Motherwell v Celtic
Saturday 10th August 1200hrs
Football – Scotland – Premiership
Pick Both teams to score
Bookmaker Sportingbet
Odds: 15/13 (odds taken 19.00 GMT, Friday 9 August)
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 151/20 | 4/1 | 17/50 |
* (Betting Odds were taken from 22Bet on August 9, 2019 at 19.00)
Champions Celtic started this campaign in supremely impressive fashion last weekend but Motherwell tend to provide stubborn opposition, especially at Fir Park.
Scottish Premiership Betting at Sportingbet
Motherwell Preview – Are ‘Well set to frustrate champions once again at Fir Park?
Motherwell’s manager Stephen Robinson was pragmatic about his team’s first game of the season. Playing Livingston away – on their plastic pitch – is never going to be an easy opening. That’s the way it proved as both teams were a match for each other in a physical sense but there was little in the way of skill and ability on show. In the end, a goalless draw was a fair result and it will not be a game that lives long in the memory. It did show that ‘Well do still possess a lot of battling qualities as well as their energetic and attacking qualities they displayed during their League Cup group stage. It’s likely that both sides of their game will come to the fore if they are to get a result on Saturday.
A visit of Celtic will not be overly concerning for Robinson and his players, though, as they have performed well against the champions in recent encounters. Their best results tend to be at home where they have drawn their last three games against Celtic. Three points and their first win of the new season will undoubtedly be their target but it would not be the worst thing if they could maintain an unbeaten start.
Celtic Preview – Can Celtic replicate last week’s excellent performance over St Johnstone on their travels ?
As first games of a season go last weekend’s win over St Johnstone was as good as it gets for Celtic. Following the unveiling of the championship flag for winning the title last year, the Hoops scored seven without reply – playing some scintillating football in the process. Manager Neil Lennon was gushing in his praise for his players following the game but knows there will be much more difficult games ahead. Ryan Christie was the star of the show scoring three of the seven goals. It’s already six goals this season for the midfielder who looks set to be a major player having broken through in the previous campaign.
This trip to face Motherwell comes sandwiched in between Celtic’s third round Champions League qualification round. The first leg against Cluj on Wednesday ended in a 1-1 draw. That result makes them favourites to progress into the playoff round having gotten that away goal. It remains a delicately poised tie, though, with the second leg to come on Tuesday. Should they finish the job then it would be another tough task that awaits at the next stage. Slavia Prague – who reached the quarter finals of the Europa League last season – would be between Celtic and the group stages of the Champions League.
Key-Facts – Motherwell v Celtic
- Motherwell impressed during their League Cup campaign but were held to a goalless draw in their opening league game
- Celtic thrashed St Johnstone on the opening day scoring seven times without reply to send out a warning to the rest of the league
- Four of the last five meetings between these clubs at Fir Park have ended with both teams finding the net
Motherwell v Celtic Betting Advice
I alluded to how difficult Celtic have found it on their recent trips to Fir Park. Their last win at this venue came at the end of 2016 when winning 4-3 in a dramatic game. Since then it’s been three games played and three draws and they can expect another test on Saturday. The home team have still yet to concede a goal in five competitive games they have played so far. From that we know they will be well organised. But they carry a threat going forward with plenty of pace in the wide areas. Robinson will also be hoping to capitalise on this game coming between two European games for the visitors.
There’s goals in both of these teams as we have seen in their games this season so far. Fixtures between the clubs at Fir Park also indicate that we should see an open and entertaining game once again. Four of the last five meetings here have seen both teams finding the net. That looks another solid selection on Saturday on what should be a perfect surface for football.
