Reigning champions Celtic will look to extend their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table when they welcome Motherwell to Parkhead on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors, meanwhile, are hoping to avoid extending their winless run to 10 matches by pulling off an almighty upset in Glasgow.
Match preview
© Reuters
Celtic entered the international break on a high after they put Aberdeen to the sword 6-0 on home soil two weeks ago, emphatically responding to their heavy Champions League defeat against Atletico Madrid by the same scoreline four days earlier.
The Hoops were only leading by two goals heading into the final 15 minutes courtesy of first-half strikes from Yang Hyun-Jun and Kyogo Furuhashi, but a late flurry of goals from Luis Palma, David Turnbull and Oh Hyeon-gyu (2) helped the hosts cruise to their 11th league win of the campaign.
Brendan Rodgers's side unsurprisingly sit pretty at the Scottish Premiership summit having picked up 34 points from a possible 38 available, and they can move 11 points clear of their nearest challengers Rangers with a win on Saturday, although the Gers will have two games in hand.
Celtic will fancy their chances of success this weekend as their win over Aberdeen extended their remarkable unbeaten league run on home soil to 50 matches – a 2-1 defeat to St Mirren in January 2021 was the last time that the Hoops suffered a top-flight defeat at Parkhead.
The Hoops have won four times against Motherwell during this home run, although the Steelmen picked up a point in a 1-1 draw the last time that they visited the green and white side of Glasgow in April.
In stark contrast to Celtic, Motherwell were left deflated heading into the international break after a 2-1 home defeat to Hearts extended their winless run to nine matches in all competitions.
After Lawrence Shankland netted his second goal of the game on the 71st-minute mark, Blair Spittal converted from the penalty spot to pull one back for the Steelmen seven minutes later – scoring his fourth goal of the season – but the visitors were unable to find a leveller in the closing stages.
Stuart Kettlewell is under pressure to turn Motherwell's fortunes around as they have slipped to eighth in the Scottish Premiership table, just two points above the relegation zone and five points adrift of fourth-placed Hearts who have a game in hand.
Motherwell are sure to have one eye on a favourable-looking run of fixtures against Dundee, Ross County and St Johnstone to kick-start December, but they must first shift their focus to Saturday's daunting trip to Celtic, whom they have failed to beat in each of their last 29 meetings, dating back to December 2015 when they won 2-1 at Parkhead.
Team News
© Reuters
Celtic will be without Liel Abada (thigh), Reo Hatate (hamstring) and Daizen Maeda (knee) due to injury, but Palma is available after shaking off a knock to represent Honduras on international duty.
Rodgers was boosted by the news that Marco Tilio, who is still waiting to make his competitive debut for the Hoops, started his first game for club or country since June in an Australia Under-23s game on Tuesday, and the winger could be named in the matchday squad on Saturday.
Furuhashi sustained a 'nasty' head injury against Aberdeen before the international break and was subsequently unable to represent Japan this month, but the Celtic star should have recovered in time to play this weekend.
As for Motherwell, Paul McGinn (fractured cheekbone), Lennon Miller (knee) and Pape Souare (ankle) all remain sidelined with injuries.
Brodie Spencer could replace Spittal on the left flank, while Bevis Mugabi will also be pushing to start and could take the place of either Calum Butcher or Shane Blaney in the back three.
Arsenal loanee Mika Biereth has contributed to six goals (four goals and two assists) in as many league matches since joining Motherwell, and the 20-year-old is set to keep his place up front.
Celtic possible starting lineup:
Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; Turnbull, McGregor, O'Riley; Palma, Furuhashi, Yang
Motherwell possible starting lineup:
Kelly; Casey, Butcher, Mugabi; O'Donnell, Slattery, Paton, Spencer; Wilkinson, Biereth, Bair
We say: Celtic 4-0 Motherwell
It is difficult to predict anything other than a Celtic victory here, although the 0-0 draws played out with St Johnstone and Hibernian earlier this season will provide a glimmer of hope for Motherwell.
Nevertheless, the Steelmen head to Parkhead in dismal form and they will likely struggle to keep a rampant Celtic side, who have already scored 34 league goals in 13 matches this season, quiet on home soil.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
