On Sunday, at 15:00, Celtic Glasgow and Hibernian duel in the hottest duel of the stage in the Scottish first league. Neil Lennon’s team comes after a qualification in the UEFA Europa League play-off, after a tormented victory on the field of the Latvians from FC Riga (1-0). However, it is unlikely that the weekend favorites will be physically affected by Thursday night’s match.
Without the Griffiths and Johnston injuries (previously absent), Celtic starts with the first chance in front of Hibs. The Edinburgh band has started the new season well, but has a complex in front of the Catholics, who hope to continue their positive balance on their own ground. Hibernian can’t count on Mackie and comes away accepting the dominance of rivals. A point would be ideal for visitors!
Celtic played 7 matches this season (has an overdue) and accumulated 19 points, being one point behind rival Rangers. The white-greens have a 20-5 goal difference and have the best offensive in the championship, while Ianis Hagi’s team “boasts” a 17-2 record. Behind the two giants of Scotland is even Hibernian, with 17 points and one failure in the new season!
Thus, Hibs comes after the victories in the trips with St. Johnstone (1-0) and Aberdeen (3-0), in which the defense of the white-greens worked perfectly. Last stage, Hibs resisted for a draw with Rangers, score 2-2, a match in which the white-greens led 1-0, after Wright’s goal (’22). Morelos and Arfield returned the score for the Rangers, but Doidge (’71) equalized from Boyle’s pass and the hosts protected the draw until the end. It was a match with 11 corners (6-5 for Hibs), but in which Rangers had possession 69% of the time, sending 19 shots to the goal.
Celtic should also dominate their rival, especially as it comes after clear successes in the league, with Motherwell (3-0), Ross County (5-0), St. Mirren (2-1) and Livingston (3-1). In the Europa League, the victory with Riga was brought by Elyounoussi, in the 90th minute, at the end of a match in which the Baltics did not send a shot to the goal! “It’s the first really difficult test this fall and I’m glad that, for the first time in this championship, I have all the attacking players available,” said Neil Lennon before the weekend game. Celtic has won the last 3 direct duels and is undefeated for 7 consecutive games, having a very good offensive performance.
-Celtic have won 5-2, 2-0 and 3-1 in the last three games played against Hibernian;
-In 4 of Hibs’ last 5 matches, he has scored at most one of the teams;
-In 3 of Hibernian’s last 5 matches, at most one goal was scored;
-Hibernian has won the last 4 away matches of the championship;
-In the last 4 championship matches of Celtic, 3+ goals have been scored each time;
-Hibernian has not beaten Celtic for 7 consecutive duels, from a 2-0 at home, in 2018;
PREDICTION: Over 2,5 goals @ 1,54
