Celticvs.Hearts

The hosts are 13 points clear at the top of the league table, while the visitors are in sixth place with just a one-point lead over seventh-placed Motherwell.

Match preview

It is a case of when and not if for Celtic to win the title, with the Bhoys holding a significant 13-point lead over second-placed Rangers as the Scottish Premiership season nears its end.

Brendan Rodgers has led the side to an impressive 24 wins, three draws and three defeats from their 30 league fixtures, scoring a huge 89 times while conceding just 20 times.

While there are just three games remaining before the Scottish Premiership table splits into two halves, Celtic could still lift the title before the split if they pick up 12 points and Rangers lose at least once.

That will certainly motivate the Celtic squad, who were disappointingly defeated 3-2 by Rangers before the international break, with the 55th league title in the club's history within touching distance.

The Bhoys will look to get their final three matches off to a winning start on Saturday, as they welcome Hearts to Celtic Park, followed by league matchups with St Johnstone and Kilmarnock and a Scottish FA Cup semi-final clash with St Johnstone.

Hearts, however, will look to provide a tough challenge for the hosts, as the Jambos are focused on securing a top-six spot in the Scottish Premiership ahead of the split.

The visitors have done superbly to climb into the fight for a top six finish given their miserable start to the campaign, which saw the Jambos fail to win any of their opening eight league matches.

That run, alongside early exits from the Scottish League Cup and Europa League qualifying rounds, led to the dismissal of former manager Steven Naismith, but Neil Critchley has brilliantly turned their campaign around.

Critchley has won 15, drawn five and lost 10 of his 30 matches in charge, a run that has lifted Hearts into sixth in the table with only three games remaining.

The Jambos hold just a one-point lead over seventh-placed Motherwell, meaning results are of paramount importance before the split, and they will aim to get off to a strong start against Celtic.

Hearts have struggled in recent meetings with the Bhoys, though, as Celtic have lost only one of their past 23 meetings at Celtic Park - with 21 wins and one draw in that time.

Celtic Scottish Premiership form:

W

W

L

W

W

L

Celtic form (all competitions):

D

L

W

W

W

L

Hearts Scottish Premiership form:

W

L

W

W

L

W

Hearts form (all competitions):

L

W

W

L

W

W

Team News

The hosts will be without the services of Paulo Bernardo for this match due to an ongoing ankle injury, while Callum McGregor, James Forrest and Liam Scales are all doubts.

In the potential absence of McGregor and Bernardo, Luke McCowan, Arne Engels and Reo Hatate could start in midfield, while Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn, Daizen Maeda and Jota will continue in attack.

As for the visitors, Cameron Devlin, Craig Halkett, Frankie Kent and Stephen Kingsley are all doubts to feature against the Bhoys due to ongoing injury problems.

Following back-to-back victories before the international break, Critchley could look to name the same starting team in this one, featuring captain Lawrence Shankland playing behind James Wilson and Elton Kabangu.

Celtic possible starting lineup:

Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Nawrocki, Schlupp; McCowan, Engels, Hatate; Kuhn, Maeda, Jota

Hearts possible starting lineup:

Gordon; Forrester, Steinwender, Neilson, Penrice; Kartum, Baningime, Spittal; Shankland; Wilson, Kabangu

We say: Celtic 2-0 Hearts

Written by

Ellis Stevens

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