Match Preview: Hibernian vs Celtic - Analysis and Insights

The Scottish Premiership season is now well and truly underway, and after gameweek one, only Celtic, St. Mirren and Aberdeen have managed to get off to the best possible start, with half of the teams in the league drawing their season opener.

SUNDAY: Hibernian vs Celtic, 12:30PM Kick off. Live on the big screen, some of the lowest prices on beer in town and the best Guinness in Wolverhampton. Everyone welcome! ☘️💚🤍#celtic @celticbars pic.twitter.com/qicGsrmS0M
— The Emerald Club, Wolverhampton (@EmeraldClubWton) August 9, 2024

Celtic played out a convincing 4-0 win over Kilmarnock, while Old Firm enemies Rangers could only manage a scoreless draw against Hearts. On Sunday, Celtic travel to Hibernian in a bid to go two from two to start the season, and will be hoping for a statement win to pile the pressure onto their rivals early on in the season.

For Hibernian, who were well beaten in a 3-0 loss to St, Mirren, it is now about limiting the damage, an attitude that many Scottish teams are familiar with when it comes to facing Celtic and Rangers, and their eyes will be firmly on the next game to show they can bounce back.

As the game approaches, we take a look at the key players, battles, absences and decisions that could decide the game.

Celtic vs Hibernian Pre-Season Form

Celtic, though used to being the big dogs in Scottish football, are relative minnows when they play top teams from other top nations. However, while being one of the many teams to tour the USA to find fitness in the off season, the Bhoys showed some excellent form.

They went undefeated in five friendlies, only drawing in their first fixture against fellow Scots Ayr. Then something in their team clicked right before their second game against Queen’s Park, as they scored six on their way to an end to end 6-4 victory.

They then faced their three toughest opponents of pre-season in a week, and defeated all of them comfortably. DC United were roundly beaten 4-0, and a youthful Manchester City side went down 4-3. Celtic’s most impressive performance was against Chelsea. Despite having fewer shots and less possession, Celtic were so effective on the ball, and achieved a resounding 4-1 victory.

Hibernian also showed good form in pre-season, albeit against lesser opponents. They beat Edinburgh, Duisburg and PAOK without conceding, before entering the Scottish League Cup in the group stage, beating Elgin City and Queen’s Park, before suffering a shock defeat to Kelty Hearts.

A 3-2 friendly defeat to Watford brought their off-season to a close before their rotten season opener against St. Mirren.

🚀 Roland Idowu stunner
🔄 Super sub Oisin Smyth
🫣 Defensive blunder

St Mirren followed up their European success with a convincing 3-0 Premiership win over Hibernian ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/xs2vLmRAwE
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 4, 2024

Though both found good form in pre-season, Celtic were undoubtedly more impressive, beating high caliber teams, and in remaining unbeaten, they have maintained an undefeated streak of 18 games that stretches back to early March, during the height of last season.

Hibernian and Celtic Top Scorers

With just one competitive game under their belt this season, Celtic’s current top scorer is a four way tie, with defender Liam Scales in the mix, meaning this statistic carries no significance.

However, going off of last season, Matt O’Riley enters this game carrying the most significant goal threat, after scoring 18 league goals last season from midfield. He has also been on fire in Celtic’s pre-season friendlies, scoring four and assisting two across the four games he played.

🍀 Chelsea are the latest club to declare an interest in Celtic's Matt O'Riley.

All the details 🔽
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 4, 2024

Striker Kyogo Furuhashi, who finished last season on 16 goals in all competitions, has also started the season quickly, scoring six goals across all five of Cetlic’s warm up games.

Hibernian have already played five competitive games this season, and their top scoring charts look a lot more meaningful. Forwards Dylan Vente and midfielder Martin Boyle have scored three each, while right back Lewis Miller has contributed two.

Last season, Myziane Maolida top scored for Hibs with 10 goals from midfield, while Boyle and Vente scored five each, showing a remarkable early season improvement from the latter two. Maolida’s goalscoring form earned him a move to Hertha BSC this summer, depriving Hibernian of their main goal scoring threat.

However, winning three separate Scottish League Cup games by at least a four goal margin, Hibs certainly have the fire power up top to contend with top defenders, but against a defense like Celtic’s they may struggle to create openings here.

Hibernian vs Celtic Team News

Hibernian have come through both the League Cup games and pre-season friendlies unscathed, and will have a full complement of players to pick their squad from.

For Celtic, last season’s starting left winger Daizen Maeda went off with a knee injury in their pre-season win over Chelsea, and was not in the matchday squad for Celtic’s season opener against Kilmarnock. However, Brendan Rodgers has confirmed the injury is not severe, and that Celtic fans should expect to see him back with the squad in the coming weeks.

Hibernian vs Celtic Predicted Lineups

Hibernian (4-2-3-1): Bursik (GK), Miller, O’Hara, Ekpiteta, Obita, Moriah-Welsh, Newell, Boyle, Campbell, Molotnikov, Vente.

Celtic (4-3-3): Schmeichel (GK), Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, O’Riley, McGregor, Hatate, Kuhn, Furuhashi, Forrest.

Hibernian vs Celtic Player to Watch

Kyogo Furuhashi simply has to be the player to watch on current form.

The Japanese forward has 53 goals for Celtic across four league seasons since being signed in summer 2021, and was on fire in pre-season. Scoring a hat trick against Queen’s Park, a goal against Manchester City, and a goal against Chelsea, Furuhashi has every tool in his skill set to seriously examine some of the worlds best defensive lines.

And it isn’t just his finishing that is impressive. He is also well known for his link up play and unselfish attitude, and regularly attempts defense splitting passes to set up his team mates.

Celtic have a distinct Japanese core, with Reo Hatate in the midfield, as well as the currently injured Daizen Maeda, and the chemistry between these players blossoms on the pitch. They play in sync with each other, and this understanding is what creates so many chances for predominantly Maeda and Furuhashi, as they always know what the other is about to do, and where they should go accordingly.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 | Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi in training ahead of the start of the Scottish Professional Football League this weekend.

Tomorrow, the current SPFL champions begin the season with a game against Kilmarnock at Celtic Park 🍀 #旗手怜央 • #古橋亨梧 pic.twitter.com/2l7wOLyOWC
— Japanese Football (@JapaneseFbl) August 3, 2024

Furuhashi, going off his pre-season form, is almost guaranteed to score in this game, but don’t be surprised if goals popped up from all over the pitch, as two defenders scored in their dominant win over Kilmarnock.