Man City and Celtic meet this week in a friendly match in the United States. Our Man City vs Celtic prediction considers whether the English or Scottish champions will have the edge.
Contents
- 1 Man City vs Celtic prediction: Score draw with Haaland on target
- 2 Most recent H2Hs: Clubs meet again eight years after UCL clashes
- 3 Man City preview: Host of internationals absent
- 4 Celtic preview: Schmeichel joins up with squad
- 5 Player to watch – Matt O’Riley
- 6 O’Riley offering immense attacking threat
Man City vs Celtic prediction: Score draw with Haaland on target
Key stats
- Our Man City vs Celtic betting tips take into account the free-scoring pre-season so far for Brendan Rodgers’ side who have scored 10 in their last two friendlies.
- Celtic have scored at least twice in 13 of their last 15 matches including competitive and non-competitive games.
- Pep Guardiola’s team have only failed to score in one of their last 36 matches.
Correct score prediction: Man City 2-2 Celtic
Man City are nowhere near full strength with most of their stars still on break following international commitments. With Celtic a bit further along in their pre-season preparations, this should be a really competitive game and goals look likely with two positive managers.
Pre-game odds and win probability: City favourites to make winning start to pre-season
- MAN CITY: 11/10 (2.10) – 47.6%
- DRAW: 11/4 (3.75) – 26.7%
- CELTIC: 17/10 (2.70) – 37.0%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
The English champions are the favourites according to the Man City vs Celtic odds with an implied probability of 47.6% but all three results are clearly on the table here.
City haven’t played since their FA Cup final defeat to Man Utd in May when Jeremy Doku’s goal was not enough to prevent a 2-1 defeat.
As for Celtic, they’re a bit deeper into pre-season and won 4-0 at the weekend against MLS outfit DC United with Matt O’Riley scoring twice.
For more of the latest football picks, our free betting tips feature some of the best options from this week’s action.
Most recent H2Hs: Clubs meet again eight years after UCL clashes
Our Man City vs Celtic prediction suggests we could get a similar outcome to the only previous competitive meetings. Both ended in score draws in the group stage of the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League.
UEFA Champions League 06/12/16
Man City
Celtic
UEFA Champions League 28/09/16
Celtic
Man City
Man City preview: Host of internationals absent
Given their raft of Euro 2024 and Copa America stars, Man City are missing most of their senior squad for this match. New signing Savio will soon join up with the team but isn’t expected to feature here.
Predicted Lineup: Ortega (GK), Lewis, Doyle, Mbete, Wilson-Esbrand, Phillips, O'Reilly, Bobb, McAtee, Grealish, Haaland
England Premier League 10/05/25 D Southampton 0 Man City 0 England Premier League 02/05/25 W Wolverhampton 0 Man City 1 England FA Cup 27/04/25 W Nottm Forest 0 Man City 2 England Premier League 22/04/25 W Aston Villa 1 Man City 2 England Premier League 19/04/25 W Everton 0 Man City 2
Celtic preview: Schmeichel joins up with squad
The Bhoys have signed Kasper Schmeichel and he has already joined up with the squad but it’s unclear whether he’ll feature here. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston are yet to return from their international commitments.
Predicted Lineup: Bain (GK), Donovan, Welsh, Scales, Anderson, Tomoki, Hatate, O'Riley, Kuhn, Furuhashi, Palma
Player (GK), Player & Player
Scotland Premiership 10/05/25 W Hibernian 1 Celtic 3 Scotland Premiership 04/05/25 D Rangers 1 Celtic 1 Scotland Premiership 26/04/25 W Dundee Utd 0 Celtic 5 Scotland FA Cup 20/04/25 W St Johnstone 0 Celtic 5 Scotland Premiership 12/04/25 W Kilmarnock 1 Celtic 5
Player to watch – Matt O’Riley
In-demand Matt O’Riley could be a big threat in this game, fresh from grabbing a brace in the last friendly. The 23 year old scored 18 and assisted 13 in the Scottish Premiership last term.
O’Riley offering immense attacking threat
Despite surprisingly being overlooked for Denmark’s Euro 2024 squad, the midfielder is surely on the path for the big time. He averaged 2.9 shots per game in the Scottish Premiership last term, second only to Lawrence Shankland of Hearts.