Celtic vs Hearts: Predicted XI, Injury Updates and Team News
The upcoming Celtic vs Hearts clash on 16 May 2026 brings another important Scottish Premiership battle as Celtic F.C. aim to maintain their dominant home form, while Heart of Midlothian F.C. look to challenge with disciplined defensive structure and quick counterattacks. Celtic enter the match with stronger recent results, scoring consistently at Celtic Park, while Hearts continue to struggle for away stability.
Team Availability & Injury Update
Celtic F.C. – Who is Missing?
- Kasper Schmeichel – injury (goalkeeper issue / fitness problem)
- Jota – injury (attacking absence)
Celtic – Who is Available & Expected to Play?
- Kyogo Furuhashi – fit and expected to start
- Callum McGregor – available (midfield control)
- Reo Hatate – available (creative role)
- Cameron Carter-Vickers – available (defence leader)
They have 2 key players missing, but most of their starting XI is available.
Heart of Midlothian F.C. – Who is Missing?
- Craig Gordon – injury (goalkeeper)
- Craig Halkett – injury (defender)
Hearts – Who is Available & Expected to Play?
- Lawrence Shankland – fit and main striker
- Beni Baningime – available (midfield)
- Yutaro Oda – available (attack support)
- Stephen Kingsley – available (defence option)
Hearts are missing 2 important defensive players, which weakens their backline.
Predicted Lineups That Could Shape the Night
Celtic Predicted XI
Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, O’Riley, Hatate; Maeda, Furuhashi, Palma
Hearts Predicted XI
Clark; Atkinson, Kent, Rowles, Kingsley; Devlin, Grant, Hoff; Shankland, Vargas, Forrest
Head-to-Head Record (Celtic vs Hearts)
The overall Celtic vs Hearts rivalry clearly favors Celtic across all competitions.
- Total matches: 107
- Celtic F.C. wins: 77
- Heart of Midlothian F.C. wins: 19
- Draws: 11
Celtic have won around 70%+ of all meetings, showing long-term dominance, especially at Celtic Park. Hearts have still managed occasional wins, but most recent fixtures have gone in Celtic’s favor with tighter scorelines and fewer draws.
Key trend points:
- Celtic strong goal-scoring at home
- Hearts better in compact defensive setups
- Set-pieces could be decisive for both sides
- Early goal may shape entire match flow
Final Outlook Before Kickoff
The Celtic vs Hearts fixture strongly favors Celtic based on form, squad depth, and home advantage. Hearts will need near-perfect defensive discipline to stay competitive, while Celtic aim to control the match from start to finish and maintain their title momentum.
FAQs
The match is at Celtic Park, Glasgow.
Celtic are slight favorites due to home advantage and stronger attacking form.
Yes, both teams have key defensive and squad absences before kickoff.
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