Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic are set to take on Scottish Championship leaders Falkirk on Sunday in the quarter-final of the 2024-25 Scottish League Cup.
The hosts beat Hibernian 3-1 to progress to this stage, while the visitors dispatched Hearts 2-0 in their second-round tie to set up this quarter-final.
Match preview
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Celtic's start to the 2024-25 campaign perfectly reflects their recent dominance in Scottish football, as they have won all seven of their opening matches across all competitions.
Aside from a second-placed finish behind an undefeated Rangers team in 2020-21, the Bhoys have claimed 12 of the last 13 Scottish Premiership titles, as well as accumulating a total of 14 trophies from both the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup during that period.
Brendan Rodgers, who returned to the side in July 2023 after departing for Leicester City in February 2019, will be looking to lift the first available trophy of the season with the Scottish League Cup final taking place in December, and he will fancy his side's chances of progressing given their perfect start to the campaign.
Not only have they won all seven of their opening fixtures, but they have conceded just twice while scoring an impressive 22 goals, including five in a historic 5-1 victory against Slovan Bratislava in their most recent Champions League match.
Celtic will undoubtedly be heavy favourites for a comfortable victory against Falkirk on Sunday, and history is also in their favour with the Championship side failing to record a victory against the Bhoys in any of their last nine meetings, with seven defeats and two draws.
Falkirk have also enjoyed a brilliant opening to the 2024-25 campaign, winning nine and losing two of their first 11 fixtures across all competitions.
Despite this being John McGlynn's side's first year back in the second division since 2018-19, they sit atop the league table with a perfect record of five wins from five, a promising start that McGlynn hopes will help lead to a surprise victory on Sunday.
Falkirk have already defeated Scottish Premiership opposition this term, beating Dundee United 2-0 in the opening Scottish League Cup group stage game before also triumphing 2-0 against Hearts in the second round of the competition.
The visitors will also have the added motivation of attempting to please manager McGlynn, with their boss currently in hospital recovering from hip replacement surgery.
Team News
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The hosts have a clean bill of health heading into this game, giving Rodgers the luxury of a fully-fit squad to choose from as they aim to continue their perfect start to the season.
With the recent start of the Champions League, Celtic are facing a busy schedule in the coming months, meaning Rodgers may take the opportunity to rotate against a lower-league side.
Kasper Schmeichel could remain in goal, while a change to the backline could see Auston Trusty make his first start for the Bhoys since joining from Sheffield United in the summer.
Further up the pitch, Adam Idah scored his first goal of the season and his inaugural Champions League goal last time out, and the striker could feature from the start here.
The visitors will be without the services of Ryan Shanley after the forward was given his marching orders just 13 minutes after entering the pitch in the 2-0 victory against Hearts in the second round of this competition.
Elsewhere, a similar side to the one that defeated Hearts earlier in the Scottish League Cup could be named again here as Falkirk attempt to eliminate another Scottish Premiership opposition.
Celtic possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Ralston, Trusty, Scales, Taylor; Engels, McGregor, Bernardo; Forrest, Idah, Palma
Falkirk possible starting lineup:
Hogarth; Adams, Donaldson, Henderson, Mackie; Spencer, Tait; Ross, Oliver, Miller; MacIver
We say: Celtic 4-0 Falkirk
Although Falkirk have had a strong start to the season, Celtic appear unstoppable in their early matches and will be heavy favourites thanks to their superior squad and home advantage.
The Bhoys have conceded just twice all campaign and are unlikely to allow Falkirk many opportunities, while their attacking players should cause plenty of trouble, suggesting this will be a big victory for the hosts.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
