Hearts vs Rangers prediction, H2H and probable lineups - 21 December 2025
One of the standout matches of Scottish Premiership matchday 18 will take place on Sunday at Tynecastle Park in Edinburgh, where league leaders Hearts will host Rangers. I’m offering a bet on the outcome of this clash with high chances of success.
Match preview
After a disappointing previous season, which saw the club drop out of the top four, Hearts have been transformed under their new manager and now sit confidently atop the table. The team has beaten both giants—Celtic and Rangers—maintaining an excellent league record and remaining unbeaten at home.
Even a temporary dip—four matches without a win—didn’t derail their campaign. Hearts bounced back quickly, reclaiming the top spot by defeating Celtic and then Falkirk. With a win in this round, the hosts could create a significant gap over their closest rivals and further strengthen their title credentials.
Despite a disastrous start to the season and a change in head coach, Rangers are gradually clawing their way back into contention for the top spots. New boss Danny Röhl has managed to stabilize the team, with Rangers unbeaten under his guidance—six wins and two draws from eight league matches.
Glasgow’s side have been picking up points confidently on the road and are currently the only club in the league yet to lose an away fixture. This sets up an intriguing narrative ahead of the clash, as Hearts are also unbeaten at home—so we’re in for a fierce battle between two formidable opponents.
Probable lineups
- Hearts: Schwolow, Steinwender, Halkett, Findlay, Milne, McEntee, Devlin, Kiziridis, Magnusson, Braga, Shankland
- Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Nsiala, Fernandez, Megoma, Barron, Raskin, Moore, Diomande, Gassama, Szymerti
Match facts and head-to-head
- Hearts are unbeaten at home in the league: five wins and three draws.
- Rangers are the only club in the league yet to lose an away match.
- Under their new manager, the visitors have picked up 20 points out of a possible 24 in the Premiership.
Prediction
Given both teams’ form, status, and home strengths, we can expect a tense and evenly matched contest. Considering neither Hearts nor Rangers have lost at home or away respectively, a draw is a real possibility. However, in my opinion, Hearts are slightly closer to victory here, so my bet is “Hearts to win with 0 handicap” at odds of 1.55.
