Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic are preparing to take on top-six hopefuls Hearts at Celtic Park this Saturday afternoon.
Currently, the hosts boast a robust 13-point advantage at the top of the league, while the visitors sit in sixth place, holding a slender one-point gap above seventh-placed Motherwell.
Match Overview
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With the conclusion of the Scottish Premiership season nearing, it seems only a matter of time before Celtic secures the championship, currently 13 points ahead of their closest rivals, Rangers.
Brendan Rodgers has guided the team to a remarkable record of 24 wins, three draws, and three losses across 30 league matches, with an impressive tally of 89 goals scored and only 20 conceded.
With just three matches left before the league splits, Celtic has an opportunity to clinch the title early by accumulating 12 points while hoping for at least one loss from Rangers.
After a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Rangers before the international break, the Celtic team will be eager to get back on track as they begin their final three fixtures, starting with Hearts, followed by encounters with St Johnstone and Kilmarnock, plus a Scottish FA Cup semi-final against St Johnstone.
Team News
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The home side will be missing Paulo Bernardo due to an ongoing ankle injury, while Callum McGregor, James Forrest, and Liam Scales are also doubts for the match.
In case of absences, Luke McCowan, Arne Engels, and Reo Hatate are likely to occupy central midfield roles, while Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn, Daizen Maeda, and Jota will remain key in the attacking lineup.
On the visitors’ side, Cameron Devlin, Craig Halkett, Frankie Kent, and Stephen Kingsley are also facing uncertainty due to injuries.
After two consecutive victories prior to the break, Critchley may retain the same starting lineup, with captain Lawrence Shankland positioned behind James Wilson and Elton Kabangu.
Celtic potential starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Nawrocki, Schlupp; McCowan, Engels, Hatate; Kuhn, Maeda, Jota
Hearts potential starting lineup:
Gordon; Forrester, Steinwender, Neilson, Penrice; Kartum, Baningime, Spittal; Shankland; Wilson, Kabangu
Prediction: Celtic 2-0 Hearts
Celtic’s near invincibility in domestic matches this season, along with their strong home record against Hearts, leads us to expect a victory for the hosts.
For further analysis regarding the most probable outcomes and scorelines for this match please click here.
