SWPL trio in three-way fight for league title in last day deciders

Three teams are fighting it out for the SWPL title in a blockbuster final day of the season.

Only two points separate the top trio with Glasgow City, Rangers and Celtic all in serious contention to be be crowned champions on Sunday.

The two biggest club team stadiums in Scotland will take centre stage to host the two matches that will determine the winning side.

Top of the league Glasgow City travel to Ibrox to take on Rangers as the Hoops host Hearts at Celtic Park on the other side of town.

Two Champions League spots are also online with the team that finishes in third place missing out on the flagship tournament next season.

We take a look at all the potential connotations ahead for the top three.

Glasgow City

For City it couldn’t be any more clear, beat Rangers and they win the league trophy that they lost to Malky Thomson’s side last season.

But as well as playing the current champions they will also have to overcome an expected crowd of over 10,000 in the southside of Glasgow.

They faced the same problem when they visited Celtic Park and came up short by losing 3-1 to another of their title rivals.

A draw for City could also potentially be enough, but they would then be relying on Hearts taking something from Parkhead as any Celtic win would see them crowned champions ahead of City on goal-difference in that scenario.

A defeat at Ibrox would see them leapfrogged by Rangers and potentially drop to third if Celtic were to beat Hearts.

Current position: 1st

Points: 80

Goal difference: +93

Rangers

This is where it starts to get slightly more complicated.

Rangers will be crowned champions if they beat City at Ibrox and Hearts take anything from Parkhead or even if Celtic win by the same or less margin.

But if both Old Firm sides win then it will go down to goal-difference and possibly even goals scored to decide the title.

Thomson’s side are currently ahead on goal-difference, but only by a single goal, meaning if Celtic win by one more than Rangers then will likely take the title on goals-scored, however the Hoops are currently only two ahead in the goals-scored category so that could change during the 90 minutes.

If Rangers lost to City they will drop to third and miss out on the Champions League if Celtic take anything from Hearts, but if both games are a draw Rangers will cling on to second on goal-difference.

In the situation that both the home sides lose, then whoever suffers the heaviest defeat will drop to third.

Current position: 2nd

Points: 78

Goal difference: +103

Goals Scored: 111

Celtic

No matter what happens on the day Celtic will be relying on goal-difference to win the title.

First they will need to beat Hearts with another bumper crowd expected at Parkhead after they set a new SWPL attendance record with their win over Glasgow City last week.

If they manage that and City drop anything at all at Ibrox then they will be on joint points at the top.

If it’s draw on the southside then the Hoops will win the league over City on goal-difference but if Rangers win it will come down to who can win by the highest margin.

The Hoops are one goal behind on goal-difference but two ahead in goals-scored so it’s all up in the air if both the home sides get a victory.

If both Celtic and Rangers take an early lead it could become similar to the last day of the 2003 men’s Premiership season when the title was decided by a single goal.

The Hoops scored four at Rugby Park, just days after playing in the UEFA Cup final, but it wasn’t enough to take the trophy as Rangers beat Dunfermline 6-1 at Ibrox.

Current position: 3rd

Points: 78

Goal difference: +102

Goals scored: 113