- Celtic are in top form coming into this fixture, winning five matches in a row in all competitions.
- Motherwell have failed to win either of their last two home matches.
- Celtic have conceded 24 goals in 18 Premiership - Championship Round 2026 away fixtures, an average of 1.33 goals against per-match.
Celtic are top of the class
Celtic FC sit second in the Premiership - Championship Round 2026 table on 73 points from 35 games, 16 ahead of Motherwell who occupy fourth spot on 57 points after the same number of matches.
Martin O’Neill’s men have responded to the veteran manager’s appointment by going on a five-match winning streak across all competitions, the most recent of which was a 6-2 trouncing of St Mirren in the Scottish FA Cup. They’ve also won 3-1 at home to Falkirk and 2-1 away to Hibernian.
The Celts' style of play under O’Neill has been pragmatic, flexible and ruthless as they’ve used their high tempo, high pressing game to get the ball back in advanced areas, where they can hit their opponents on the counter with pace and clinicality.
Motherwell’s style under Askou
Motherwell’s play under boss Jens Berthel Askou has been similarly brave and progressive, with more of an emphasis on structure and patient possession in the build-up, quick vertical switches and a coordinated high press to force opponents into errors and win the ball in advanced positions.
Motherwell have won ten, drawn five and lost just two of their home matches in the Premiership - Championship Round 2026, averaging 1.71 goals per-game for and just 0.53 against at Fir Park. Motherwell have won just one, drawn one and lost three of their last five in all competitions, though all three of those fixtures were away from home, with a gutsy 3-2 win over Rangers sandwiched between a pair of defeats, including a 1-0 loss to Falkirk last week.
Head-to-heads and home advantage
This clash will be hotly contested with European places and end-of-season pride on the line for both sides, so expect each to show all they’ve got. Games at Fir Park are often open affairs and this one could be no different. Both teams to score looks an appealing market to back, given Motherwell’s home scoring average and Celtic’s away defensive record, and the fact that these sides have averaged 1.5 goals per game at Fir Park.
The final verdict
O’Neill’s side have the edge in terms of form, head-to-head and odds, but with Motherwell’s quality at home and their ability to press Celtic in the final third, we’re backing the hosts to make this an edgy contest. Daizen Maeda has scored three Premiership - Championship Round 2026 goals and four of Celtic’s last ten. Motherwell’s Emmanuel Longelo has scored two in two and three in his last five in all competitions, scoring 50% of Motherwell’s goals in that run.
