Hearts vs Celtic Predictions

• Both teams have scored in both meetings between these sides this season.
• Hearts have scored in nine successive games, Celtic are on a five-game scoring streak.
• Hearts are unbeaten at home in normal time across all competitions.

Hearts and Celtics face off in title tussle

Hearts and Celtic meet on Sunday in Edinburgh in a fixture that could shape the Premiership title fight for the remainder of the season.

The Jambos sit six points clear of Celtic, and a victory would see them stretch their lead over the defending champions to nine. A win for Celtic would see them move to within reach of top spot as they bid to become the first side to win at Tynecastle this season inside 90 minutes, with a penalty shootout defeat to Falkirk in the cup the one blemish on Hearts’ home record this term.

The pressure on the hosts is huge as they bid to win their first league crown since 1960, and become the first non-Glasgow team to lift the trophy since Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen side of 1984.

Their home record and the fact Celtic had a midweek trip to Bologna gives them a real chance, but the best betting angle could be a straightforward bet on both teams to score.

Hearts have scored in nine consecutive games across all competitions and haven’t drawn a blank at home in any competitions, conceding in four of their last six at this venue.

Celtic have scored in five successive games and in all 12 of their games under the guidance of Martin O’Neill across two spells, so both of these teams look capable of scoring.

Underdogs Hearts can claim key win

Hearts are the underdogs but they have a massive opportunity to take out their main rival in front of their own fans on Sunday and can grind out a win. Celtic come into the game after a gruelling Europa League tie in Bologna where they secured a 2-2 draw despite playing with 10 men for the majority of the game, and that could impact their performance.

The absence of leading scorer Lawrence Shankland for Hearts is a major blow but they still have enough quality in attack to hurt Celtic. The hosts have scored five goals against the Hoops this season, only one of which was a Shankland effort, and in his absence, Claudio Braga looks a potential scorer here. The Portuguese forward has nine goals to his name this season and he was on target in Hearts’ 2-1 win at Parkhead in the most recent meeting.

The Bhoys have only lost one of O’Neill’s games in charge, a Europa League loss in Denmark, but Hearts have won both previous meetings this season and that should give them another psychological edge. This game is likely to be incredibly close, so a hard-fought 2-1 home win is the correct score pick.