premiership 2026 Summer Transfers: Key Ins and Outs",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":46,"excerpt":184,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":185,"leagueId":49,"leagueName":50,"matchId":51,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":186,"slug":187,"sourceName":54,"sourceURL":188,"teamId":159,"teamName":180,"teamIds":189,"teamNames":196,"title":203},"Ex-Republic of Ireland midfielder Glenn Whelan takes charge at Livingston following relegation, tasked with Scottish Championship promotion push.","336107335069995009","2026-05-30T09:18:28Z","glenn-whelan-appointed-livingston-s-road-to-premiership","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fsport\u002Ffootball\u002Farticles\u002Fc775g7pv5veo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss",[159,190,191,143,192,193,194,195],"326257808632713216","326257808435580928","326257546425798656","326257818124423168","326257808058093568","326222707169431552",[180,197,198,165,199,200,201,202],"Bristol Rovers","Stoke City","Aston Villa","Sheffield","Wigan","Anderlecht","Glenn Whelan Appointed: Livingston's Road to Premiership"]