Rangers vs Hearts: prediction, head-to-head and probable lineups – 15 February 2026
One of the marquee clashes of the 27th round in the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership will take place this Sunday, February 15, at Ibrox Stadium. In a battle for supremacy, Rangers (2nd place) will go head-to-head with the current league leaders, Hearts.
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Match preview
Under the guidance of Danny Röhl, Rangers have found their stride since the managerial change. The team has overcome its early-season crisis and is now hot on the leaders’ heels with 52 points. At home, Rangers have been almost invincible: they’ve won all six of their last home league matches, showcasing impressive attacking form. Victory this Sunday would narrow the gap at the top to a minimum, making this showdown absolutely crucial in the title race.
However, selection issues may force the German tactician to shuffle his starting eleven. Connor Barron, Derek Cornelius, Max Aarons, and Bailey Rice will all miss out due to injuries. Fan hopes in attack are pinned on Bojan Miovski, who is expected to start ahead of Youssef Chermiti after the recent 1-1 draw with Motherwell. Despite defensive absences, Rangers remain favorites thanks to their organized pressing and the roaring support from the stands, which will drive the team forward from the first whistle.
Hearts, under Derek McInnes, are enjoying a phenomenal season, defying all pre-season expectations to sit top of the table with 57 points. The team arrives in Glasgow riding high after a crucial 1-0 Edinburgh derby win over Hibernian last week. The Jambos are the league’s best away team this season, having collected 26 points on the road. What’s more, Hearts handed Rangers one of their few league defeats this campaign, beating them 2-1 back in September—a fact that adds even more intrigue to this encounter.
Injury problems are mounting for the visitors: captain and top scorer Lawrence Shankland, as well as Cameron Devlin, Calem Nieuwenhof, and Stephen Kingsley are all sidelined. This forces McInnes to rely on derby hero Thomas Magnusson, who netted the winner against Hibernian after coming off the bench. Hearts will almost certainly opt for a pragmatic, counter-attacking approach, knowing a draw in their main rivals’ backyard would maintain a comfortable five-point cushion and keep them firmly on track for a historic title charge.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Rangers are unbeaten in their last four matches.
- Rangers have scored first in eight of their last nine matches.
- Six of Hearts’ recent matches have featured fewer than three goals.
- Rangers dominate the last ten head-to-head meetings: six wins to Hearts’ two, with two draws.
- In the first round, Hearts beat Rangers 2-1.
Probable lineups
- Rangers: Butland - Tavernier, Fernandez, Djiga, Meghoma - Raskin, Chukwuani, Diomande - Gassama, Moore, Miovski
- Hearts: Schwolow - McEntee, Kent, Findlay, Milne - Leonard, Magnusson, Braga - Chesnokov, Kyziridis, Landry Kabore
Prediction
I expect this contest to turn into a tense tactical battle with minimal risk-taking. Rangers will be out for revenge, but Hearts under McInnes have perfected the art of playing on the counter this season. With both sides missing their main goal threats and the immense stakes at play, the teams are likely to prioritize defensive solidity over open football. My prediction: Total goals under 3.
