Celtic v Ross County predictions for Saturday’s fixture in the Scottish Premiership. Will the Bhoys begin their campaign with a comfortable win? Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
To add to the In-Play excitement, bet365 stream over 200,000 events live to your PC every year - so you can bet as the action unfolds. Highlights include Masters Series Tennis tournaments and matches from some of the top domestic Soccer leagues in the world. To use the Live Streaming service you will need to be logged in and have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. Any fixture/event on our website which has the Play or Video icon next to it is scheduled to be shown via Live Streaming. Geo location and live streaming rules apply. T&C's Apply. #Ad. 18+Only, begambleaware.org |
Match Live Saturday, 5th August at 12:30 pm In:
Celtic vs Ross County Predictions
£20 Returns £80  ----- £10 Returns £65  Odds corrects at time of posting and subject to change |
A New Chapter Begins: Celtic and Ross County Face Off in Premiership Opener
Key Stats
– Ross County maintained their top-flight status, winning a dramatic penalty shootout against Partick Thistle.
– Kyogo Furuhashi, Celtic’s top scorer last season, netted an astonishing 34 goals in 50 matches across all competitions.
As the curtain rises on another season of the Scottish Premiership, fans eagerly anticipate the opening clash between Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic and Malky Mackay’s Ross County at Celtic’s fortress, Parkhead. A match of great contrast awaits, with reigning champions Celtic preparing to fend off Ross County, a team that barely escaped relegation in the previous season.
A Dominant Force on the Rise
Celtic, under Brendan Rodgers, embark on a new chapter after the departure of Ange Postecoglou, who guided the team to win five trophies in two years. Postecoglou left to join Tottenham Hotspur, making way for Rodgers to pick up the mantle after a four-year stint at Leicester City.
 BetVictor 18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 at odds 2.00+ within 7 days, no cashout. Get 6x £5 Free Bets, set events at odds 2.00+. 7 day bonus expiry. Debit Card / Apple Pay payments only. #AD T&C’s Apply. 18+ | BeGambleAware | #Ad | #Ad. 18+Only, begambleaware.org |
Under Rodgers’ leadership from 2016 to 2019, Celtic secured two Scottish Premierships, two Scottish Cups, and three Scottish League Cups, culminating in an unprecedented “double treble.” Rodgers’ early record, which includes three wins, two draws, and a loss from six preseason friendlies, demonstrates his readiness to carry on Celtic’s success.
Last season, Celtic held sway in the Premiership, losing only three matches out of 38. With a staggering 32 victories and three draws, they secured their second consecutive title. Their offensive prowess was also on full display, netting 114 goals for an average of three per match. Meanwhile, their defensive wall proved equally strong, conceding just 34 times – the best record in the division.
The Underdogs Battling Adversity
On the other side, Ross County fought tooth and nail to maintain their top-flight status, securing their Premiership spot by winning a gruelling penalty shootout against Partick Thistle. This achievement, though commendable, throws into sharp relief the team’s struggles last season.
The Staggies only managed nine victories out of their 38 matches, resulting in seven draws and 22 losses. Their offensive record was equally disappointing, with a tally of 37 goals – only one team scored fewer. Defensively, they conceded 60 times, a record surpassed by only three teams.
Despite these challenges, Ross County show signs of grit and determination. They’ve kicked off their new campaign with League Cup victories over Stranraer, Morton, and Edinburgh City, even though they suffered a penalty shootout defeat against Kelty Hearts.
Transfer Market Impacts and Injury Concerns
The summer transfer window has reshaped both teams. Celtic’s loss of key players, Aaron Mooy and Jota, to retirement and a lucrative deal with Al-Ittihad respectively, may create gaps. However, they have swiftly moved to fill these voids, bringing in Kwon Hyeok-kyu and Yang Hyun-jun from South Korea and Tomoki Iwata from Japan.
Unfortunately, Celtic will miss right-back Alistair Johnston, striker Albian Ajeti, and midfielder James McCarthy due to injuries.
Ross County, too, have had a busy transfer window, welcoming Josh Reid from Coventry City and James Brown from Blackburn Rovers. Yet, they have to deal with the absence of Ross Callachan and Ben Paton due to knee issues.
Offensive and Defensive Strategies:
Celtic: They have established a well-defined, aggressive, attacking football style that focuses on high possession and intensive pressing. The Hoops create numerous goal-scoring opportunities through quick, creative, and fluid gameplay, leading to an impressive tally of 114 goals last season. Their high line of defence sometimes leaves them vulnerable to counter-attacks, evidenced by them conceding nearly a goal per game last season.
Ross County: The Staggies predominantly operate a reactive style, often focusing on counter-attacks due to their tendency to concede ball possession to the opposition. They manage to find the net even when playing away, scoring in five of their final six Premiership away games last season. On the flip side, their defence seems to be their Achilles’ heel, leading to repeated defeats against Celtic.
Impact of Management on Style of Play:
Brendan Rodgers (Celtic): Rodgers’ impact on Celtic has been transformative during the time he was the manager of the squad. His philosophy of attacking, high-pressing football was deeply instilled in the team, making them a dominant force in Scottish football and more of the same is expected now that he is back.
Ross County Management: The management’s influence appears to have been less positive, reflected in the team’s struggle to avoid relegation. However, their resilience and ability to score consistently indicate a potential for improvement under the right guidance.
Team Comparison:
Celtic outclasses Ross County in terms of tactics, player performance, and overall success. Their aggressive, high-pressing style has proven successful, while Ross County’s reactive, counter-attacking strategy has yielded less positive results.
Suggestions for Improvement:
Celtic: They should address their defensive vulnerabilities exposed during high-line pressing to prevent conceding goals.
Ross County: They need to bolster their defence and work on retaining possession to create more goal-scoring opportunities.
Pros and Cons of Strategies, Dynamics of the Game, Strengths and Weaknesses:
Celtic: Their attacking football is a clear strength, while their defensive frailty, particularly in high-line pressing situations, is a weakness. Despite their dominant gameplay, they are not invincible, which makes the game dynamic and intriguing.
Ross County: Their strength lies in their resilience and ability to find the net, even when playing stronger opponents. However, their weak defence and tendency to concede possession are notable weaknesses that could be exploited by Celtic.
Match Predictions
After analysing team performances, three predictions emerge.
1. Prediction: Celtic to Win with Over 2.5 Goals
There is no doubt about Celtic’s sheer dominance in the Scottish Premiership. The team has displayed an incredible performance last season, evidenced by their record of suffering only three defeats in 38 matches. This winning streak was further decorated by an outstanding number of 32 wins.
More notably, Celtic’s goal-scoring prowess is awe-inspiring, with a whopping 114 league goals scored last season, equating to an average of three goals per match. The team’s defence is equally commendable, having conceded only 34 times last season, thus bagging the best defensive record in the division.
Contrastingly, Ross County, which barely escaped relegation last season, pales in comparison to the formidable Celtic. The team’s record of nine wins out of 38 matches last season, combined with a relatively weak attacking and defensive prowess, leaves them at a significant disadvantage going into this match. Therefore, it’s reasonable to predict a Celtic win with over 2.5 goals in the match.
2. Prediction: Correct Score 3-0 to Celtic
By examining the data at hand, it’s clear that Celtic are not only a robust team in winning matches but also in controlling the game’s flow. The team’s high ball possession of 72.3%, coupled with a successful dribble rate per game of 8.2, showcases Celtic’s command over the game.
Ross County, on the other hand, struggled with a much lower BettingTips4You Expert rating of 6.73 and had conceded 63 goals in the past season. Their defensive vulnerabilities are likely to be exposed by the attacking strength of Celtic, which averaged three goals per game last season.
Thus, a correct score prediction of 3-0 to Celtic seems plausible considering both teams’ historical data and current form.
3. Prediction: Kyogo Furuhashi to Score
Kyogo Furuhashi’s goal-scoring prowess cannot be understated. The Japanese striker had a stellar season last year, scoring 34 goals in 50 games across all competitions. Furuhashi’s attacking prowess is vital to Celtic’s frontline, and he’ll be a constant threat to Ross County’s defence.
With Ross County conceding an average of over one goal per game and Furuhashi’s proven striking ability, it’s not far-fetched to predict that Furuhashi will find the net at least once during the game. His record indicates that he’s more than capable of capitalising on Ross County’s potential defensive errors.
£20 Returns £80 ----- £10 Returns £65 Odds corrects at time of posting and subject to change |
Top UK Bookies & Best Sign Up Offers
 Open Account Offer – Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. #Ad. 18+Only, begambleaware.org | 18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 at odds 2.00+ within 7 days, no cashout. Get 6x £5 Free Bets, set events at odds 2.00+. 7 day bonus expiry. Debit Card / Apple Pay payments only. #AD T&C’s Apply. 18+ | BeGambleAware | #Ad | #Ad. 18+Only, begambleaware.org |  #AD 18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first sports bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. Visit Unibet.co.uk for full T&C's. |
Subscribe To Our Newsletter For Exclusive Tips
Want to have exclusive tips from experts tipsters delivered right into your inbox? Subscribe Now To Our Newsletter. We will never spam, we fully respect your privacy!
