Hearts on Fire

In an update on my article posted yesterday on Rangers and Hearts battling for the right to go to Europe this coming weekend, yours truly got his first prediction in a league he doesn't really follow that much right.

I said the Rangers-Hearts match at Ibrox this weekend would have no significance because Hearts would beat Aberdeen at Tynecastle Wednesday night. What do you know? Hearts beat Aberdeen 1-0 in a tense match, and in doing so, moved four points ahead of Rangers FC with just one match to play.

Hearts will make their first appearance in the Champions League next fall (the first club other than Celtic or Rangers to do so), joining Celtic as Scotland's representatives in Europe's premier club competition. Rangers, who are 14 points ahead of fourth place Hibernian, will represent Scotland in the UEFA Cup along with Gretna of the Second Division, who have a UEFA Cup spot reserved for them regardless of whether or not they beat Hearts in the Scottish Cup Final.

Hearts will be placed in the second qualifying round. Celtic is provisionally in the third qualifying round, but if Barcelona beats Arsenal in the Final, then Barcelona will qualify for the group stage as holders, leaving their open La Liga slot in the group stage for the Scottish Premiership winner- Celtic.