For Celtic, the picture is beginning to take shape even though they still have three or four games left before the Scottish Premiership separates into a top and bottom six for the balance of the season.
After the international break, Brendan Rodgers’ Bhoys travel to play Rangers and Livingston before hosting St Mirren at Celtic Park on April 13.
Going into the last five matchups, which are still to be finalised, Celtic will be at least one point ahead of Philippe Clement’s team thanks to three victories out of three.
But we can begin to predict where and when Celtic will play, as Hibernian or Dundee are likely to round off a top-six that also includes St Mirren, Kilmarnock, and Hearts.
Celtic’s post-split Premiership schedule:
The SPFL confirmed the full set of dates earlier this month, including the final top six matchday on Saturday, May 18th when all fixtures will kick off at 12:30pm. The schedule for Celtic is:
– Fixture round 34, weekend of April 27th/28th
– Fixture round 35, weekend of May 4th/5th
– Fixture round 36, weekend of May 11th/12th
– Fixture round 37, midweek of May 14th/15th
– Fixture round 38, Saturday May 18th at 12:30pm
What Could Play Out for Celtic
Regardless of who makes it into the final top six, the Bhoys will play three home games and two away games, while Rangers will play two at home and three away. The SPFL does not confirm the exact matchups until placings are assured.
This is merely done to evenly distribute each team’s 19 home and away games across the course of the 38-game season.
The current table indicates that Celtic travels to play St. Mirren and Kilmarnock away from home, while Rangers and Hearts play at Celtic Park.
Dundee, who have already made two trips to Celtic Park this season, is expected to travel to the Bhoys if they make it, according to social media expert Scotland’s Coefficient.
If Hibernian finishes sixth, they would also be the visitors to Celtic Park.
The SPFL is usually not inclined to book mid-week or final-day derbies, so the season’s last derby will most likely occur in one of the first three post-split match slots.
Everything is pointing to one of the closest championship races in memory, particularly if Celtic win the forthcoming derby on 7 April at Ibrox. On that final Saturday, this one might go all the way to the wire.
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