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Celtic will take on Hearts in the Scottish Championship on Sunday, 18 October, with the hosts needing a strong performance after another dreadful European display on Thursday.
Pressure is beginning to mount on Martin O'Neill, who has already admitted to considering his own future during the last international break.
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 Hearts key stats
- Celtic have won just one of their last four matches against Hearts.
- Celtic have lost four of their last five matches in all competitions.
- More than two goals have been scored in each of the last six meetings between Celtic and Hearts
Celtic vs Hearts preview: Visitors out for revenge
Celtic vs Hearts — Tale of the Tape
| Celtic | vs | Hearts |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Position | 3rd |
| 21 | Points | 16 |
| 16 | Goals For | 19 |
| 4 | Goals Against | 8 |
| 4 | Clean Sheets | 2 |
| 2nd | Home / Away Rank | 7th |
There will still be a bitter taste in the mouth of the Hearts players and fans ahead of the match this weekend, as this is their first visit to Celtic Park since losing a title decider to Celtic on the final day of the 2025/26 season.
There was a sense within the Hearts ranks that Celtic benefitted from several refereeing decisions during the run-in last season, so the visitors will be desperate to get one over the Bhoys on Sunday.
To their credit, Hearts have responded well to last season's disappointment, particularly when you consider they lost their manager and captain to Rangers shortly after the completion of the campaign.
After eight matches, the Jammys are up there once again on 16 points. If they can beat Celtic on Sunday, they will close in to within two points of the Bhoys.
Manager Wouter Vrancken will be without three players on Sunday, with Blair Spittal, Craig Halkett and Tom Renaud all injured.
As for Celtic, questions are now seriously being asked about Martin O'Neill's suitability for the role after another hammering in Europe.
While it isn't necessarily O'Neill's fault that Celtic are worse than most teams they face in Europe, his tactics aren't allowing the Bhoys to be competitive.
Their last three European results read 1-5, 1-3, 1-4, and these results are not exactly going to breed confidence within the squad as they look to defend their title against a resurgent Rangers.
Hearts will feel they are part of that conversation too, and they will have to be taken seriously once again if they can pick up all three points on Sunday.
O'Neill is also without three players, with Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston and Yang Hyun-Jun all in the treatment room.
Celtic vs Hearts form guide & betting tips
| Celtic | vs | Hearts |
|---|---|---|
LLLWL |
Form | WLDWD |
| 12 | Points | 10 |
| 2nd | Form Table | 3rd |
| 8 | Goals For | 12 |
| 2 | Goals Against | 5 |
WLW |
Form (Scottish Premiership) | LDW |
Whispers predicts: Celtic 1-2 Hearts
Hearts' strong recent record against Celtic, combined with the hosts' dismal run of form, leans us towards an away win. Hearts to win or draw double chance has been best priced at 13/10.
More than two goals have been scored in three of Celtic's last five matches in all competitions. Over 2.5 goals has been priced at 1/2.
Claudio Braga has scored four goals for Hearts this season. Braga to score anytime has been priced at 5/2.
> Hearts to win or draw at 13/8 (2.63) | Likelihood: Possible
> Over 2.5 goals at 1/2 (1.50) | Likelihood: Probable
> Braga to score anytime at 5/2 (3.50) | Likelihood: Possible