Celtic vs Hibernian

Celtic, who are on an apparently unstoppable run to win another Scottish Premiership, will face Hibernian on Saturday night at their headquarters.

Hibs hammered Motherwell for three goals in the final out to stop a miserable winless streak, and Brendan Rodgers' team passed the Pittodrie test on Wednesday night, defeating closest rivals Aberdeen 1-0.

Celtic began the top-of-the-table match just four points ahead of Jimmy Thelin's club, battling the elements and their closest title rivals on Wednesday night as they were welcomed to Aberdeen's Pittodrie headquarters in terrible weather.

However, Reo Hatate's crucial second-half play helped Celtic achieve one of their most arduous victories of the season and their 13th from 14th in the 2024–25 Scottish Premiership, bringing the lead to first place to seven points by the end of play.

Although Celtic and Hibs' current standings in the Scottish Premiership make for disappointing reading for their supporters, the visitors should approach Saturday's match with a renewed sense of optimism after securing their first victory since mid-September.

After a run of five losses and four draws following a 2-0 win against St Johnstone nearly three months ago, David Gray's side comfortably triumphed over Motherwell on November 30, with goals from Junior Hoilett, Mykola Kuharevich, and Josh Campbell at Fir Park.

Hibs' victory at Motherwell is highly significant, as it has lifted Gray's team off the bottom of the table. They now occupy the relegation playoff spot, two points ahead of the last-placed Hearts, and are just one point behind St Johnstone and Kilmarnock.

It would take the collapse of all capitulations for Rodgers' team to give up a fourth consecutive Scottish Premiership title, and an incredible 55th overall, given they are currently seven points ahead of Aberdeen with a game remaining and eleven points ahead of struggling Rangers.

The Bhoys have won their last six top-flight games, conceding just one goal in those 540 minutes of play, since dropping points for the first and only time this season in their last matchup with Aberdeen at Celtic Park.

The Celtic team may already be looking ahead to next week's Champions League trip to Croatian powerhouses Dinamo Zagreb, which comes before an Old Firm League Cup final against longtime rivals Rangers on December 15, given their continued domination at home.

Before a trip to Celtic Park, Hibernian's first away win of the season couldn't have come at a better moment. In 16 Scottish Premiership away games in 2024, the visitors have only lost three of them.

Additionally, Hibs' last victory over Celtic dates only to May 2023, a stunning 4-2 victory in the season's final stretch. Since then, the champions have won four straight meetings across all competitions, scoring at least twice in each match.

A few people were taken aback by Alex Valle's halftime substitute during Celtic's victory against Aberdeen, but Rodgers later stated that the player's early removal was not due to an injury, thus he will be fit to start against Hibs.

Odin Thiago Holm is still recovering from a calf injury, but he may return before the year is out, so the holders should only be missing one player for Saturday's match.

Adam Idah, Luke McGowan, and Greg Taylor—who took Valle's spot at halftime in the middle of the week—are all good candidates to start this game because Rodgers isn't scared to switch things up when the demanding schedule of games calls for it.