Hearts v Celtic predictions: Celtic can forget European exit

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Hearts v Celtic in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Football, 8pm Saturday

Best bet

Celtic
1pt 3-4 Betfair

Team news

Hearts
John Souttar was left out of Hearts' League Cup contest with Inverness and remains doubtful for their opening league game.

Celtic
Defender Christopher Jullien is out and wingers Mikey Johnston and Karamoko Dembele are also likely to miss the game. Leigh Griffiths faces a fitness test, but Nir Bitton returns from suspension.

Match preview

It has been a case of repetition rather than revolution for Celtic under new boss Ange Postecoglou, but the Bhoys can at least get the domestic season off to a winning start.

Celtic were dumped out of the Champions League by Midtjylland on Wednesday and of course the quizzical looks will be directed at Postecoglou.

The Hoops played fairly well in that two-legged Champions League affair, but once again their good work was undone by a suspect defence.

It remains to be seen if Postecoglou is up to the job, but the Aussie certainly hasn't been helped by the club's recruitment policy.

Prize defensive asset Kristoffer Ajer was sold to Brentford, fellow centre-back Christopher Jullien is still recovering from a serious knee injury and new signing Carl Starfelt has been in quarantine.

That left Postecoglou having to pair 18-year-old Dane Murray alongside 21-year-old Stephen Welsh at the heart of the defence. Nir Bitton is likely to return at the back for the trip to Hearts and he could be joined by Starfelt.

That should bring some much needed solidity at the back for Celtic and there's no shortage of talent at the top of the pitch.

Odsonne Edouard is the best forward in the division and he is ably supplied by the likes of Ryan Christie and Liel Abada.

Hearts are likely to steer well clear of relegation after their promotion to the SPL from the Championship last season, but the prices don't seem to acknowledge that the Jambos won't be up against the same inexperienced Celtic line-up from Wednesday night.

Robbie Neilson's side have performed well in the League Cup, but this represents a major step up in class and it seems as though the market has overreacted to Celtic's European exit.

Key stat

Celtic are unbeaten in their last nine games against Hearts.

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