SPFL fixtures 2019-20: Celtic start against St Johnstone, Rangers visit Kilmarnock

21st Jun 2019 | Source: BBC

Rangers travel to Rugby Park on opening day, a repeat of the final fixture of last season which Kilmarnock won 2-1

Celtic will begin their bid for a record-equalling ninth successive Scottish Premiership title at home to St Johnstone on 3 August.

Rangers visit Kilmarnock the following day in Angelo Alessio's league debut as Rugby Park manager.

Among the other opening-weekend fixtures, promoted Ross County host Hamilton and Aberdeen entertain Hearts.

The season's first Old Firm game is at Ibrox on 31 August, with the Edinburgh derby at Easter Road on 21 September.

Relegated Dundee kick off their Championship campaign at Dunfermline Athletic and face Dundee United on 31 August in the city rivals' first league derby outside the top flight since 1996.

The Premiership stops for a winter break after the fixtures on 29 December and resumes on 22 January, with the campaign ending on the weekend of 16-17 May.

Celtic, aiming to emulate the nine-in-a-row milestone previously achieved by themselves and Rangers, also face Motherwell, Hearts, Hamilton and Kilmarnock in their opening six fixtures.

"Hopefully at that time we're still negotiating Champions League as well," Celtic manager Neil Lennon told Sky Sports. "It's a reasonable start but quite dicey."

Rangers are bidding to build on last season's second-place finish under Steven Gerrard and return to Rugby Park where they lost 2-1 in the final game of last season and haven't won in the league since 2011.

Italian Alessio takes charge at Kilmarnock after Steve Clarke led the club to third place last season with a second successive club record points total.