Partick Thistle vs Celtic – Match preview and team news | OneFootball

Partick Thistle and Celtic face off in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final at Firhill Stadium on Sunday.

Both sides will be looking to secure a place in the semi-finals of the competition, with the Bhoys defending their title after winning last season’s final against Rangers on penalties.

While Celtic have lifted the trophy on 22 occasions in the past, the Jags have won it just once in their history, all the way back in 1972.

Partick Thistle vs Celtic – Match Preview and Team News

Partick Thistle team news

Partick Thistle enter this fixture on an impressive run of form under manager Mark Wilson, having won four of their last five matches across all competitions. The Jags secured their quarter-final spot with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Ayr United in the previous round, with goals from Daniel O’Reilly and Tony Watt.

Manager Wilson, a former Celtic player, has built a squad with strong momentum this season. The Championship side currently sits third in the league table with 10 points from five games. Key players Logan Chalmers, Aidan Fitzpatrick and Tony Watt have been instrumental in their recent success, with the team remaining unbeaten at home this season.

Wilson revealed that drawing Celtic has provided a crucial financial boost to the club, helping to save jobs at the Maryhill outfit. The match is completely sold out, which will provide significant revenue for the Championship club.

Celtic team news

Celtic approach this tie amid some controversy off the pitch, but manager Brendan Rodgers remains focused on defending their League Cup title. The Bhoys secured their quarter-final place with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Falkirk, featuring goals from multiple players including a debut strike for Dane Murray.

Several key players remain sidelined through injury. Alistair Johnston continues his recovery from a hamstring injury sustained against Kairat Almaty, though he’s reportedly ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation. Anthony Ralston and Auston Trusty are both making good progress and expected to return to training next week, but neither will be available for Sunday’s fixture.

New signing Kelechi Iheanacho made an immediate impact on his debut last weekend, scoring a crucial 96th-minute penalty winner against Kilmarnock. The Nigerian striker’s arrival has added depth to Celtic’s attacking options following their late transfer activity.

Form

Partick Thistle

Mark Wilson’s side have enjoyed an excellent start to the campaign, winning their last four matches in all competitions. Their most recent victory came against Airdrieonians with a 2-1 comeback win, maintaining their strong home record this season.

The Jags swept through the League Cup group stage with four straight victories and have shown resilience in the Championship, currently occupying third place in the table.

Celtic

Celtic returned to the top of the Scottish Premiership following a dramatic 2-1 win over Kilmarnock last weekend. Despite some early season struggles to find their rhythm, Brendan Rodgers’ side remain unbeaten domestically this campaign.

The champions have faced challenges on and off the pitch, most notably in their failure to qualify for the Champions League, losing on penalties to Kairat Almaty in the playoff round. But their form has otherwise been solid with four wins and one draw in the Scottish Premiership.

Predicted lineups

Partick Thistle XI: Clarke; McPherson, Ashcroft, O’Reilly, Reading; Chalmers, Letsosa, Stanway, Crawford, Fitzpatrick; Watt

Celtic XI: Sinisalo; Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Saracchi; Engels, McGregor, McCowan; Forrest, Iheanacho, Tounekti

How to watch Partick Thistle vs Celtic?

UK fans can watch the game live on Premier Sports 1.

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