Celtic v Motherwell – Match Preview and Predicted Team

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The Celtic Star

·14 de marzo de 2026

Celtic v Motherwell – Match Preview and Predicted Team

Celtic face Motherwell this afternoon as Martin O’Neill’s side look to strike first in a weekend where we are the only one of the four title challengers to play at home. A win closes the gap on Hearts to two points ahead of their evening kick-off at Kilmarnock…

A view of Celtic Park. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO/Shutterstock

It’s a big weekend in the Scottish Premiership title race with Celtic taking on a highly regarded Motherwell side led by the impressive Jens Berthel Askou who is surely going to to be a major contender for the Celtic job in the summer.

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Martin O’Neill’s side return to Paradise after four tough but successful away fixtures that keep Celtic in with a chance of a league and Scottish Cup double. Three points today against the Fir Park side will probably knock them out of the race and will heap pressure on leaders Hearts and the Rangers who are away to managerless St Mirren tomorrow.

Celtic Injury News

Celtic captain Callum McGregor sits this one out after missing the Scottish Cup victory at Ibrox. Martin O’Neill yesterday confirmed Calmac has a calf problem, not a reoccurrence of the Achilles injury that sidelined him last season. The Celtic manager suggests a return next weekend for the skipper.

Kasper Schmeichel has ruled himself out for around four to six weeks with his shoulder injury woes resurfacing in recent weeks. A decision that should have been taken sooner and by the club not the player. Maybe at half-time in the home match against VfB Stuttgart. The second goal conceded at Kilmarnock showed that there was a problem and we talked about it on here straight away. Crazy that it was overlooked.

Arne Engels is back on the grass but won’t be involved today. He’s going to back home to Belgium for some treatment and should be back after the international break for the title run in. Still no return for any of the long term injured including Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota and Callum Osmand.

Celtic Team News

Super save from Viljami Sinisalo. Scottish Premiership. Wednesday 4th March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

Viljami Sinisalo has been excellent over the past four tough away fixtures and today gets the chance to play as the Celtic No1 at Paradise. Auston Trusty remains on the Scottish FA naughty step so will sit this one out with the Celtic back four likely to include Julian Araujo, Dane Murray (who was on media conference duties yesterday and that’s usually a strong hint that he’s playing), Liam Scales and Kieran Tierney IF he’s fit enough to start. If not Marcelo Saracchi will get the nod.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at Ibrox. Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could play the number six role today with the back-in-form Reo Hatate and goal machine Benjamin Nygren making up the midfield three. The front three has been an issue all season as various managers have tried to find a formula that works. Today Martin O’Neill is perhaps planning on playing Yang on the right, Daizen Maeda through the middle and Sebastian Tounekti on the left wing.

Predicted Celtic Team

Reo Hatate scores at Ibrox in the penalty shoot-out. Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

Celtic XI: Sinisalo, Araujo, Murray, Scales(c), Tierney; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Hatate, Nygren; Yang, Maeda, Tounekti.

Subs: Doohan; Arthur, Donovan, Ralston, McCowan, Bernardo, Forrest, Adamu, Cvancara, Mvuka.

Celtic Manager’s View

Martin O’Neill in the Celtic dugout for his 1000th match as a manager. Celtic v VFB Stuttgart at Celtic Park during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Celtic FC and VfB Stuttgart at Celtic Park on February 19, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

“A really tough game, absolutely. They’ve had a fantastic time, a bit of a setback last week at Dundee, but they really have been the proverbial breath of fresh air for the SPFL. It’s been terrific, they’ve played really well and they play matches without any real fear. It’s great and it’s been terrific for them.

“They’ve been terrific, Hearts have been great this season and I also think that Falkirk have been terrific as well.But from our immediate opponents, Motherwell, a real difficult game for us.”

Match Officials

The SFA have confirmed the refereeing team for this weekend’s Scottish Premiership meeting between Celtic and Motherwell. Just two weeks after taking charge of the league meeting between Celtic and Rangers at Ibrox, experienced referee John Beaton has been handed the whistle for this afternoon’s game at Paradise.

John Beaton points to the spot after a VAR review. theRangers 2 Celtic 2. Sunday 1st March 2026.Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

The 44-year-old will be assured by Graeme Stewart and Calum Spence. Meanwhile, at Clydesdale House, Kevin Clancy will be on VAR with Gary Hilland assisting..

Motherwell beat Celtic in December, winning 2-0 at Fir Park as Jens Berthel Askou’s side embarrassed Wilfried Nancy’s team. The Dane has impressed with Motherwell, losing just four games this season.

Beaton has been behind some controversial decisions refereeing Celtic this season but awarded a penalty after a VAR intervention to Martin O’Neill’s side at Ibrox after a Sterling handball denied Daizen Maeda an equaliser. Reo Hatate scored as Celtic made it 2-2 to secure a well-earned point for Celtic.

Kickoff Time

A view of Celtic Park Celtic v Falkirk, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 01 February 2026. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO / Shutterstock

Celtic v Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership on 14 March 2026 takes place at Celtic Park with a 3pm Saturday afternoon kick-off.

Where to Watch

A view of Celtic Park Celtic v Falkirk, Scottish Premiership, Football, Celtic Park, 01 February 2026. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO / Shutterstock

Today’s match is NOT being shown live on television but highlights will be available via BBC Sportscene this evening at 10.20pm on the BBC Scotland channel. Celtic TV will be showing the match live on the club’s own channel with this service available to subscribers based outside of Britain and Ireland. A delayed stream of the full match will be available early on Sunday which Celtic TV subscribers based in Britain and Ireland can watch.

Predicted Score

Benjamin Nygren makes it 2-0 to Celtic. Celtic v Falkirk, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 01 February 2026. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO / Shutterstock

A tough game but one that Celtic need to win. Being back at Paradise will be a welcome change for the Bhoys after four tough away games have been successfully negotiated. Motherwell are a decent side but Celtic’s intensity can keep them on the back foot today. Expecting a few goals and Celtic to come out on top with a 3-1 victory.

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order