New Scottish Premiership season raises question of title challenge

Scotland's top football league starts its new season on Friday with a familiar question: can anyone stop Celtic and Rangers from turning the title race into a two-team contest? Heart of Midlothian came closest last term, repeatedly pushing the Glasgow clubs, and their performances gave neutrals hope of a genuine challenge. But the fairytale ended at Celtic Park on the final day, where the harsh realities of elite football returned. The new campaign will test whether Hearts or any other non-Glasgow side can sustain a challenge for the full season. If the race goes down to the last minutes next spring, Scottish football will have a story to remember.