The Scottish Premiership is set for a thrilling weekend of action, with key battles shaping the title race and relegation fight. Sky Sports will be broadcasting the match between Kilmarnock and Celtic live from Rugby Park on Sunday, while all other matches will be covered on Sky Sports News and through live blogs on the Sky Sports app and website. Here’s a preview of the key matchups and storylines to watch out for:
Celtic Aiming to Extend Their Unbeaten Run at Kilmarnock
Fresh off a remarkable Champions League victory against RB Leipzig, Celtic will be looking to continue their dominant start to the season by securing another Premiership win. They have already secured their spot in the Scottish League Cup final and are currently sitting at the top of the table. However, a recent two-game losing streak in Ayrshire across all competitions might give Kilmarnock a glimmer of hope.
Kilmarnock have shown resilience in their last eight league games, scoring and conceding goals in seven of those matches. They currently sit eighth in the table and will be eager to cause an upset against the league leaders.
Rangers Seek Rebound Against Hearts
Philippe Clement’s Rangers are aiming for a victory against Hearts, not only to close the gap in the title race but also to avenge their opening-day draw at Tynecastle. Both sides faced challenges in midweek European action, with Rangers earning a respectable draw against Olympiakos in the Europa League, and Hearts suffering a disappointing defeat at home to Heidenheim in the Conference League.
The Jambos have made progress under Neil Critchley, accumulating as many points in four league games as they did in their previous 12 matches before his arrival. A victory last weekend lifted Hearts off the bottom of the table, but they remain just one point above the relegation zone.
Can Hibs Secure a Vital Victory?
The pressure is mounting on Hibs head coach David Gray, who desperately needs a second Premiership win to lift his team out of the relegation battle. Despite drawing their last three matches, Hibs have dropped a league-high 11 points from winning positions this season. Their opponents, St Mirren, have enjoyed success in their previous trips to Hibs, winning both league games last season after struggling in their prior visits to Leith.
St Mirren will be looking to move back into the top six with a positive result on Saturday.
Aberdeen’s Unblemished Premiership Record on the Line
Aberdeen will be seeking to bounce back from their League Cup exit and maintain their impressive Premiership title challenge. A victory over Dundee at Pittodrie would see them temporarily climb to the top of the table. The Dons have a formidable record against Dundee at home, remaining unbeaten in their last 15 matches and winning two of the last 29 meetings.
Dundee, on the other hand, have struggled on the road this season with only one away win to their name. However, they’ll draw confidence from their late victory against Kilmarnock last weekend.
Motherwell Aiming for Back-to-Back Wins Against St Johnstone
Motherwell will be looking to repeat their 2-1 victory over St Johnstone from August to secure back-to-back league wins against their opponents for the first time since November 2019. Stuart Kettlewell’s side have lost their last two home league games and haven’t suffered three consecutive losses at Fir Park since 2022. St Johnstone, meanwhile, are also seeking a turnaround in form after losing their last two matches.
Dundee United’s Chance to Move Up to Third
Dundee United have a golden opportunity to leapfrog Rangers and climb into third place in the table, at least temporarily, with a win over Ross County. However, Jim Goodwin’s side are winless in their last three league games and have only managed one clean sheet in their last seven home matches.
Ross County, despite drawing eight of their last 14 Premiership matches, will be aiming to secure a victory that would move them into the top half of the table. Their first meeting of the season ended in a draw.
