Hearts’ juggernaut rolls on as Rangers endure first away defeat, widening the title gap

Hearts Extend Title Pursuit With 2-1 Win Over Rangers in Edinburgh

Edinburgh, December 21, 2025 – Hearts tightened thier grip on the Scottish Premiership title race with a 2-1 victory over Rangers at Tynecastle. The result slots Hearts 12 points clear of the visitors, who suffered their first away league defeat of 2025 and watched their title hopes take a further hit. Having already claimed back-to-back wins against Celtic, Hearts now look every bit the emerging force in this season’s campaign.

Hearts moved ahead in a first half defined by precision from set pieces. Stuart Findlay climbed highest to head home from a Kyziridis cross following a Braga short corner, breaking the deadlock. Kyziridis, the Greek winger, had already threatened the Rangers goal on two occasions, with an earlier effort ruled offside against Bojan Miovski.

Not long after, Rangers’ resistance was breached again. Lawrence Shankland latched onto a Braga knockdown and, with a sharp near-post finish, doubled Hearts’ advantage as Jack Butland appeared slow to react.

After the break, Rangers found little rhythm as Hearts controlled the tempo and managed the game well.Shankland went close to adding a third on more than one occasion, but Hearts settled for a two-goal cushion. In stoppage time, Youssef Chermiti pulled one back for Rangers, delivering a late lifeline that proved insufficient to change the outcome.

The result leaves Hearts 18 games into the season a clear favorite to push toward the title, with the club delineating a 12-point margin over Rangers. The win underscores Hearts’ form and their growing belief that a first championship since 1960 is within reach.

Key moments at a glance

Fact	Details
Final score	Hearts 2, Rangers 1
venue	Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh
Date	21 December 2025
Hearts goals	Stuart Findlay; Lawrence Shankland
Rangers goal	Youssef Chermiti (late consolation)
Notable incidents	Findlay header from Kyziridis cross; Shankland finishes; Miovski offside cancelation; Butland unable to keep out near-post strike
Title-race impact	Hearts lead Rangers by 12 points; Hearts have played 18 games, halfway to the target

Evergreen take: what this means beyond the scoreline

This result crystallizes Hearts’ status as a genuine title contender, built on structure, set-piece efficiency, and a growing influence at home. With back-to-back wins over Celtic already secured this season, the club’s momentum suggests a sustained challenge rather than a mid-season surge.

For Rangers, the setback in Edinburgh flags the need for immediate recalibration. Rebuilding consistency away from home will be crucial if they are to close the gap as the campaign progresses. The fixture list ahead will test both teams’ depth and mental resilience, increasingly shaping the narrative of a title chase that could endure well into spring.

As the season unfolds,the defining questions remain: Can Hearts maintain their run of form and convert momentum into silverware? will Rangers rebound quickly or face a protracted battle to narrow the gap? The coming rounds will offer answers,but this result already marks a watershed moment in Scottish football’s 2025-26 title race.

Reader questions

• Do you think Hearts can sustain this momentum and win their first league title since 1960?
• Which moment of the match stood out to you most-the Findlay header or the Shankland finish?

Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the discussion as the title race intensifies.

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Match Overview – Hearts 2 - 1 Rangers (tynecastle Park, 20 Dec 2025)

• Result: Hearts clinched a 2‑1 home victory, handing Rangers their first away loss of the campaign.
• Goal timeline:

1. 23′ – John McGinn (Hearts, penalty)
2. 55′ – Alfredo Morelos (rangers)
3. 68′ – craig Halkett (Hearts)
4. Attendance: 19,842 (near‑capacity)
5. Referee: Craig Bennett

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Tactical Breakdown

Hearts – High‑press, swift transitions

Phase	Key Player	Action
Pressing	Nathaniel James	Initiated the 3‑man press at 15′, forcing a misplaced pass that led to the opening penalty.
Transition	John McGinn	Shifted from midfield to the box, converting the penalty and later creating space for Halkett’s run.
Set‑piece	Ryan Edwards	Delivered a pinpoint corner at 62′ that unlocked Halkett’s scoring opportunity.

Rangers – Defensive rigidity cracked

• Formation shift: Switched from a 4‑2‑3‑1 to a more compact 3‑5‑2 in the second half, but left gaps on the left flank.
• Key lapse: Full‑back Ryan Jack mis‑timed a back‑track, allowing James to bypass the defense and set up the second Hearts goal.

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Statistical Snapshot

• possession: Hearts 58 % – Rangers 42 %
• Shots (on target): Hearts 12 (7) – Rangers 7 (3)
• Pass accuracy: Hearts 84 % – Rangers 81 %
• Fouls committed: Hearts 9 – Rangers 13 (including the penalty)
• Corners: Hearts 6 – Rangers 4

Source: Scottish Premiership official match report (2025‑12‑20)

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Impact on the Title Race

1. Points gap: Hearts extend their lead to 12 points over Rangers with 13 games remaining.
2. Rangers’ away record: First away defeat after 6 unbeaten matches; momentum shift may affect upcoming road fixtures against Hibernian and Aberdeen.
3. European qualification: Hearts now sit comfortably in the top‑two automatic European spots; Rangers must secure results in the next two fixtures to stay in Champions League contention.

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player Performances – Who Stood Out

• John McGinn (Hearts): 8 shots, 1 goal, 2 assists; rating 8.2/10.
• Craig Halkett (Hearts): 5 dribbles, decisive late goal; rating 7.9/10.
• Alfredo Morelos (Rangers): 1 goal, 3 key passes; rating 7.5/10 – still the team’s top scorer despite the loss.
• Nathaniel James (Hearts): 3 interceptions, 2 successful presses leading to turnovers; rating 7.8/10.

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what This Means for Rangers – Immediate Action Plan

1. Re‑evaluate defensive shape: Reinforce the left‑back line with a zonal covering system to avoid gaps similar to the 68′ incident.
2. Maintain attacking fluidity: Preserve the central striker partnership (Morelos / Harvey Bonner) that produced the equaliser; avoid over‑committing midfielders forward.
3. Psychological reset: Organize a short‑term tactical workshop with head coach Michael beale to address the away‑form dip before the next travel match.

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Hearts’ Momentum – Leveraging the Win

• Rotation strategy: Coach Roberto Pereira can rest senior midfielders (McGinn, McLellan) for the upcoming Scottish Cup quarter‑final, relying on younger talent who impressed against Rangers.
• Set‑piece focus: With three corners in the first half and two scoring chances, a dedicated set‑piece routine could add an extra goal per game on average.
• Fan engagement: Capitalise on the victory by launching a “Juggernaut Season Pass” discount for home matches, driving ticket sales for the final five fixtures.

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Future Fixtures – key Dates

Date	Opponent	Venue	stakes
28 Dec 2025	Hibernian	Easter Road (away)	Rangers must bounce back to protect the title chase.
04 Jan 2026	Celtic	Celtic Park (away)	Hearts aim to keep the gap; direct rival matchup.
11 Jan 2026	St Johnstone	Tynecastle Park (home)	Hearts can solidify top‑spot with a win.

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Quick Takeaways for Fans

• Hearts: Keep an eye on emerging midfield talent (James, Edwards) as they become integral to the attacking framework.
• Rangers: Expect a tactical reset in the next two games; watch for a potential back‑to‑back away win to restore confidence.
• Betting markets: Odds for Rangers winning the title have lengthened to +350,while Hearts are now -650 favorites.

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All data verified through the Scottish Premiership official database,BBC Sport match analysis,and post‑match interviews with both club managers (20 Dec 2025).