Celtic vs Hearts Prediction (Premiership) Odds and Bets 18.10.2026
Celtic lead the Scottish Premiership, but Hearts are scoring goals for fun. Sunday’s meeting at Celtic Park could tell us plenty about both sides’ title ambitions. Martin O’Neill’s men sit five points clear of third-placed Hearts, who have already scored 19 league goals. Both teams also face European action on Thursday, leaving little time to recover.
Celtic vs Hearts: Date, Kick-Off Time and Match Details
| Match information | Details |
|---|---|
| Fixture | Celtic vs Hearts |
| Competition | Scottish Premiership 2026/27 |
| Matchday | 9 |
| Date | Sunday, 18 October 2026 |
| Kick-off | 3:00pm BST |
| Venue | Celtic Park, Glasgow |
| UK TV coverage | Sky Sports Football |
How Celtic and Hearts Are Shaping Up
Celtic Form: Strong at Home, but Not Unbeatable
- Solid league form: Seven wins from eight matches, with 16 goals scored and just four conceded.
- Recent momentum: A 2-0 victory at Motherwell and Jota’s return after 533 days boost their attacking options.
- Defensive concerns: Defeats to Rangers and Ferencváros exposed weaknesses, while Cameron Carter-Vickers remains sidelined.
- European fatigue: Thursday’s trip to Benfica could leave Celtic short of energy, despite their strong record at Parkhead.
Hearts Form: Goals Galore, but Away Form Raises Questions
- Attack in full flow: Hearts have scored 19 goals in eight league games, more than Celtic.
- Recent statement: A 5-0 demolition of St Mirren highlighted their attacking quality.
- Goals guaranteed? Seven of their eight Premiership fixtures have featured over 2.5 goals.
- Away struggles: Just one win in four league trips, plus midweek European commitments, could make life difficult at Celtic Park.
Key Factors Behind My Celtic vs Hearts Prediction
- Celtic’s Home Advantage Could Make the DifferenceCeltic have won three of their four home league fixtures, conceding just four goals across the entire Premiership campaign. Hearts did win 2-1 at Celtic Park last December, but repeating that result won’t be easy.
- Hearts Have the Firepower to Cause ProblemsWith 19 league goals and seven matches finishing over 2.5, Hearts rarely struggle to create chances. Celtic’s defence is considerably tighter, making this an intriguing contest between two very different strengths.
- European Fatigue Could Play a PartBoth sides play on Thursday, but Celtic must travel back from Lisbon while Hearts host Nordsjælland. With limited recovery time and defensive absences to consider, squad selection could have a significant influence.
- There’s Plenty at Stake in the Title RaceCeltic lead Hearts by five points. A home victory would stretch that gap to eight, while an away win would cut it to two. The visitors have a genuine opportunity to put themselves back into the title conversation.
- Are Celtic Worth Backing at 3/5?Celtic’s price implies a 62.5% chance of victory before bookmaker margin. Given their defensive record and Hearts’ struggles away from home, I favour the champions. Celtic to win and over 2.5 goals at 11/10 offers a higher-risk alternative.
Celtic vs Hearts Statistics
Scottish Premiership figures after eight matches, correct to 15 October 2026.
| Statistic | Celtic | Hearts |
|---|---|---|
| League position | 1st | 3rd |
| Matches played | 8 | 8 |
| Points | 21 | 16 |
| Wins, draws, defeats | 7-0-1 | 5-1-2 |
| Goals scored | 16 | 19 |
| Goals conceded | 4 | 8 |
| Last five league games | 4W, 1L | 3W, 1D, 1L |
| Goals in last five | 8 | 12 |
| Home/away league record | 3W, 1L | 1W, 1D, 2L |
| Over 2.5 goals | 4/8 | 7/8 |
The numbers tell an interesting story. Hearts have scored three more goals than Celtic, but they’ve also conceded twice as many. Celtic have built their lead on defensive consistency, while Hearts have relied on attacking quality.
Celtic vs Hearts Head-to-Head
Recent meetings show Hearts are perfectly capable of troubling the champions.
| Date | Fixture | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 16 May 2026 | Celtic vs Hearts | 3-1 |
| 25 January 2026 | Hearts vs Celtic | 2-2 |
| 7 December 2025 | Celtic vs Hearts | 1-2 |
Hearts collected four points from their first two meetings with Celtic last season, including that impressive victory at Parkhead. However, Celtic responded with a 3-1 win in May, securing the league title. There’s enough recent history here to suggest Hearts won’t be intimidated by the occasion. Still, Celtic’s defensive strength and greater consistency give them the advantage.
Celtic vs Hearts Betting Odds
Celtic are the favourites, although Hearts’ impressive goalscoring record and last season’s results against the champions make this a trickier fixture than the outright market might suggest.
Prices checked on 15 October 2026. They are indicative pre-match odds and may change before kick-off.
Celtic vs Hearts Predictions
Celtic to Win
I'm sticking with Celtic. Seven wins from eight league games and just four goals conceded tells me they've got the stronger foundation. Hearts can make things uncomfortable, but I trust O'Neill's side to find a way through at home. Not a banker, but my preferred pick.
Celtic to Win + Over 2.5 Goals
I fancy goals here. Hearts have seen at least three in seven of their eight league matches, and I don't see them arriving at Celtic Park just to sit deep. Give me Celtic's attacking quality and a lively contest. Something like 2-1 would do nicely.
Other predictions
-
Prediction supported by:
FootballTottenham vs Coventry Prediction (Premier League) Odds and Bets 19.10.2026Premier League, 20:00 @ 19.10.2026 - Prediction supported by:American footballGreat Britain vs Spain Prediction (European Championship) Odds and Bets 18.10.2026European Championship, 10:30 @ 18.10.2026
- Prediction supported by:
FootballNottingham Forest vs Arsenal Prediction (Premier League) Odds and Bets 18.10.2026Premier League, 16:30 @ 18.10.2026
