SECOND meets third in Thursday nights solitary Scottish Premiership fixture as Celtic play host to Hearts at Parkhead.
Ange Postecoglou's side stretched their unbeaten run in the league to eight matches with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Aberdeen on Sunday.
That victory put the Bhoys back within four points of league leaders Rangers, keeping themselves in the title race and they will be hoping to add pressure to their fierce rivals this midweek
Celtic know that there is little margin for error if they are to contend for the league crown, and games like Thursday's will serve as a good test of their title credentials.
For a side who were plying their trade in the second-tier last term, Hearts are clearly overperforming and exceeding expectations in the Scottish top flight as they look to re-establish themselves as Scotland's third force.
Last time out, Robbie Neilson's men returned to winning ways after putting two unanswered goals past St Mirren at Tynecastle to tighten their grip on third spot.
Outright Betting
Celtic are red-hot 2/5 favourites with SBK to enact revenge on Hearts after crashing to an opening day defeat in the capital.
Hearts are winless in their last five Scottish Premiership away matches and the bookies odds suggest that sequence will continue, with the Jam Tarts 8/1 (Bet 365) underdogs while a point apiece at Celtic Park is also deemed unlikely at 4/1 with SBK.
Betting Angles
Celtic are too short to side with here at the aforementioned odds but we can get some 11/10 (Bet 365) by combining a home win and each team to receive a card and that looks like a worthy boost in price.
As already alluded to, the Hoops are in the midst of an eight-match unbeaten streak in the Scottish Premiership, winning no fewer than six games from that sample.
The high-octane hosts have notched up 24 strikes across their eight domestic home games this term, while visitors Hearts have posted just one clean sheet across their last seven league matches.
What's more, Robbie Neilson's chargers have chalked up just one shutout when playing away from their Gorgie base this season, so with all things considered, I'm happy to back the Bhoys to bank all three points on Thursday night.
That said, the Jambos are a hard-working and well-organised outfit who never go down without a fight, so I'll complete the combination with each team to receive a card in what should be a closely-fought contest in front of the TV cameras.
The pair have thrown up some fiery fixtures over the past few years but it's also worth noting that the aforementioned Bet Builder has banked in each of the Bhoys' last six domestic wins.
I'll also have a nibble on the 6/5 (UniBet) for Celtic to win, Celtic to take the most corners and Hearts to receive the most cards.
With Ange Postecoglou's attack-minded team expected to dominate the tempo of the game, the above-mentioned same game multiple looks like another nice way of trying to squeeze some value out of a Celtic victory.
This Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts will be played on Dec 2, 2021 and kick off at 19:45. Check below for our tipsters best Celtic vs Hearts prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.