Get the best Kilmarnock vs Celtic prediction, betting tips, lineups, and odds ahead of this Scottish Premiership clash. Explore our top bet builder picks.
Kilmarnock vs Celtic Match Summary
Competition | Scottish Premiership |
|---|---|
Match Date | Sunday 9 August 2026 |
Match Time | 13:30 UK time |
Venue (City, Stadium) | Kilmarnock, The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park |
Broadcast (TV / Streaming / Radio / Bookmaker Streaming) | Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports Main Event (UK) |
Kilmarnock host reigning champions Celtic at Rugby Park on Sunday 9 August 2026, both sides fresh from contrasting opening weekends in the Scottish Premiership.
Killie opened their campaign with a wild 4-3 defeat away at St Johnstone, so the hosts arrive needing a response after a messy afternoon in Perth.
Celtic edged Dundee 1-0 through a Benjamin Nygren winner on their opening night, and the Hoops travel to Ayrshire chasing back-to-back wins to start the season.
Celtic have won each of their last six meetings with Kilmarnock across all competitions, twice snatching late winners at Rugby Park last term, so the hosts have plenty to put right in this match.
Kilmarnock vs Celtic Form
Kilmarnock have plenty of goals in them, having scored at least three in each of their last five Premiership matches, with over 2.5 goals landing in that same run. The trouble is at the back, where they shipped four in a 4-3 opening-day defeat. Joe Hugill and Tyreece John-Jules give them a direct threat up top.
Celtic have won their last eight Premiership matches and their last eight against Kilmarnock in all competitions, scoring at least twice in every one of those head-to-head outings. Benjamin Nygren struck the winner against Dundee, while Daizen Maeda and Alistair Johnston have both delivered repeatedly in this fixture.
Kilmarnock vs Celtic Lineups & Team News
Injuries & Suspensions
Kilmarnock: No confirmed injuries or suspensions reported.
Celtic: No confirmed injuries or suspensions reported.
Kilmarnock
Max Stryjek started in goal for Killie's opener, behind a back four of Michael Schjønning-Larsen, George Stanger, Ethan Brown and Erik Ring, the only new face to start at McDiarmid Park. Aaron Tshibola and Tom Lowery anchored the engine room, with captain Greg Kiltie and Nicky Clescenco out wide and Joe Hugill partnering Tyreece John-Jules up front.
Celtic
Viljami Sinisalo started in goal against Dundee, behind a back four of Kieran Tierney, Auston Trusty, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston. Captain Callum McGregor partnered Arne Engels in midfield, with matchwinner Benjamin Nygren, summer signing Camilo Duran and Yang Hyun-Jun in support of record buy Kasper Høgh.
Kilmarnock vs Celtic Predicted Lineup
Kilmarnock
Formation: 4-4-2 (probable)
Predicted Starting Lineup: Stryjek; Schjønning-Larsen, Stanger, Schilte-Brown, Ring; Kiltie, Tshibola, Lowery, Clescenco; Hugill, John-Jules
Celtic
Formation: 4-3-3 (probable)
Predicted Starting Lineup: Sinisalo; Tierney, Trusty, Carter-Vickers, Johnston; Engels, McGregor, Nygren; Durán, Høgh, Hyun-Jun
Kilmarnock vs Celtic Key Stats & Match Facts
Celtic have scored 2+ goals in 7 out of 7 meetings with Kilmarnock in the Premiership.
Celtic have had 6+ shots on target in 7 out of 7 matches against Kilmarnock in the Premiership.
There have been 27+ shots taken in 8 of the last 10 meetings between Celtic and Kilmarnock in the Premiership.
Daizen Maeda has scored in 3 of his last 4 appearances against Kilmarnock in the Premiership.
Kilmarnock have scored at least three goals in each of their last five Premiership matches.
Kilmarnock vs Celtic Prediction & Best Bets
Our prediction: Celtic are clear favourites here and it is hard to look past the champions, priced at 2/5 with Bet365. Killie carry a goal threat but leak too many at the back, so we fancy the Hoops to edge a lively afternoon. Kilmarnock 1-2 Celtic.
Best Bets
Both Kilmarnock and Celtic to score at Rugby Park. Our prediction points to a lively contest, with the numbers backing over three goals and a better than even implied probability of both teams scoring. Killie have scored three or more in five straight league games, while Celtic have found the net at least twice in eight consecutive meetings.
Kasper Høgh to score anytime for Celtic. The record signing leads the line for a side projected to score more than two goals, and he is up against a Kilmarnock defence that shipped four on the opening weekend. That makes the new frontman a strong fit for our anytime scorer angle.
Kilmarnock vs Celtic Bet Builder
Our four-leg bet builder leans on Celtic's dominance in this fixture: over 1.5 away goals, an Alistair Johnston assist, plus cards for Callum McGregor and Greg Kiltie.
Over 1.5 Celtic goals is the anchor, with the Hoops having scored twice or more in all seven of their Premiership meetings with Kilmarnock.
Callum McGregor to be booked is a sensible card leg, the captain having seen yellow in two of his last three against Kilmarnock.
Both Teams to Score has cleared in nine of Celtic's last 10 games, while it has cleared in four of the last five Head-to-Head matchups.
At the time of writing, this bet builder pays a best price of 19/2 and is as short as 8/1 elsewhere. That's a difference in potential winnings of £15 from best to worst price.
Make sure to get the best odds on your Bet Builder with Oddschecker's Exclusive Bet Builder Comparison Tool.
Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.
Kilmarnock vs Celtic Talking Points
This fixture marks Kilmarnock's first competitive game on a natural grass surface at Rugby Park after more than 12 years on artificial turf, following a major pitch investment. Whether the new surface helps or hinders the hosts is a genuine talking point, because Celtic have owned this fixture, winning the last six meetings and scoring at least twice in each. Killie were burned late twice at home last season, conceding 96th and 97th minute winners, so a stubborn showing on the fresh grass is the least the home support will demand.
Kilmarnock vs Celtic Predictions FAQs
What is the prediction for Kilmarnock vs Celtic?
Check our full match preview for in-depth predictions and analysis on the Scottish Premiership clash between Kilmarnock and Celtic.
What are the best bets for Kilmarnock vs Celtic?
Our top betting tips and bet builder selections for Kilmarnock vs Celtic can be found in our dedicated predictions section.
Where is Kilmarnock vs Celtic being played?
The match between Kilmarnock and Celtic will take place at The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park.
Where can I find the predicted lineups for Kilmarnock vs Celtic?
Predicted lineups and team news for both Kilmarnock and Celtic are detailed in our match preview ahead of kick-off.
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