Celtic vs Hearts previews, team news, stats, live on Sky Sports
Watch Celtic entertain Hearts live on Sky Sports Football from 7pm on Thursday; kick-off 7.45pm
Thursday 2 December 2021 08:33, UK
Team news for the latest round of the Scottish Premiership as Celtic entertain Hearts, live on Sky Sports.
Celtic vs Hearts, Thursday 7,45pm, live on Sky Sports Football
Fit-again midfielders Nir Bitton and Tom Rogic return to the Celtic squad.
Defender Carl Starfelt (hamstring) and striker Giorgos Giakoumakis (knee) are still out and long-term absentee Christopher Jullien (knee) and fellow defender Greg Taylor (shoulder) are working their way back to fitness.
Hearts will be without Beni Baningime after the midfielder was carried off with an ankle injury in Saturday's win over St Mirren.
Defender Taylor Moore returns from suspension and wing-back Alex Cochrane is expected to be restored to the starting line-up after being rested at the weekend.
Opta stats
- Celtic have won 18 of their last 19 home league matches against Hearts, drawing the other 0-0 in September 2015.
- Hearts have already beaten Celtic 2-1 on MD1 this season, and they last won back-to-back league meetings with them in August 2006 under Valdas Ivanauskas.
- Celtic have won each of their last six league matches played on a Thursday since a 1-1 draw with Aberdeen in January 2003. Each of their six wins in this run have come in a different calendar year (2006, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2019).
Live SPFL
- Hearts have lost both of their last two away league matches; in their promotion-winning 2020-21 Championship season, they only lost two away league fixtures overall (P13 W6 D5 L2).
- Hearts have only won one of their last 14 midweek games in the Scottish Premiership (D4 L9), a 3-1 win at Hibernian in March 2020.
How to follow: Watch Celtic vs Hearts live on Sky Sports Football and Main Event from 7pm; Kick-off 7.45pm. Follow the action with our dedicated live match blog including in-game clips, with free match highlights published on the Sky Sports website, app and YouTube channel later that evening.
