Celtic vs Falkirk Predictions
Celtic return to domestic action at Celtic Park on Saturday, looking for an immediate response to Tuesday’s extraordinary Champions League collapse against LASK.
The Hoops have been dominant domestically this season, while Falkirk are yet to score in the Premiership.
I have my stake on Celtic to cover a -1.5 Asian handicap at Parkhead.
Celtic Backed for Comfortable Victory
- Celtic won by more than 1 goal in 6 of their last 8 wins (competitive matches)
- Celtic scored an average of 2.8 goals per game in their last 5 matches
- Celtic won by more than 1 goal in 8 of their last 9 matches against Falkirk
- Falkirk lost by more than 1 goal in 6 of their last 7 defeats
Celtic Dominate Head to Head Record
Celtic and Falkirk have met on seven occasions since 2020. Celtic won all seven matches.
Over the past 12 months, Celtic won each of five encounters, scoring 14 goals while conceding just twice.
Celtic Look for Immediate Response
Celtic return to Glasgow after suffering one of the most remarkable European collapses in the club’s history on Tuesday.
Martin O’Neill’s side travelled to Austria with a commanding 3-0 advantage against LASK and moved four goals clear on aggregate when Callum McGregor opened the scoring.
Yet, in a truly incredible capitulation, Celtic conceded five unanswered goals as the Austrian champions claimed a stunning 5-1 extra-time victory to advance 5-4 on aggregate.
The Glasgow giants could have little complaint on the night. LASK registered an extraordinary 40 efforts on goal, with ten big chances created.
Domestic performances have been considerably more impressive. Celtic began their Premiership campaign with a 1-0 home victory against Dundee before thrashing Kilmarnock 5-1 at Rugby Park.
The Hoops also cruised to a 4-0 League Cup victory at Dundee United, while they have won each of their last 12 matches (excluding European competitions).
Recent results against Falkirk also offer encouragement to the home side. The Hoops eased to a 3-1 win when these sides last met at Parkhead in April.
Only two games into the Premiership campaign, O’Neill’s men alñready sit at the top of the division, ahead of St Mirren on goal difference, and five clear of faltering rivals Rangers.
Falkirk Still Searching for First Win
Falkirk return to Premiership action for the first time in nearly three weeks in search of their first league victory of the season.
John McGlynn’s side began their campaign with a 2-0 home defeat against St Mirren before claiming their first point in a goalless draw at Motherwell.
The Bairns produced an improved performance at Fir Park but again struggled in the final third.
Falkirk posted a miserly xG of just 0.55 in both fixtures, failing to create meaningful opportunities in either contest.
The out-of-form away side have now lost five and won only two of their last nine competitive fixtures. Both victories came against lower-league opponents in the League Cup.
Recent road trips to Glasgow have been fruitless for McGlynn’s men. The Bairns lost their last five visits to this venue, conceding 18 goals in those matches.
Celtic vs Falkirk Team News
Celtic: (4-2-3-1) Viljami Sinisalo; Colby Donovan, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, Kieran Tierney; Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate; Camilo Duran, Benjamin Nygren, Sebastian Tounekti; Kasper Hogh
O’Neill is sure to make changes to his first XI following Tuesday’s gruelling extra-time defeat in Austria. Reo Hatate, Sebastian Tounekti, Luke McCowan and Liam Scales are among those pushing for recalls.
The veteran Irish boss took responsibility for the Hoops' embarrassing collapse in Austria earlier this week.
"I'm responsible for this one," he said.
"Without a doubt. Naturally, it took me a long time to get over the UEFA Cup final in 2003, but this was majorly disappointing.
"In the context of things, one was a final which it would have been terrific to win; this was a qualifying game which we should have been able to get through.
"We know that we are a million miles from the finished article. That's absolutely true. I think we thought that anyway."
Celtic remain without Alistair Johnston, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Jota continues his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury.
Falkirk: (4-2-3-1) Scott Bain; Ryan Strain, Lewis Neilson, Liam Henderson, Leon McCann; Finley Barbrook, Ben Krauhaus; Aodhan Doherty, Finn Yeats, Ethan Ross; Ben Parkinson
Falkirk boss McGlynn remains unable to call on a handful of first-team players. Tom Lang, Ethan Laidlaw, Keelan Adams, Scott Tanser and Aidan Nesbitt are expected to miss out for the Bairns.
Conor McLeod is available after joining the club from Wolves.
Ben Parkinson is expected to lead the attack with the visitors still searching for a first Premiership goal this season.
McGlynn expressed his delight after securing a season-long loan deal for long-time target McLeod.
“Conor is a winger, and he’s one that Allan Fraser watched towards the end of last season and he caught his eye, so we’ve followed him since then,” McGlynn explained.
“He’s been doing really well in pre-season with Wolves. He scored a couple of goals against Burnley, which is great from his point of view.
“He’s a skilful player that will take opposition players on in one vs one situations, and we feel he’s someone who will complement the team."