Celtic vs Hearts Prediction: Maeda magic to break Hearts at Wilfried’s welcome party

| Saturday 6th December 2025, 15:00pm

Saturday 6th December 2025, 15:00pm

New Celtic boss Wilfried Nancy faces a baptism of fire on Sunday when the Scottish Premiership champions host leaders Hearts at Celtic Park (15:00 GMT, live on Sky Sports Football).

The Edinburgh side arrive having seen their one-time nine-point lead whittled down to goal difference alone across a four-game winless streak. Read on for my Celtic vs Hearts predictions, as well as the latest team news and Betfred’s full match odds.

Celtic vs Hearts Betting Tips

Handicap +1: Celtic -1 @ 6/4
Daizen Maeda anytime goalscorer @ 13/10

*odds correct at time of publication

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Team News

It’s hard to get a real read on what Nancy will do to set up Celtic for the first time, but you have to believe he won’t make too many changes from the side which beat Dundee 1-0 at Parkhead on Wednesday.

While he is known for favouring a 3-4-3 formation, Martin O’Neill’s successes in his eight games in interim charge – winning seven of them – mean there might be a desire for caution initially.

Marcelo Saracchi is one definite absentee having pulled his hamstring in the Dundee win, with Kieran Tierney the most likely player to step up for the start. Kelechi Iheanacho is still missing with a hamstring issue of his own.

Hearts boss Derek McInnes will be reeling from his club’s recent run after such a terrific start to the season. As a result there could be a few alterations to the latest setback, Wednesday’s late consolation of an equaliser to Kilmarnock at Tynecastle.

Claudio Braga should come back into the starting lineup having been restricted to a 25-minute sub appearance in the week.

Celtic vs Hearts Predicted Lineups

Celtic: Schmeichel; Donovan, Trusty, Scales, Tierney; Engels, McGregor, Hatate; Nygren, Maeda, Tounekti
Hearts: Schwolow; Borchgrevink, Kent, Findlay, Milne; Forrest, Magnusson, Devlin, Kyziridis; Braga, Shankland

Celtic vs Hearts Odds

Celtic are big favourites, as is so often the case in G40. They’re 4/7 to collect all three points and pull clear at the top of the Premiership.

Hearts are 9/2 for a win which would see them rebuild a buffer in first place, while the draw is available at 16/5.

It’s an 8/11 bet for both teams to find the net, with Johnny Kenny the 7/2 favourite to bag the opener.

Celtic vs Hearts Stats

Having scored 28 goals in their first 11 matches at 2.55 per game, Hearts have netted only twice in the last four
Celtic bagged 12 goals in nine under Brendan Rodgers (1.33), then 12 in five (2.4) after O’Neill took temporary charge
While Hearts beat Celtic 3-1 at Tynecastle in October, they lost all three meetings last season (1-9 aggregate)

Today's Football Fixtures

Handicap +1: Celtic -1 @ 6/4

Some have described the timing of Nancy’s arrival at Parkhead as a ‘hospital pass’, with O’Neill’s excellence over the past six weeks a lot to live up to.

There have to be doubts as to whether the Frenchman will want to immediately change shape, with momentum and familiarity surely key in this top-of-the-table clash.

So long as he doesn’t look to change too much too soon, this could be quite the first impression. Hearts are not a team in form, and the different ways they’ve found to drop points of late will be of huge concern to McInnes.

If the Bhoys can get an early goal, I see them winning with a couple to spare. And at 6/4 with Betfred, I think there’s real value in the handicap bet.

Celtic vs Hearts - Handicap +1

Celtic -1

6/4

Bet Here

Odds correct at time of publishing.

Football Odds

Daizen Maeda anytime goalscorer @ 13/10

He took a clattering in netting the winning goal, and there’s a real hunger to get the job done in most of what Daizen Maeda does.

This could be just the sort of afternoon for him, and with Celtic Park looking to mark a real impression on Nancy I’m backing the Japanese star to find the net at any time in the fixture.

At 13/10, it’s a 43.5% implied probability that Maeda makes Hearts pay.

Celtic vs Hearts - Anytime Goalscorer

Daizen Maeda

13/10

Bet Here

Odds correct at time of publishing.

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