Celtic – Kilmarnock Prediction & Picks (09.05.2018)

Celtic and Kilmarnock meet at Celtic Park, Glasgow, in a match for the 4th round of the Scottish Championship Final Phase. The history of duels between the two teams clearly favors Celtic: in the last 48 games played in this competition, the home team won 38 wins, 6 draws and 4 losses. In the last match in this stadium a tie was verified by 1-1.

Celtic:

The Celtic comes to this game with a win over Midlothian, 1-3, adding the second consecutive victory in this competition. Remember that the home team has already won the title of Scottish championship: currently occupies the 1st position of the Final Series, with 81 points won.

In the 17 games played at home, the formation under Brendan Rodgers scored on average 2.24 goals and suffered 0.47 goals per game, showing huge competition in both sectors. In addition, the best period of the premises has been between 31 ‘and 45’, at which time they scored 10 goals and only suffered 1.

On this day the local coach must play in the usual 4-3-3, privileging possession of the ball and attacks through the flanks: the extremes Sinclair and James Forrest are very fast and strong in the offensive transition. Of note that midfielder Scott Sinclair is the best score of Celtic, with 18 goals scored. For this game the coach can not count on Bitton and Hayes, players recovering from injury.

Kilmarnock:

The Kilmarnock leaves for this game with a defeat in the field of Rangers, by 1-0, totaling in this way the third desaire followed in this competition. At this moment the visiting team occupies the fifth position of the Final Phase, with 55 points won, after 15 wins, 10 draws and 11 defeats.

The team led by Steve Clarke scored an average of 1.22 goals and suffered 1.17 goals per game, that is, presents sectors with several problems when playing in these conditions, watching the 18 games played away from home. Of note that the worst period of visitors away from home was between the 16 ‘and 30’ game, when they suffered 3 goals and scored only one.

In this game away from home the visiting coach must align in the same tactical system of the last match, that is, in 4-3-3, with Kris Boyd being the most advanced player of the visitors: this player is the best marker of the team, with 23 goals scored. For this day the foreign trainer can not count on the injured Smith, Cameron and McKenzie.