Bet of the Day

For today’s Bet of the Day, we turn our attention to the gripping Premiership encounter at Celtic Park, where league leaders Celtic host the formidable Hearts in Round 35 of the Premiership Championship Group. The clash, set for a 2024-05-04 kick-off, promises to be a spectacle.

Celtic, sitting comfortably at the top with 81 points, are the favorites with a strong season behind them, while third-placed Hearts with 63 points aim to solidify their high-ranking position. Both teams have exceeded pre-season expectations, with Celtic consistently showcasing championship-winning form and Hearts proving to be a tough contender for the top spots.

The stakes are high as Celtic could edge closer to securing the title, and Hearts will be eager to disrupt the leaders’ momentum and stake their claim as serious competitors in the Premiership’s upper echelon.

Celtic – Form

Celtic’s form leading up to this encounter has been impressive, with the team securing two victories and a draw in their last three outings. The most recent clash saw them triumph over Dundee FC in an away fixture on April 28, 2024, in the Premiership, a result that aligned with bookmaker predictions. Prior to that, they notched up a convincing home win against St. Mirren in the same competition. The draw against arch-rivals Rangers, although an away fixture, showcased their resilience in the Premiership. Notably, all three results mirrored the expectations set by the bookmakers, underscoring Celtic’s consistent performance.

Hearts – Form

Hearts have shown a mixed bag of results in their recent outings. On 27 April 2024, they secured a draw against Kilmarnock in an away fixture of the Premiership tournament, a result that was over the bookmakers’ expectations. Before that, they notched a confident win at home against Livingston, with a performance that matched predictions. Their away victory over St. Mirren also followed the expected script, demonstrating a level of consistency in their form. The goalscorers for these matches have not been specified, but their contributions have been pivotal in securing these outcomes for Hearts.

Celtic – Hearts – Head to Head

The last encounter between Celtic and Hearts took place on the 3rd of March 2024, where Hearts secured a 2:0 victory at home in the Premiership. Over their last 10 head-to-head matches, Celtic has dominated with 8 wins, while Hearts have managed to claim victory twice, indicating Celtic’s upper hand in this fixture.

In the recent five clashes, the average number of goals scored is 3.4, with both teams finding the net in only 2 of those encounters. Notably, Hearts’ rare triumphs over Celtic have been in their two most recent meetings. Celtic’s impressive record at home is highlighted by their 20 wins in the last 22 matches at Celtic Park against Hearts, underscoring their dominance on home soil. Furthermore, Celtic has consistently found the back of the net, scoring in 25 of their last 27 home fixtures against Hearts, a trend that will be a cause of concern for the visitors.

Celtic – Hearts – Standings

As we approach Round 35 at Celtic Park, the home side Celtic firmly holds the top spot in the Premiership Championship Group with 81 points from 34 matches. Their impressive tally of 82 goals scored is a testament to their attacking prowess, and with a gold medal team season expectation, they’re living up to their billing. Hearts, the visitors, sit in 3rd place with 63 points, also from 34 matches. They are trailing Celtic by 18 points and have been solid, meeting their pre-season expectation of being a medal team with a good chance to finish in the top 6. The gap between the teams reflects Celtic’s dominance this season and Hearts’ respectable performance in the upper echelons of the table.

Celtic vs Hearts – Top scorers

The home team’s attack is spearheaded by the impressive Matthew O’Riley, a midfielder who has found the back of the net 13 times this season, making him a standout performer. Close on his heels is the skillful forward Kyogo Furuhashi, who has tallied 11 goals. Adam Idah, another forward, has contributed a respectable 7 goals, while midfielders Luis Palma and James Forrest have added 6 and 5 goals respectively to the home side’s tally, showcasing a well-rounded offensive unit.

On the away side, Lawrence Shankland is the name on everyone’s lips, dominating the midfield with a remarkable 21 goals to his name. His prowess in front of goal will be a major concern for the home team’s defense. Yutaro Oda and Kenneth Vargas, both with 5 goals each, add depth to the away team’s attack, while defender Jorge Grant has chipped in with 4 goals. Alan Forrest, another midfielder, has also made his mark by scoring 3 times this season.

Celtic vs Hearts – Full-Time Betting

Bookmakers have set the odds with a strong preference for a Celtic victory at 1.25, while a draw and a Hearts win are placed at 6.50 and 11.00, respectively. Considering Celtic’s dominant home record, their top position in the Premiership, and their historical success against Hearts, they are the clear favorites. Their form, coupled with fewer concerns over injuries and suspensions, further tilts the odds in their favor, despite Hearts’ recent resilience in away games.

For those seeking alternative betting markets, the “halftime-fulltime” option offers Celtic-Celtic at 1.615, which could be tempting given Celtic’s tendency to start strong at home. The “draw-no-bet” market for Celtic stands at 1.083, providing a safety net for bettors against a draw. Meanwhile, the “double-chance” market for a Celtic win or draw offers minimal risk at 1.05, reflecting the high probability of at least one of those outcomes.

Celtic vs Hearts – Over/Under Betting

In the Over/Under betting market, the odds for “Over 2.5” goals are set at 1.40, suggesting a likelihood of a high-scoring affair at Celtic Park. Delving into the head-to-head statistics, Celtic’s dominant home record against Hearts, with more than 1.5 goals scored in 14 of their last 16 encounters, supports this expectation. Celtic themselves have been prolific this season, with 82 goals to their name in 34 matches, while Hearts have shown defensive resilience, conceding 34 in the same number of games. Given these trends and the fact that recent H2H matches have seen a mix of high and low-scoring outcomes, the “Over 2.5” at 1.40 holds considerable appeal for bettors, while the “Under 2.5” at 3.00 offers value for those anticipating a tighter contest.

Celtic vs Hearts – BTTS Betting

The bookmakers have set the odds for both teams to score (BTTS) at 1.909 for both “Yes” and “No” outcomes, suggesting an evenly balanced prediction on this market. Delving into the head-to-head history, recent encounters between Celtic and Hearts have seen both teams score in 4 out of their last 10 matches. However, Celtic’s recent form at home has been impressive, scoring consistently, while Hearts have shown resilience in their recent away games. With Celtic’s strong offensive record at home and Hearts’ capability to find the net, the “BTTS: Yes” at 1.909 could be the more tempting bet for punters looking for value, despite the equally matched odds.

Celtic vs Hearts – Prediction