Celtic vs Falkirk Prediction: A rollercoaster evening ahead for the champions

| Friday 24th April 2026, 13:00pm

Friday 24th April 2026, 13:00pm

The most fascinating Scottish Premiership title race in decades hits the final furlong on Saturday, with Celtic hosting Falkirk at Celtic Park (17:30, Sky Sports Football) with the chance to draw level with leaders Hearts.

The Bhoys sit in third as the post-split phase begins, but both Hearts and Rangers play on Sunday so the champions could apply pressure for 24 hours at least. My Celtic vs Falkirk predictions, full team news and Betfred’s match odds are all below.

Celtic vs Falkirk Betting Tips

Match Result & Both Teams to Score – Celtic & Yes @ 13/8
Brad Spencer to Receive a Card @ 15/8

*odds correct at time of publication

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Team News

Alistair Johnston is in training but still shy of full fitness after a long-term hamstring injury, while a thigh problem for Julian Araujo means the Bournemouth loanee could miss the rest of Celtic’s season. Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers are definitely due for the run-in.

Liam Scales returns after suspension, which ruled him out of the Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Mirren.

Colby Donovan is unavailable with a hamstring injury and Callum Osmand is a few weeks away from returning after six months out. But after his two-goal substitute appearance at Hampden on Sunday, Kelechi Iheanacho could be in line for a start.

Coll Donaldson may well be out once more for Falkirk after missing the cup semi-final loss to Dunfermline last Saturday.

Ross MacIver is a possible inclusion – likely as a sub – after returning to the bench at Hampden after a number of months out.

Louis Marsh and Ethan Williams are both long-term casualties for John McGlynn’s side.

Celtic vs Falkirk Predicted Lineups

Celtic: Sinisalo; Ralston, Trusty, Scales, Tierney; McGregor, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Yang, Nygren, Maeda; Iheanacho
Falkirk: Bain; Adams, Donaldson, Henderson, Lissah; Spencer, Tait; Broggio, Yeats, Miller; Stewart

Celtic vs Falkirk Odds

As is generally the way at Parkhead, Celtic are heavy favourites. Martin O’Neill’s team are 2/5 for the win, with Falkirk an 11/2 shot.

The draw can be backed at 4/1, while Betfred are offering 4/6 about Both Teams to Score.

Celtic vs Falkirk Stats

The Bairns have scored just 4 goals in their 9 matches this term against the top 3, with 3 coming last time out against Rangers
Falkirk’s last 5 games have all seen Both Teams to Score (W2, D1, L2)
Celtic have won all 3 meetings in the league this term at an aggregate of 7-0
Their 1-0 win over St Mirren in their last Premiership match broke an 8-game league stretch in which Celtic had conceded every time (12 goals in total)

Today's Football Fixtures

Match Result & Both Teams to Score – Celtic & Yes @ 13/8

While no true title race goes without its twists and turns, this one has seemingly had more than most.

And yet Hearts haven’t been deposed from the summit since August, save for Rangers’ recent overnight sojourn.

Celtic are still some people’s favourites to come out on top – maybe out of habit more than anything, and they start off with statistically the softest fixture they could at home to the sixth-place side.

But the reigning champions just haven’t been anywhere near as fluid as Hearts and particularly Rangers of late. They’ve been scraping through games at best for the most part.

The Bhoys are certainly more fragile than they have been in seasons past, and given the football The Bairns can play I fancy the visitors to cause problems.

While O’Neill’s first spell this season saw Celtic win five of five and concede just once, they have shipped more than a goal a game since his return post-Wilfried Nancy.

Celtic vs Falkirk - Match Result & Both Teams to Score

Celtic & Yes

13/8

Bet Here

Odds correct at time of publishing.

Football Odds

Brad Spencer to Receive a Card @ 15/8

One thing you can guarantee from Falkirk is a desire to play football. Another thing you can be pretty sure of is a battle.

The winners of last year’s Scottish Championship have taken to the Premiership brilliantly, hence the qualification for the top six, and their no-fear approach to working the ball through the phases has helped them upset a number of teams.

But that is not to say they don’t have an edge, and Brad Spencer’s 10 yellow cards in league play offer an example of their tenacity when it is necessary.

At Celtic Park, they could find themselves chasing the ball at times. And for that reason I find Spencer to be a good bet to add to his disciplinary tally. The 15/8 price implies 34.8% probability.

Celtic vs Falkirk - Player to Receive a Card

Brad Spencer

15/8

Bet Here

Odds correct at time of publishing.

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