- Falkirk are on a 2-game winning streak, beating Hibernian 2-1 and Kilmarnock 3-0.
- Celtic have won their last 2 games against Falkirk and won 2-1 when last they met 8 weeks ago in the Premiership 2026-2027.
- Celtic have won all 5 of their Premiership 2026-2027 away games and are the clear bookies' favourite here.
Celtic can edge out the Bairns
Celtic are the bookies' favourite to win this game and I can't argue with that assessment. They will probably have to earn it though with Falkirk on a 2-game winning run of their own. Martin O'Neill has the Hoops playing a more structured, layered and flexible style since taking over in May 2026. They are still primarily a possession team, but when the door opens, the Irishman prefers his side to play more vertically, giving this a very different feel to many of the recent Hoops sides.
O'Neill's men have 3 wins and 2 defeats from their last 5 matches, with their most recent results a 1-2 home defeat to Celta de Vigo in the UEFA Europa League - League Phase 2026/2027 and a 2-1 away win over Hibernian in the Premiership 2026/2027, so the away win certainly keeps their momentum going into this one.
The hosts are having a better season than most expected so far with 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat from their last 5 in all competitions. John McGlynn has done a fine job since taking over in May 2022 and the Bairns are a pragmatic, adaptable side that typically sets up in a compact 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. They press well and have the pace to hurt teams with transition play, but this is a classic clash between a possession-based team and a physically dominant team. Falkirk will be looking to win the set piece battle and 2nd ball game, but Celtic are just too good.
A question of scale
Celtic are top of the league on 27 points from 10 games, while Falkirk are 7th on 12 points, so it should be an easy win for the Hoops on paper. However, the Bairns haven't won their most recent home game against Celtic, so the visitors can't afford to just turn up and expect to walk off with a win.
Falkirk are not the best team in the league, but they do have the players to make a contest of this and they will get forward when they can. Benjamin Nygren is Celtic's most dangerous player and the Swedish striker is also their top scorer in the Scottish Premiership 2026-2027 with 3 goals from 7 appearances. But it is Camilo Duran who has been on fire for Celtic of late with 4 goals in their last 5, giving the Hoops a real edge up top.
Ryan Strain has been pulling the strings for the Bairns recently with 4 assists in his last 5 games as Falkirk are getting plenty of crosses and balls in behind from the wide areas. But with Jacob Murrell in particularly hot form, scoring 4 of Falkirk's 7 goals in their last 5, the Bairns have a target-man who can do some real damage. Ben Krauhaus has also been in the goals recently with 1 goal in 6 Premiership 2026-2027 appearances, giving Falkirk a modest, but valuable target up front.
Celtic can win at both ends
Celtic will look to control the game but should be able to hurt Falkirk at both ends if they can keep their hosts from playing in their compact shape. The Bairns have conceded 7 goals in 5 Premiership 2026-2027 home games this season, while Celtic have conceded just 3 in 5 on the road, so over 2.5 goals at 19/50 looks the likelier side of the totals market, while both teams to score at 31/50 also fits a lively game script.
Celtic to beat Falkirk at 8/25 is on the low side and doesn't offer much value given the Bairns have won 2 in a row and won't just fold. Falkirk to get a result at 33/5 is also very tempting given Celtic's odds and the fact that the Bairns lost their most recent home game against Celtic, but the draw at 23/5 is just as likely as a Falkirk win here, so I'm siding with the visitors.
