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Celtic aims to preserve their position at the top of the Scottish Premiership table as they head to Hibernian this Saturday. On the other hand, Hibernian has struggled in their last three games, and a loss could push them into the relegation zone.
While Hibernian had been on a good run of form with a six-game unbeaten streak in all competitions, they faced a setback with a 4-0 loss to Rangers in their last Scottish Premiership match. They are eager to bounce back from this defeat.
Nick Montgomery's team faces a challenging task as they go up against the only undefeated team in the league. However, they can take solace in their strong home defensive record, which will be crucial against Celtic, the top scorers in the Scottish Premiership.
Hibernian currently sits just two points above the relegation zone, so they must maintain focus, as a loss could see them drop down the table by the end of the weekend.
For the upcoming match, the main focus for the visitors is to maintain their unbeaten record in the current season as they strive to defend their Scottish Premiership title. Celtic comes into this weekend's game with a boost of confidence following their 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, where goals from Kyogo Furuhashi and Luis Palma played a crucial role. This result came after wins against Kilmarnock and Hearts, with Celtic's last league game against Hearts showcasing their attacking prowess as they secured a 4-1 victory with four different goal-scorers.
Even though they already hold a seven-point lead over their closest rivals in the league, Celtic aims to widen that gap for a more comfortable position. The availability of goalkeeper Jojo Wollacott for the starting lineup this weekend remains uncertain, despite his recent appearance as a substitute in Hibernian's last match.
Paul Hanlon, who returned to the team in the previous game against Rangers and marked his 50th appearance for the club, might retain his spot in the defense. On the offensive front, it's expected that Furuhashi and Palma will form the striking partnership, especially after their impressive performances in the Champions League with goal contributions.
The hosts recently experienced a 4-0 defeat against Rangers, with Abdallah Sima scoring two goals, and Nicolas Raskin and Cyriel Dessers also finding the net for Rangers. In contrast, Celtic recently played to a 2-2 draw at home with Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. They took an early lead when Kyogo Furuhashi scored in the fourth minute, but Antoine Griezmann equalized from a rebounded penalty in the 25th minute.
Luis Palma quickly restored Celtic's lead just three minutes later, but Alvaro Morata leveled the game once again eight minutes into the second half. Celtic's manager, Brendan Rodgers, now shifts their focus back to domestic competitions, where they comfortably defeated Hearts 4-1 in their last away game. This victory allowed them to maintain their seven-point lead at the top of the table, with 25 points from nine games. Meanwhile, Hibernian currently sits in ninth place with nine points from their nine matches.
Celtic has a track record of 52 wins out of their last 84 games against Hibernian, with 11 losses. Their most recent encounter in May 2023 resulted in a 4-2 victory for Hibernian at home. Their last four meetings have all featured at least four goals. In Celtic's last five games across various competitions, both teams have scored, and the matches have produced at least three goals. Hibernian's last seven league games have generated a minimum of eight corners. Celtic has scored at least twice in seven of their last eight games against Hibernian, including their most recent four meetings.
Wednesday night witnessed a commendable effort from Celtic, which was tantalizingly close to culminating in a remarkable victory. As has become a recurring pattern in that competition, Celtic burst out of the gate, securing an early lead, only to see it slip away twice as they fatigued toward the end, despite Atletico Madrid being reduced to ten players.
On the domestic front, Celtic is in fine form. Their recent victory over Hearts last weekend was exceptionally comfortable, and they aspire to replicate that success in Edinburgh this week. This prospect could materialize if Hibernian delivers a performance akin to their lackluster showing at Ibrox last week, where they suffered a resounding 4-0 defeat under the management of Nick Montgomery. Hibernian is currently enduring a three-game winless streak, facing unfavorable odds in their quest for a comeback, possibly banking on the hope that Celtic's exertions in the Champions League may have sapped some of their energy.
