Edinburgh prepares for a carnival-like weekend with road closures, rerouted buses, and trams stopping on Princes Street, depending on a football result in Glasgow. Civic leaders plan a reception at the city chambers tied to the outcome of Hearts’ match against Celtic. Celtic have dominated Scotland’s top tier for decades, while Hearts have not won since 1960. The title decider takes place at Celtic Park with about 60,000 supporters. Hearts need only a draw to become champions, while Celtic must win to stop them. If Hearts win, central Edinburgh will host a victory parade on Sunday, drawing excitement from fans even among bitter rivals. A Hearts season ticket holder living in Sydney has flown home and plans to watch the match in Edinburgh with family.
"Edinburgh, a festival city, is preparing for a different kind of carnival this weekend. Roads will be closed, buses rerouted and trams will stop running down Princes Street. Civic leaders are preparing a reception at the city chambers. It all depends on the result of a football match in Glasgow on Saturday."
"One of Edinburgh's biggest teams, Heart of Midlothian, are on the brink of a historic moment in European football, if only they can avoid defeat at Celtic, the biggest team in the Scottish game. Celtic have largely dominated Scottish football's top tier for 40 years. Hearts have not won it since 1960, and the decider will take place in the cauldron of Celtic Park in Glasgow, home to 60,000 partisan Celtic supporters."
"Hearts just need a draw to take the title. Second-placed Celtic must win to prevent them. If Hearts are crowned champions, central Edinburgh will host their raucous victory parade on Sunday. It seems that millions of neutrals in Scotland and worldwide will be celebrating with them. Even fans of Hearts' bitterest local rivals Hibernian, such as Andy Murray and Irvine Welsh, reluctantly agree."
"As Hearts' push for the title became real, he began wearing the team's jersey in public. English people came up to him on the street to urge them on. Like many others living overseas, Mill has flown home for the game. He encountered another five Hearts fans on the same flight from Australia; they congregated in their lay-over in Doha."
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Read at www.theguardian.com
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