Celtic will face Hearts in a crucial Scottish Premiership match on Sunday, needing a win to defend their league title. Hearts currently lead the table with 80 points, while Celtic sits second with 79 points.
Key points
Celtic faces Hearts in the Scottish Premiership final matchday
Celtic must win to defend their league title
Hearts currently lead the table with 80 points
Celtic is in second place with 79 points
Mentioned in this story
Martin O’Neill
CelticHeartsScottish Premiership
Celtic vs Hearts – Match preview and team news
Celtic vs Hearts – Match preview and team news
Celtic are set to face Hearts in the final matchday of the Scottish Premiership on Sunday in an attempt to defend their league title.
Celtic are second in the table with 79 points while Hearts are leading the table with 80 points, meaning Martin O’Neill’s men must win this match to win the league.
Celtic vs Hearts – Match preview and team news
Date: Saturday, 16th May.
Kick-off: 12:30pm BST.
Venue: Celtic Park, Glasgow.
Celtic team news
Celtic remains without several players before the final-day Scottish Premiership title decider at Celtic Park.
Manager Martin O’Neill must navigate this crucial fixture without several players. Kasper Schmeichel is officially out for the rest of the campaign due to a shoulder injury, forcing Viljami Sinisalo to start.
Cameron Carter-Vickers remains sidelined with severe Achilles tendon issues. Jota is out long-term following an ACL tear, while Julian Araujo and Tomás Čvančara are both ruled out for the remainder of the season with thigh and groin injuries respectively.
Additionally, Colby Donovan is highly doubtful due to a hamstring injury despite returning to light training, and Callum Osmand lacks match fitness following major hamstring surgery.
Adam Montgomery is also sidelined until late May. The same XI that started the last match is expected to start this match as well.
Q&A
What are the current standings for Celtic and Hearts in the Scottish Premiership?
Hearts are leading the table with 80 points, while Celtic is in second place with 79 points.
When is the Celtic vs Hearts match taking place?
The match is scheduled for Sunday, marking the final matchday of the Scottish Premiership.
What does Celtic need to do to win the league against Hearts?
Celtic must win the match against Hearts to secure the league title.
Who is the manager of Celtic and what is his significance in this match?
Martin O’Neill is the manager of Celtic, and his leadership is crucial as the team aims to defend their league title.
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Kelechi Iheanacho came off the bench and scored the winner last time around and might once again be used as a substitute if required.
Hearts team news
Hearts enter the title decider equally ravaged by injuries as manager Derek McInnes deals with a brutal squad depletion.
The team suffered a double blow in their previous match, losing both Craig Halkett and Marc Leonard to Achilles tendon ruptures.
Both players are out for the season, with Halkett facing up to a year on the sidelines. The defensive and midfield stability is further compromised with Oisin McEntee and Calem Nieuwenhof ruled out due to hamstring injuries.
Furthermore, Tómas Magnússon and Eduardo Ageu are completely unavailable as they recover from severe thigh and muscle issues.
In a minor positive note, goalkeeper Craig Gordon holds a slight external chance of making the bench. Finlay Pollock is also out.
With 15 goals and three assists in this season, Lawrence Shankland will once again start upfront and will look to confirm Hearts’ silverware.
Form
Celtic
Celtic enter the final-day decider in spectacular domestic form, boasting a flawless six-game winning streak in the Scottish Premiership.
In their most recent fixtures, the Bhoys secured a crucial victory against Motherwell in a dramatic 3-2 thriller, courtesy of a late penalty. Before that, they edged out Rangers 3-1 at home.
Hearts
Hearts have put together a phenomenal, record-breaking season under Derek McInnes, remaining completely unbeaten in their last seven matches. After a minor slip in a 1-1 draw at Motherwell, the Jambos bounced back emphatically in midweek with a commanding 3-0 win over Falkirk at Tynecastle. Holding a narrow lead at the top, they only need a single point at Parkhead to secure a historic league title.
