Hearts v Rangers preview: Team news, predicted line-ups, where to watch, predictions
Philippe Clement’s Rangers travel to Tynecastle on Sunday to face Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.
Rangers are enduring a troubled season under the stewardship of Clement, with a very limited chance of success remaining.
The Scottish Cup was the Light Blues’ best chance of winning silverware, but a shock defeat to Queen’s Park ended those hopes.
Just the Europa League remains for Rangers if they are to win a trophy, with dignity all that is left to play for in the league given the gap to Celtic.
Hearts v Rangers preview
Twenty-three points separate Rangers from Hearts heading into the clash at Tynecastle, although the pressure is certainly more on the Light Blues to come away with a win.
It has not been a good season for Rangers, who in all likelihood look set to finish the campaign without any material success as a result of their exits from both cups and almost unsalvageable 13-point gap to Celtic.
The Gers enter the clash unbeaten in their last eight league fixtures, the most recent one being a 4-0 hammering of Ross County.
As for the hosts, they find themselves firmly in mid-table having picked up 30 points from 25 games, unbeaten in their last six.
Form Guide (Scottish Premiership)
Hearts: WWDWW
Rangers: DWWWW
Head-To-Head
Rangers 1-0 Hearts (November 2024)
Hearts 0-0 Rangers (August 2024)
Hearts 3-3 Rangers (May 2024)
Rangers 2-0 Hearts (April 2024)
Rangers 5-0 Hearts (February 2024)
Team News
The Light Blues have a number of doubts heading into the game, with Ridvan Yilmaz one of those to be considered.
Yilmaz is unlikely to feature for the full 90 minutes for fear of aggravating his condition, but Clement may still opt to utilise him.
Leon Balogun has been out of action since the trip to Manchester United, while Dujon Sterling is still absent from an injury sustained against Hibernian.
Leon King and Connor Barron are also doubts.
As for the hosts, Aidan Denholm, Craig Halkett and Frankie Kent are among those sidelined.
Predicted lineups
Hearts: Gordon, Penrice, McCart, Neilson, Forrester, Spittal, Devlin, Baningime, Drammeh, Shankland, Kabangu
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Jefte, Diomande, Raskin, Cerny, Igamane, Hagi, Dessers
Where to watch Hearts v Rangers?
The Gers’ encounter with Hearts will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football, with the game scheduled to kick off at 12pm GMT on Sunday 16 February.
Prediction: Hearts 1-3 Rangers
Off the back of an embarrassing defeat to Queen’s Park, Rangers will be eager to bounce back immediately and right their wrongs.
Hearts will be up for the fight, but if the Light Blues can stick to their gameplan, they should have more than enough in the tank to leave Tynecastle with all three points.