St Johnstone vs Celtic Predictions

St Johnstone vs Celtic predictions for Sunday’s Scottish Cup clash. Celtic face St Johnstone in Sunday’s semi-final, targeting a third consecutive Scottish FA Cup title as they continue their strong domestic cup dominance. Read on for our free Scottish Cup predictions and betting tips.

Scottish Cup | Apr 20, 2025 at 3pm UK at Ibrox Stadium

St Johnstone vs Celtic Predictions

Can the Saints Repeat Their League Shock, or Will Celtic Crush the Dream?

• St Johnstone’s Goal Drought Is a Serious Concern
  • The Saints have only found the net once in their last seven fixtures, underlining the challenge they face breaking through Celtic’s defence.
• Celtic’s Dominance in Head-to-Head Encounters Is Overwhelming
  • Out of their last 32 meetings, the Bhoys have taken 28 wins and four draws — St Johnstone’s recent win was the only blemish.
• Maeda Continues to Be Celtic’s Main Man
  • With 31 goals in 45 appearances this season, Daizen Maeda is in sensational form and looks certain to lead the line at Hampden.

Best Bet for St Johnstone vs Celtic

Cup football is a strange beast. It has a habit of throwing up the unexpected, giving the underdogs their shot at immortality. And so, on Sunday afternoon at Hampden Park, a struggling St Johnstone side get their chance to upset the odds once more — this time with a place in the Scottish FA Cup final on the line. It’s the kind of match that could either be the ultimate escape from their dire league situation or a painful reminder of just how far adrift they’ve fallen.

Celtic, for their part, arrive with different objectives altogether. Already basking in the glow of a League Cup win and cruising towards yet another Premiership title, the Bhoys are eyeing a domestic treble. That golden trio of trophies is well within their grasp, and Brendan Rodgers will know that letting it slip at the semi-final stage against the bottom club in the top division would be, frankly, inexcusable.

Yet they won’t be heading into this one entirely free of doubts. That 1-0 defeat to St Johnstone just a fortnight ago will be fresh in the minds of everyone in green and white. It was a rare off-day, sure, but one that could inspire a whiff of hesitation. St Johnstone might be languishing at the foot of the table, but they’ve been gritty in the cup — three 1-0 wins show that they know how to survive when the margins are thin.

Still, Celtic’s firepower and big-game experience suggest the romantic storyline may be over before it properly begins.

Best Bet for St Johnstone vs Celtic: Celtic to Win to Nil

At BettingTips4You.com, we don’t flood you with countless tips that leave you second-guessing. We focus on one standout selection per match — a single, well-supported prediction that offers both clarity and quality. And for this semi-final, our Best Bet is Celtic to Win to Nil.

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There’s a fairly simple reason why this makes the most sense. Celtic may have lost to St Johnstone recently, but that result stands as an anomaly in a series of otherwise one-sided encounters. In 32 recent clashes, the Bhoys have taken the spoils on 28 occasions and rarely looked troubled. Their forward line — led by the prolific Daizen Maeda — has been in ruthless form, and while they’ve occasionally wobbled defensively, facing a side with only 29 league points from 33 matches hardly poses the same risk.

St Johnstone’s cup run has been built on defensive resilience, but it’s also come against far weaker opponents than Celtic. Narrow 1-0 wins over Hamilton, Motherwell and Livingston are gritty, yes, but hardly compelling evidence that they’re ready to halt a side chasing a treble. Add to that the fact they’ve failed to score in six of their last seven games, and the picture becomes clearer.

Meanwhile, Celtic are expected to field a strong side, with Jota and Kuhn flanking Maeda, and McGregor pulling the strings from midfield. Even without their first-choice goalkeeper, the Bhoys look well equipped to dominate both territory and chances. And with the Saints missing key players like Mikulic and Ikpeazu, they’ll find it even harder to get out of their own half.

“St Johnstone may be hanging on for dear life in the league, but against a Celtic side chasing perfection, they’re unlikely to land another lucky punch.”
— BettingTips4You.com expert Herrin Kendrick

Expect the Bhoys to keep things professional, limit the risks, and exploit every weakness in a Saints team that simply lacks the attacking quality to threaten a real upset. All signs point to a clinical, controlled performance — and a clean sheet.

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Correct Score Prediction: St Johnstone 0-4 Celtic

While the Saints might defend deep early on, Celtic’s pressure is likely to wear them down. A dominant display looks likely, and a 4-0 result would reflect both the gulf in class and the Bhoys’ motivation to secure the treble.

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