HEARTS VS CELTIC TIPS: 7/1 BET BUILDER FOR TYNECASTLE TITLE TUSSLE
A genuine, bona fide Scottish Premiership title race is on and Sunday’s collision at Tynecastle (15:00) has all the ingredients of a season-definer.
Hearts, the surprise leaders enjoying a stellar campaign, host a Celtic side for whom this is quite simply a must-win encounter.
The Jambos are top of the pile and flying but the pressure of maintaining a title charge is an unfamiliar burden, compounded by a mounting injury list.
For Celtic, the situation is even more stark. Trailing their hosts by six points and having already lost both encounters with the Edinburgh side this season, this is now more than a simply must-not-lose fixture.
The return of Martin O’Neill has steadied the ship domestically after a terrible eight-game spell under Wilfried Nancy but the ghosts of a grim campaign remain with the Hoops having already lost six league games – perilously close to the seven-loss mark that has been surpassed by a title winner only once in the modern era.
With supporter unrest simmering over a perceived lack of ambition and direction from the club’s hierarchy, the pressure is on O’Neill and his players to deliver a statement performance if they are serious about retaining their title.
Here’s how we see it all unfolding with our 7/1 Bet Builder for the occasion…
Leg 1 – Celtic to win @ 7/5
The 7/5 on offer for an away win screams value here.
While Hearts have been formidable, their preparation for this title tussle has been decimated.
The loss of their invincible home record in a Scottish Cup penalty shootout to Falkirk last weekend was a blow – but the subsequent injury news is potentially ruinous.
They now face the champions without their talisman and the league’s top scorer Lawrence Shankland, midfield linchpin Cammy Devlin and the suspended Beni Baningime.
That brutally weakened spine makes the visit of a resurgent Celtic a daunting prospect.
O’Neill’s return has been flawless in domestic competition; across his interim spell and current tenure he has won every single league and cup match.
With three clean sheets in three he has also instantly restored a defensive resilience that was absent under his predecessor, who saw 18 goals conceded in just eight games.
Given the circumstances, backing a Celtic victory at such an attractive price is the logical selection.
Leg 2 – Under 2.5 goals @ 22/25
On the surface this selection seems to fly in the face of recent history, given the opposite has landed in in five of the last six meetings, including both Hearts wins earlier this season
But context is everything.
The foundation for this pick is the gaping hole in the Hearts attack. Losing Shankland, who has scored 11 league goals this term, for up to eight weeks is a hammer blow from which no team would easily recover.
With their primary source of inspiration and goals sidelined, and key midfielders Devlin and Baningime also absent, the creative burden falls almost entirely on Claudio Braga; yet the Argentinian has found the net just once in his last six outings.
Conversely, while Celtic have tightened up considerably under O’Neill, they remain impotent in attack.
Recruitment failure has been the main source of fan frustration and a problem especially highlighted by a staggering -10.2 xG underperformance across their 22 league games.
They are also 22 goals worse off than at the same stage last season, leading this match to have all the hallmarks of a tense, nervy affair where a single goal could prove decisive.
While new striker Tomas Cvancara may play a part in this one after joining from Borussia Monchengladbach on Thursday, a low-scoring encounter still looks well-priced for inclusion here at not far off Evens.
Leg 3 – Over 9.5 corners @ 4/7
One area where we can expect plenty of action is the corner count.
Games involving these two sides have averaged over 10 of those per game this season and the tactical dynamic of this specific match points towards that trend continuing.
For Celtic, this is do-or-die. Trailing by six points, they have no choice but to force the issue and take the game to Hearts.
This attacking impetus has been a clear feature since O’Neill’s return even if finishing chances hasn’t, with his side racking up a remarkable 26 corners in just three games by themselves.
That follows a similarly impressive tally of 41 from the six domestic matches of his interim spell.
With Hearts on the back foot due to their injury crisis and Celtic throwing everything forward in pursuit of a season-saving victory, a high number of blocked shots, deflections and clearances is almost inevitable.
Backing over 9.5 corners makes for a sensible punt to round off the Bet Builder.
BETMGM’S 7/1 HEARTS VS CELTIC BET BUILDER
- Celtic to win
- Under 2.5 goals
- Over 9.5 corners
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
