Hearts and Celtic clash in a blockbuster Scottish Premiership encounter on Sunday at Tynecastle Park, with the league leaders hosting the reigning champions in what could be a defining moment in the 2025-26 title race.
Both sides arrive at this fixture with contrasting fortunes. Hearts sit pretty at the summit with an unbeaten record, while Celtic seek to close a five-point gap and reassert their championship credentials.
Hearts vs Celtic – Match Preview and Team News
- Date: 26th October Sunday.
- Kick-off: 1pm BST.
- Venue: Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh.
Hearts Team News
Hearts could be without several players due to injury. Calem Nieuwenhof, Ageu, Finlay Pollock, Frankie Kent, and Ryan Fulton are all expected to remain sidelined until early November. However, McInnes has built an impressive squad depth during the summer transfer window, meaning these absences are unlikely to disrupt their rhythm significantly.
Cláudio Braga continues to spearhead Hearts’ attack after his sensational start to Scottish football. The Portuguese striker has netted five goals in eight Scottish Premiership appearances since arriving from Norwegian side Aalesunds FK, forming a devastating partnership with Lawrence Shankland. The duo has been instrumental in Hearts’ status as the league’s highest scorers with 19 goals.
Celtic Team News
Celtic have been decimated by injuries at the worst possible time, with Brendan Rodgers facing a genuine crisis ahead of this top-of-the-table clash.
Cameron Carter-Vickers has suffered the most serious blow. The American centre-back ahs been ruled out for three to five months after sustaining an Achilles injury during Thursday’s Europa League victory over Sturm Graz.
Alistair Johnston and Kelechi Iheanacho are also sidelined with hamstring injuries picked up in the same European fixture. Daizen Maeda remains a concern and could miss out, while long-term absentee Jota continues his recovery from injury.
James Forrest has insisted Celtic possess the squad depth to overcome these setbacks, but the absence of three starters represents a significant challenge for Rodgers as he attempts to close the gap on Hearts.
Form
Hearts
Derek McInnes’ transformation of Hearts has been nothing short of remarkable, with the Edinburgh club establishing itself as a genuine title contender through eight unbeaten Scottish Premiership matches. The Jambos have collected 22 points from a possible 24, winning seven and drawing just one of their league fixtures.
Their attacking prowess has been exceptional, scoring 19 goals while conceding only six. Hearts’ recent form includes impressive victories over Hibernian at home and a commanding 3-0 win over Kilmarnock last weekend, where Braga’s double helped maintain their perfect away record.
The Tynecastle faithful have witnessed their team score in every match this season, with McInnes successfully implementing an attacking philosophy that has produced the division’s most potent forward line.
Celtic
Celtic’s form has been inconsistent by their usual standards, managing five wins, two draws, and one defeat from eight league fixtures to sit second with 17 points. The reigning champions suffered a damaging 2-0 defeat to Dundee FC last weekend before responding with a 2-1 Europa League victory over Sturm Graz in midweek.
Brendan Rodgers has expressed concern about his squad’s lack of cutting edge, with Celtic failing to score in six matches across all competitions this season – a concerning statistic for a side accustomed to free-flowing football. The Hoops have managed just 11 goals in eight league matches, significantly fewer than Hearts’ tally.
Despite their struggles, Celtic demonstrated character to come from behind against Sturm Graz, suggesting the quality remains within the squad to challenge Hearts’ supremacy.
Predicted Lineups
Hearts: Schwolow; McEntee, Halkett, Findlay, Kingsley; Milne, Devlin, Baningime, Kyziridis; Braga, Shankland.
Celtic: Schmeichel; Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney; Nygren, McGregor, Hatate; Engels, Kenny, Tounekti.
How to Watch Hearts vs Celtic?
UK fans can watch the match live on Sky Sports.
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