Bernardo To Start? | Predicted 4-2-3-1 Celtic Lineup To Face Kilmarnock | OneFootball

After a hard-fought win against ten-man Rangers in the League Cup semifinal, Martin O’Neill’s Celtic were handed a reality check by Midtjylland in Denmark on Thursday night. The Europa League leaders clinched a comprehensive 3-1 win, thus exposing the Hoops’ frailties across the pitch. The veteran boss must now demand a reaction from his men, as a setback against Kilmarnock would further jeopardise their title defence.

Killie suffered an injury-time heartbreak when debutant Kelechi Iheanacho scored from the spot to snatch a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture at Rugby Park. Celtic are already nine points behind league leaders Hearts. Yet they should secure a comprehensive win, given their opponents are on a four-game winning streak ahead of the Parkhead encounter.

Predicted 4-2-3-1 Celtic Lineup To Face Kilmarnock

Defence

Kasper Schmeichel had a difficult night in Herning and Ikast. But he would hope for a relatively quiet evening against the struggling East Ayrshire outfit.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – JANUARY 18: Daizen Maeda of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Celtic and Kilmarnock at Celtic Park on January 18, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Injuries to Alistair Johnston and Cameron Carter-Vickers decimate the Bhoys in the defensive third. Anthony Ralston should keep his place on the right until the Canadian regains match fitness, and so should Auston Trusty, who has replaced his fellow USMNT centre-half in the heart of the backline. Liam Scales and Kieran Tierney are expected to operate from their respective central defensive and left fullback roles.

Midfield

O’Neill has switched to a ‘double pivot’ from Celtic’s traditional three-man midfield formation. Skipper Callum McGregor has partnered with Arne Engels, and the Northern Irish chief should stick to his system, regardless of his side’s midweek defeat against the Danish giants. Engels’ hamstring strain could see Paulo Bernardo earn a rare start in the middle of the park, whereas Reo Hatate and Luke McCowan might get involved as second-half substitutes.

Benjamin Nygren has already been deployed in various midfield and attacking slots since his summer arrival. The Swedish international could once again feature as a ‘number 10’ to bridge the gap between midfield and attack. James Forrest should make way for Daizen Maeda down the right, as the latter would offer more firepower high up the pitch. Sebastian Tounekti has cemented a starting spot since joining the Celts late in the summer window, and the Tunisian must improve his finishing and decision-making to retain his starting status ahead of Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Hyun-Jun Yang.

Attack

Johnny Kenny and Callum Osmand have stepped in and delivered amid Iheanacho’s injury absence. Osmand deserves a nod from the start following an impressive second-half performance on his European debut; however, a devastating hamstring injury towards the end might rule him out for weeks. Kenny would have another opportunity to impress, with outcast shin Yamada being the only other outright ‘number 9’ option.