Celtic vs Hearts Predictions
A remarkable winner-takes-all Premiership finale is likely to see goals at both ends. I have a full stake on BTTS while I also fancy Hearts to claim the result they need to secure Scottish title glory.
BTTS Likely in Glasgow
- Celtic have seen BTTS in 6 of their last 7 matches
- Hearts have seen BTTS in 5 of their last 6 matches
- Celtic failed to win their last 3 matches against Hearts
- Hearts have seen BTTS in 4 of their last 5 matches against Celtic
- Hearts are unbeaten in 9 of their last 10 matches
Celtic Edge Hearts in Recent H2H Record
Celtic and Hearts have met on 13 occasions since the start of 2023. Celtic secured eight wins while Hearts won four matches, including two of three encounters this season.
Celtic Score Controversial Victory
Celtic maintained hopes of Premiership title glory with a hugely controversial 3-2 win at Motherwell on Wednesday. Locked together heading into the 97th minute, a VAR-awarded penalty, converted by Kelechi Iheanacho, secured a vital victory for the Scottish champions.
The Hoops could count themselves hugely fortunate, with Motherwell's Sam Nicholson adjudged to have handled inside the area as they looked to be heading to a damaging draw.
Martin O'Neill's side now require only a win to claim a fifth successive Premiership title. A draw against Motherwell would have required the Hoops to win by three this weekend.
Despite a lack of clean sheets, Celtic have maintained winning form in the final weeks of the season. The Bhoys won eight of their last nine matches, with at least one goal conceded in seven of those eight victories.
Hearts Maintain Premiership Advantage
Hearts make the trip to Parkhead still in charge of their own destiny after a comfortable 3-0 win against Falkirk on Wednesday evening. Blair Spittal’s late goal put the seal on a massive win for Derek McInnes’s side.
A strong home defence restricted the visitors to just four shots and a final xG of only 0.30.
Before Wednesday’s clean sheet, the Jambos had conceded at least one goal in six of seven previous fixtures. BTTS landed in five of those matches.
Following the win at Tynecastle, Hearts sit one point ahead of Celtic coming into this weekend’s showdown in Glasgow.
In a remarkable campaign, McInnes’s men have remained top of the Premiership since September. A solid end to the season has seen the league leaders win seven and lose just one of their last ten Premiership fixtures.
Hearts should take further confidence from their last trip to Parkhead. Goals from Claudio Braga and Oisin McEntee secured a 2-1 win last December.
Predicted Lineups and Team News
Celtic (4-3-3) Viljami Sinisalo; Alistair Johnston, Auston Trusty, Liam Scales, Kieran Tierney; Arne Engels, Callum McGregor, Sebastian Tounekti; Benjamin Nygren, Hyun jun Yang, Daizen Maeda
Celtic boss O’Neill remains unable to call on several first-team players for Saturday’s titanic Premiership showdown. Tomas Cvancara, Colby Donovan, Julian Araujo, Kasper Schmeichel, Callum Osmand, Adam Montgomery, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota are all ruled out.
Following the controversial win against Motherwell, O’Neill gave his approval for the 99th-minute VAR-awarded spot kick.
"Well, I have seen it back very, very briefly, it's a handball, it looks as if it's also an elbow to the side of the head as well.
"VAR have asked the referee to come over and have a look at it, and he's (had) no hesitation in giving the penalty."
Hearts (4-2-3-1) Alexander Schwolow; Michael Steinwender, Frankie Kent, Stuart Findlay, Harry Milne; Beni Baningime, Cameron Devlin; Alexandros Kyziridis, Blair Spittal, Claudio Braga; Lawrence Shankland
Head McInnes also has a lengthy list of absentees this weekend. Craig Gordon, Oisin McEntee, Tomas Magnusson, Calem Nieuwenhof, Ageu, Finlay Pollock, Craig Halkett and Marc Leonard all miss out for the Premiership leaders.
Speaking after his side’s comfortable win against Falkirk, McInnes expressed his fury at Celtic’s hugely controversial penalty award against Motherwell.
"When you heard Celtic had a 96th-minute penalty going to VAR, you just assume they get it," the furious Hearts head coach told Sky Sports.
"It's disgusting. We're up against it, we're up against everybody. I don't think it's a penalty. It's so poor, and it looks as though (Celtic) have been given it. They have been very fortunate."