Premiership· Season 2025
Match Summary
Celtic defeated Motherwell 3:2. The match was played in Premiership 2025. Goals were scored by E. Watt 17′, D. Maeda 41′, B. Nygren 58′, L. Gordon 85′, K. Iheanacho 90′ (pen.). 5 yellow cards were shown. Motherwell had 48% possession while Celtic held 52%. Motherwell had 15 shots (5 on target) compared to 10 (3 on target) for Celtic. Expected goals: Motherwell 1.21 — Celtic 1.37. Motherwell made 5 substitutions, Celtic made 5. VAR was involved: Penalty confirmed (Auston Trusty 90′).
Match Events
Key match events between Motherwell and Celtic — 5 goals and 5 cards recorded during the match.
assist: Yang Hyun-Jun
Penalty
Match Statistics
Motherwell had 48% possession against Celtic's 52%. Motherwell registered 15 shots (5 on target) while Celtic managed 10 (3 on target). Corner kicks: 4–3. Fouls committed: 9–15.
Lineups
Motherwell lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation under Jens Askou, while Celtic deployed a 4-2-3-1 under Martin O'Neill.
Squad Ratings
The overall squad rating for Motherwell is 6.98, compared to 7.01 for Celtic. This metric is derived from each player's average match rating across all league appearances this season — anything above 7.00 is considered strong, while below 6.50 signals inconsistency. Motherwell's highest-rated starter is E. Watt (7.56), while Celtic's best-rated player is K. Tierney (7.28).
Attacking Output
The starting XI of Motherwell have contributed 48 goals and 32 assists this season, led by T. Maswanhise (17G). Celtic's starters account for 53 goals and 32 assists, spearheaded by B. Nygren (16G). Goals reflect clinical finishing and chance creation, while assists highlight the ability to unlock defences through through-balls, crosses, and set pieces.
Defensive Solidity
Motherwell deploy 4 defenders rated 6.83 on average, against Celtic's 4-man backline averaging 7.19. Higher defensive ratings suggest better positional awareness, fewer individual errors, and a greater likelihood of keeping clean sheets. The rating accounts for tackles won, interceptions, aerial duels, and blocks throughout the season.
Midfield Control
Motherwell field 5 midfielders averaging 7.06, versus Celtic's 5 rated 6.97. Midfield ratings reflect passing accuracy, interceptions, key passes, and overall control of possession — the team that dominates midfield typically dictates the tempo and territory of the match.
Forward Threat
Motherwell start 1 forward(s) averaging 6.94, compared to 1 for Celtic averaging 6.77. Forward ratings capture shot accuracy, movement off the ball, dribbling success, and involvement in build-up play — they indicate who carries the greater goal threat on the day.
Passing & Build-Up
Passing accuracy averages 82% for Motherwell and 84% for Celtic. Higher passing accuracy generally indicates a possession-based style with patient build-up through the thirds, while lower figures may suggest a more direct, counter-attacking approach with long balls and quick transitions.
Discipline
Motherwell's starters have collected 41 yellow cards this season, compared to 49 for Celtic. Yellow cards reflect how aggressively a team presses and tackles — a high count may indicate a physical, high-pressing style but also risks suspensions and late free-kicks in dangerous areas.
Age & Experience
The average age of Motherwell's starting XI is 25.5 (youngest: T. Sparrow (23), oldest: S. O'Donnell (33)), while Celtic average 25.9 (youngest: A. Engels (22), oldest: C. McGregor (32)). Younger squads typically offer pace, energy, and pressing intensity, while experienced lineups bring composure, game management, and the ability to handle high-pressure moments.
Squad Depth
Motherwell's starters average 33 league appearances each, versus 29 for Celtic. High appearance counts indicate an established, well-drilled unit that the manager trusts week in and week out. Lower figures may suggest rotation, injuries, or emerging players still earning their place in the team.
Substitutes
Coach: Jens Askou
Substitutes
Coach: Martin O'Neill
Rivalry since 2012
Motherwell vs Celtic Head to Head Results· 50
Motherwell and Celtic have met 50 times — Motherwell won 4, Celtic won 39, with 7 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2012. Celtic leads the head-to-head with 39 victories from 50 meetings. A combined 162 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 3.24 per match (35 for the home side, 127 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 23 matches (46%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 31 games (62%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 2–5 in 2019.
Recent Meetings
Recent Form
In their last 6 matches, Motherwell have recorded 2 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats. Celtic show 6 wins, 0 draws and 0 losses from their last 6 outings.
Match Prediction
Statistical tip
Double chance: draw or Celtic
Bookmaker Odds
Best price
Motherwell
5.26
Pinnacle
Draw
4.72
Pinnacle
Celtic
1.73
888Sport
Betting Odds & Historical Data
Opening pre-match odds recorded for this fixture at the time it was played. These are historical figures for analytical reference only and do not reflect any current market.
Historical data only — not for betting
This data is sourced from football-data.co.uk and covers historical match results and pre-match odds. These figures do not represent current or live odds and cannot be used for placing bets. Betting is not possible on this website. Provided for analytical and research purposes only.
Head-to-Head Record
Celtic dominatesHistorical results between these two teams — showing who has dominated this fixture and whether the current odds reflect that pattern.
Goals in This Fixture
How many goals these two teams typically produce when they meet, based on their historical encounters.
3.6
Average goals per game
80%
Games with 3+ goals
70%
Both teams scored
Market Summary
Margin: 7.7%Implied win probabilities calculated from pre-match odds across multiple sources. A higher percentage means the market considered that outcome more likely. Compare these against your own assessment to spot potential value.
Implied Probability
Odds Range
| 1 | X | 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min | 4.33 | 4.10 | 1.66 |
| Max | 4.33 | 4.10 | 1.66 |
Result vs. Market
Result matched market prediction
Match Statistics
Actual in-game statistics recorded for this match. Shots on target is a strong indicator of attacking pressure and correlates well with expected goals.
Head-to-Head History
Historical results between these two teams. Bold odds show which outcome was backed by the market — compare against the actual result to assess predictability of this fixture over time.
Home Record / Away Record
Aggregated season statistics from all available historical data. Use these to assess each team's overall form, scoring frequency, and tendency for high-scoring matches.
Home Record: Motherwell
Away Record: Celtic
Data: football-data.co.uk
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 17 May 2026