Preview: Celtic vs. Hearts – prediction, team news, lineups

Celtic will be hosting Hearts in a crucial match this Saturday as they aim to secure another victory and move closer to defending their Scottish Premiership title. On the other hand, Hearts will be traveling to Glasgow with the intention of solidifying their position in third place in the standings, following an impressive season.

Considering Rangers’ recent struggles, it would be quite surprising if Celtic were unable to successfully defend their top-flight crown in the upcoming weeks. However, despite consecutive wins against St Mirren and Dundee, the gap between Celtic and their Old Firm rivals remains at just three points.

In their last match against Dundee, Brendan Rodgers’s team had to hold on for the final 16 minutes to secure a crucial 2-1 victory, which keeps their fate firmly in their own hands. Additionally, Celtic have the advantage of playing three out of their final four fixtures at home in Celtic Park, with their only away game being against fourth-placed Kilmarnock.

Nevertheless, it is worth noting that Celtic have suffered two defeats in their most recent 17 matches in the Scottish Premiership, and both of those losses were against Hearts. Despite this, Steven Naismith’s side is almost certain to finish the campaign in third position, having accumulated an impressive 62 points from their 33 matches.

Although Hearts have only won three of their last eight matches, their four-game unbeaten streak is a positive aspect for the Edinburgh-based team. They have managed to secure back-to-back victories against Celtic, with one win at home and one away. Prior to these matches, Celtic had won the previous 10 encounters between the two teams.

With a final match against Rangers at Tynecastle on the last weekend of the 2023-24 season, Naismith and his players have the opportunity to directly influence the outcome of the league title.

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