Scottish Premiership fixtures: Celtic, Rangers first Old Firm on Aug. 31

Scottish Premiership champions Celtic will begin their title defence at home against St Mirren on Aug. 3 while challengers Rangers begin their season a day earlier away at Motherwell.

Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic won the league by 17 points last season and have only missed out on one league title in the last 14 years — when Rangers finished top in 2020-21 season.

The first Old Firm of the season will be on Aug. 31 at Ibrox, with Rangers’ new boss Russell Martin looking to get off to a winning start in Scottish football’s premier matchup.

Scottish Cup champions Aberdeen begin their season away at Hearts before hosting Celtic — who they upset in the Scottish Cup final last season — in the second week of the season.

The league splits in half with a top and bottom six in April after 33 games, with a final five-game run from the April 25 to May 17.