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Celtic will take on Falkirk on Saturday, 29 August, with the hosts looking to bounce back from their devastating defeat in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
After squandering a 4-0 aggregate lead, Celtic will now need to dust themselves down if they are to continue their 100% start to the Scottish Premiership season.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Celtic vs Falkirk key stats
- Celtic have a 100% record at Celtic Park in all competitions this season.
- Falkirk have yet to win a league match this season.
- More than three goals have been scored in three of Celtic's four competitive matches this season.
Celtic vs Falkirk preview: Bhoys to respond?
Watford vs West Ham— Tale of the Tape
| Celtic | vs | Falkirk |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Position | 10th |
| 6 | Points | 1 |
| 6 | Goals For | 0 |
| 1 | Goals Against | 2 |
| 0 | Clean Sheets | 0 |
| 5th | Home / Away Rank | 7th |
It has likely been a couple of dark days in the Celtic camp following their humiliation in the Champions League playoff round on Tuesday night, and while a win over Falkirk will only begin to repair the damage, it feels absolutely necessary for Martin O'Neill.
Celtic will now have to settle for a place in the Europa League this season, and while that will offer them more winning opportunities than the Champions League would have, now isn't the time to put a positive spin on losing from being 4-0 up.
The 5-1 loss to LASK was even more shocking when you consider how well Celtic have started the season. The Bhoys have won all three of their domestic matches, scoring 10 goals in the process.
Falkirk have won just two of seven competitive matches this season.
O'Neill will likely make some changes from the team that played in Austria, but he is still unable to call upon Alistair Johnston or Jota, with the pair still in the treatment room.
As for Falkirk, they will see this as a golden opportunity to take advantage of a Celtic team that will be feeling sorry for themselves.
Unfortunately for the Bairns, they have yet to win a league match or even score a league goal this season. It's not the sort of form you need if you are planning on beating Celtic away from home, but manager John McGlynn isn't losing faith.
Celtic have scored 13 goals across their last four matches.
McGlynn led Falkirk to a top-six finish in their first season back in the Premiership last season, and trying to follow that was never going to be easy.
McGlynn will be without Aidan Nesbitt, Ethan Laidlaw, Keelan Adams, Scott Tanser and Tom Lang on Saturday.
Celtic vs Falkirk form guide & betting tips
| Celtic | vs | Falkirk |
|---|---|---|
WWWWL |
Form | WLWLD |
| 6 | Points | 1 |
| 1st | Form Table | 10th |
| 6 | Goals For | 0 |
| 1 | Goals Against | 2 |
WW |
Form (Scottish Premiership) | LD |
Whispers predicts: Celtic 3-1 Falkirk
Celtic have won three of their last four matches by 2+ goals. Celtic to win with a -1.5 handicap has been best priced at 8/13.
More than three goals have been scored in four of the last six matches between Celtic and Falkirk. Over 3.5 goals has been priced at 10/11.
Kasper Hogh has scored three league goals for Celtic this season. Hogh to score anytime has been priced at 4/6.
> Celtic to win (-1.5 handicap) at 8/13 (1.62) | Likelihood: Probable
> Over 3.5 goals at 10/11 (1.91) | Likelihood: Probable
> Hogh to score anytime at 4/6 (1.67) | Likelihood: Probable