Celtic vs Motherwell Predictions

Celtic vs Motherwell predictions for this Scottish Premiership clash. Celtic aim to recover from dropped points at Tannadice with a Boxing Day home win against Motherwell to regain momentum heading into the festive period. Read on for our match preview and free betting tips.

Scottish Premiership | Dec 26, 2024 at 3:00pm UK at Celtic Park

Celtic vs Motherwell Predictions

Can Motherwell Spoil Celtic’s Festive Rebound?

• Celtic’s Home Scoring Surge: Celtic have averaged 2.5 goals per first half in their last four home matches, showing their early dominance.
• Motherwell’s Tough Travels: Despite sitting fourth, Motherwell haven’t won at Celtic Park in their last ten league visits.
• Defensive Fortresses: Celtic boast the best defence in the league, conceding just four goals all season—a daunting challenge for Motherwell.

Our Tips

As festive cheer fills the air, Celtic Park becomes the stage for an intriguing Boxing Day encounter between the Scottish Premiership leaders and a resilient Motherwell side. Celtic will be determined to banish the memory of a frustrating stalemate against Dundee United and reassert their dominance in front of their home crowd. Meanwhile, Motherwell, riding a three-game unbeaten streak, are unlikely to roll over despite their daunting challenge. The stage is set for a game that could see Celtic flex their muscles while Motherwell fight to disrupt the script.

Both sides enter this match with contrasting expectations. Celtic are under pressure to maintain their momentum at the summit of the table, particularly with a New Year derby at Ibrox looming. Motherwell, by contrast, arrive in Glasgow with little to lose but plenty of spirit, buoyed by recent results and a chance to consolidate their top-four position. The tension and stakes promise to deliver an enthralling spectacle.

Best Bet: Over 1.5 Celtic Goals in the First Half

The best wager for this encounter leans on Celtic to assert themselves early, with over 1.5 goals in the first half offering excellent value. The rationale here is compelling, grounded in both form and tactical considerations.

Celtic’s attack, led by the electric Daizen Maeda, has been a potent force, particularly at home. Maeda’s sharpness in front of goal, combined with Kyogo Furuhashi’s movement, poses significant problems for any defence. With 44 goals in their season thus far, Celtic have demonstrated an uncanny ability to dismantle teams, especially when backed by their fervent supporters at Parkhead. Motherwell’s defensive setup, weakened by key injuries including Dan Casey’s absence, only adds to the likelihood of Celtic capitalising in the opening stages.

Moreover, Brendan Rodgers’ side will be eager to atone for their lacklustre performance at Tannadice, where the windy conditions and missed opportunities proved costly. Expect a reaction from Celtic, who are likely to deploy an aggressive, high-tempo approach from the outset. Motherwell, though defensively organised, have shown vulnerability against pacey counter-attacks, and Celtic’s tactical fluidity can exploit this to devastating effect.

BettingTips4You.com expert Herrin Kendrick succinctly captured the sentiment: “Celtic rarely start slowly at home, and with the quality in their ranks, it’s hard to see Motherwell holding them off for long. Backing over 1.5 Celtic goals in the first half at 13/10 looks like a smart move.”

This prediction aligns with the statistical reality that Celtic average nearly two goals per first half in home games this season. With their frontline firing and Motherwell’s backline stretched thin, it’s a wager that offers both logic and value.

Correct Score Prediction: Celtic 3-0 Motherwell

For the correct score prediction, a 3-0 victory for Celtic feels like the most plausible outcome. This reflects both Celtic’s dominance and Motherwell’s limitations in breaking down strong defences.

Celtic’s backline, potentially reinforced by the return of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty, is among the most disciplined in the league, having conceded only four goals all season. Against a Motherwell attack lacking the cutting edge to trouble elite defences consistently, it’s difficult to envision the visitors finding the net.

Offensively, Celtic’s variety of attacking threats, from Maeda’s directness to McGregor’s creative spark in midfield, should see them create and convert multiple chances. Motherwell’s resilience might hold initially, but as the game progresses, Celtic’s quality is likely to shine through, securing a comfortable margin of victory. The predicted score also complements the best bet, assuming Celtic hit the ground running in the first half.

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