Celtic, Hearts and Rangers face early-season setbacks in Scottish Premiership
Celtic, Heart of Midlothian and Rangers have all encountered problems at the start of the Scottish Premiership season, with developments unfolding over the opening weekend and midweek fixtures this week on 2026-08-07. Celtic won their opening match by a single goal against Dundee, Hearts were beaten 6-1 by Benfica and Rangers drew 1-1 at Dundee United before losing 2-1 in Europa League qualifying in Poland.
Further disruption off the pitch followed news that veteran Celtic manager Martin O'Neill was in hospital after undergoing what they said was "a small precedure", although the manager has since been released from hospital and could still be unavailable. Hearts' 6-1 loss to Benfica was their fourth defeat in a row this season. Rangers' midweek Europa League exit came after Thursday's defeat in Poland to Jagiellonia Bialystok.
Dundee travel to Aberdeen on Saturday having impressed against Celtic and maintained momentum at Dens Park, where they have won their latest five home games, including three in the top flight. Manager Steven Pressley received criticism for playing down his side's chances but Dundee head to Aberdeen unbeaten in recent home form and have recorded victories in the last two meetings with the Dons despite failing to beat Aberdeen in their previous 33 encounters.
Aberdeen arrive having scored at least twice in each of their latest seven league meetings with Dundee and continue an upward trend since Stephen Robinson's appointment; after their opening defeat of Hearts they have won four of their latest Premiership games, with only Celtic having secured more points since April. Kevin Nisbet contributed a goal and an assist in Aberdeen's win over Hearts and has scored his latest three away league goals at Dens Park.
St Mirren and promoted St Johnstone, both winners in the opening round, meet in Paisley where St Johnstone will seek to start a Premiership campaign with back-to-back victories for the first time since 2017. Jamie Gullan, a former Hibs trainee, returned to the top flight for St Johnstone and provided two assists in their 4-3 win over Kilmarnock, finishing that game with more shots, chances created and touches in the opposition box than any of his team-mates.
Motherwell and Hibernian enjoyed mixed midweek European results as they prepare domestic fixtures; Motherwell drew 1-1 away to HJK Helskini while Hibs beat Shkendija 2-1. Motherwell, praised for the style of play introduced last season by Jens Berthel Askou and adapted by new manager Alfred Johansson, must improve a domestic record against Falkirk, who have won their latest three visits to Fir Park and, since a 1-0 win over Well at Falkirk Stadium in May, have seen John McGlynn's side lose four Premiership matches in succession.
Rangers face selection questions ahead of hosting Hibernian after Nicolas Raskin returned from World Cup duty as a substitute in Poland and, along with Cammy Devlin, made such a big difference after the break that both will be pushing for starts. Thelo Aasgaard has scored in his last three Rangers appearances but has also left manager Derek McInnes frustrated with moments the manager described as either laziness or misplaced arrogance. The club's need for a player in the mould of Sweden midfielder Benjamin Nygren was underlined by Nygren scoring Celtic's winner against Dundee; "No player has scored more than his 17 goals - or six winners - in the Premiership since the beginning of last season."
Other individual form lines include Motherwell midfielder Lukas Fadinger, who has scored three goals in his latest five Premiership appearances, and St Mirren forward Killian Phillips, whose two goals against Falkirk added impetus to reports he is being courted by clubs in Major League Soccer. At Dundee United, the Belgian head coach Wouter Vrancken faces scrutiny after his side shipped 14 goals in four games and will be without centre-half Stuart Findlay due to suspension; United themselves have not kept a clean sheet in 17 away Premiership matches and have conceded the fewest away clean sheets since the start of last season.
This weekend’s schedule offers immediate tests for the title hopefuls: Dundee visit Aberdeen on Saturday, St Mirren host St Johnstone in Paisley, Hibernian travel to Ibrox to face Rangers, Celtic could be without O'Neill for the trip to Kilmarnock, and Heart of Midlothian prepare to face Dundee United at Tynecastle.
