Our prediction for this Scottish Premiership match:
Celtic
Match Time & Date:
04/08/2024
11:30 AM
Prediction: 3-1
Kilmarnock
Scottish powerhouse Celtic begin their title defence with a home match against Kilmarnock on Sunday afternoon. The Hoops are determined to defend their trophy and their displays in preseason are surely fuelling fans with optimism ahead of upcoming challenges. It has to be noted that Brendan Rodgers’ troops outplayed the likes of DC United (4-0), Man City (4-3), and Chelsea (4-1) on the USA tour. As the club chiefs managed to keep hold of key players in the summer transfer window, home win should definitely be considered.
The Killie, on the other hand, have suffered seven defeats in the previous eight meetings with Celtic at Celtic Park and given the Hoops’ successful preseason, anything but a routine home win would be a big surprise. Bruce Anderson is widely expected to make his Kilmarnock Premiership debut on Sunday, while fellow centre-forward Greg Stewart is no longer part of the team.
Highlighted Player (Joe Hart):
Joe Hart is an English goalkeeper who was born on 19 April, 1987. Following a three-year spell with Shrewsbury Town, Hart joined big-spending Manchester City in 2006. After ending his loan spell with with Birmingham City (2010), he returned to Man City and he has been playing for the Etihad Stadium outfit ever since.
Joe Hart earned his 63rd cap for England at the Euro 2016 finals, but he has yet to win a trophy at the major tournaments with the Three Lions. On the other hand, the 29-year-old goalkeeper has clinched two Premier League trophies with Manchester City (2011/2012, 2013/2014) and the FA Cup title in 2011.
Speaking of his individual honours, Joe Hart has won the Premier League Golden Glove award on four occasions (2010/2011, 2011/2012, 2012/2013, 2014/2015). Hart made his England debut against Trinidad & Tobago on 1 June, 2008. It has to be noted that he managed to keep a clean sheet on his debut for the English national team.
Highlighted Team (Kilmarnock):
Founded on January 5, 1869, Kilmarnock are the oldest professional club in Scotland. The Killie welcome their opponents at Rugby Park, the stadium with the artificial turf. The venue, which was opened back in August 1899, can hold up to 17,889 people.
Kilmarnock won their first and only Scotland Premier League trophy in the 1964/65 season despite being level on points with Hearts at the end of the season. Fellow Ayrshire club Ayr United are considered the Killie’s bitterest rivals. The two teams have been facing each other in the Ayrshire derby since September 1910.
Dark blue is the dominant colour of the club’s home kit, while Kilmarnock footballers wear yellow and blues kit when playing on the travels. The Killie recorded their biggest win back in 1896, with the team beating Saltcoats Victoria 13-2 in the second round of the Scottish Qualifying Cup. The club suffered their biggest defeat in August 1938 as they were hammered by Celtic 9-1 in the Scottish League Division.
Southampton
Liverpool
Ipswich
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Napoli
AS Roma
Leganes
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Lazio 
Bologna 
Nice 
Strasbourg 
