- Celtic FC have won their last 5 Premiership - Championship Round 2026 matches.
- Hearts of Midlothian FC have won 2 of the last 3 meetings between the sides, with the latest clash ending 2-2 three months ago.
- Celtic have won 14 of their 18 home games in the Premiership - Championship Round 2026 (D1, L3), conceding just 14 goals.
Title decider is a tight one with Hearts top of the table
With just one point separating Hearts Of Midlothian FC and Celtic FC at the top of the Premiership - Championship Round 2026 table, Saturday’s clash of the top two is potentially a title decider and a season-defining game for Scottish soccer. Our Celtic FC vs Hearts Of Midlothian FC prediction is that both sides will put everything on the line for the title.
Celtic are the runaway favorites to win at odds of 1.67, with the Jam Tarts the big long shots at 4.62. But a closer look at Hearts’ recent run - where they are unbeaten in five (W3, D2) - and recent results against Celtic make the visitors look a lot more competitive. In this Celtic FC vs Hearts Of Midlothian FC preview, we see a match-up that remains very tight given the current form of both teams.
Martin O’Neill has brought some fresh intensity and clear tactical plan to Celtic since taking over in May 2026, but Hearts boss Derek McInnes has made the Jam Tarts a tough nut to crack since taking the helm in May 2025.
His team have surged to the summit of the league with a combination of grit, physicality and a solid, disciplined approach to the game. In a 3-4-2-1, they will sit deep and defend compactly, holding Celtic at bay with discipline while counter-attacking through the center with direct passes and runners.
Celtic have the edge in home dominance
Hearts will be as ready as they can be for Celtic, who will look to dominate possession and high-press in a 4-3-3 system. Matt O’Riley is the engine of the team, using his excellent passing ability to provide the ball into the channels and making the runs into the box late to provide a threat.
Kyogo Furuhashi’s movement and link play have been vital to Celtic’s fluidity, while Daizen Maeda has been red-hot with five goals in his last three appearances. He has scored six of Celtic’s last 11 goals with a blend of pace and precision.
Lawrence Shankland is Hearts’ talisman, scoring four of their last eight goals and heading the line with two goals in his last three league matches. Beni Baningime’s work ethic and ball-winning ability give Hearts solidity in midfield and quick outlets on the break, while Barrie McKay’s skill in the wide areas and late runs into the box have given the club an extra edge in the final third. This Celtic FC vs Hearts Of Midlothian FC prediction hinges on whether Hearts can withstand Celtic's attacking pressure for ninety minutes.
O’Neill’s side have the home dominance
Hearts will be ready for Celtic, but Celtic are in red-hot form with 5 consecutive wins and some big scalps like their 3-1 home win over Glasgow Rangers FC and 2-1 away win at Hibernian FC.
This Celtic FC vs Hearts Of Midlothian FC betting tips section suggests Celtic are the best bet to edge a high-stakes game that should be very close between two strong teams, although Hearts’ 5-game unbeaten run that included a 2-1 home win over Rangers and a 1-1 draw away at Motherwell suggests they will be in it until the end.
The Over 2.5 goals market is attractive at 1.63 given the firepower of Celtic and the fact that Hearts are capable of scoring when they need to. In their last 5 head-to-heads at Celtic Park, Celtic average 2.0 goals per game while Hearts average 1.0 goal as visitors.
