Preview: Celtic vs St Mirren in Scottish Premiership Gameweek 38

Preview: Celtic vs St Mirren in Scottish Premiership Gameweek 38

  • Soccer News 2025/05/17 08:58
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Celtic have enjoyed another exceptional domestic season, winning the Scottish League Cup after defeating Rangers in a penalty shootout in the final and securing the Scottish Premiership title with four games left to play.


After Aberdeen slipped up following matchday 11, Celtic maintained an unchallenged lead at the top of the league, ultimately sealing the title with a convincing 5-0 victory over Dundee United in their first post-split fixture.


While this season is already a triumph, Celtic are focused on one more trophy, as Brendan Rodgers' team prepares for the Scottish FA Cup final next weekend against Aberdeen, potentially achieving a sixth domestic treble in the last nine campaigns.


Having already clinched the Premiership, Celtic have sustained their strong form, entering this match with five wins and one draw in their last six games, and Rodgers aims to build on that momentum ahead of the final.


Celtic approach Saturday's encounter against St Mirren with high confidence, having won the last eight meetings and remaining unbeaten in the previous 12 encounters.


St Mirren started the season slowly, with Stephen Robinson's team winning only two of their first 10 league games, which left them at the bottom of the table.


However, a solid run of form lifted the Saints up the standings, securing a top-six finish on the final day with a thrilling 3-2 win over Ross County, thanks to Roland Idowu's 86th-minute winner, overtaking Motherwell and Hearts.


Despite being unbeaten in the post-split fixtures with two wins and two draws, St Mirren fell short of a European spot, sitting four points behind fourth-placed Aberdeen, but they could move to fifth depending on results.


The Saints are one point behind fifth-placed Dundee United, and with the Tangerines facing Aberdeen after four straight defeats, St Mirren might see an opportunity to climb if they gain at least a point against Celtic.


Celtic will be without Jota for the rest of the season due to a cruciate ligament injury, while Cameron Carter-Vickers is ruled out for Saturday and is doubtful for the cup final.


James Forrest, now Celtic's most decorated player with 26 trophies, is still searching for his first goal of the season as he targets scoring in 16 consecutive seasons, and the winger is expected to start on Saturday.

Rodgers fielded a heavily rotated lineup in the 5-1 win over Aberdeen last time out, and a similar team could be used on Saturday to rest key players for the cup final.


For St Mirren, Elvis Bwomono is the only expected absentee due to injury, though Idowu may be doubtful after picking up a potential issue in their last match.


Given their unbeaten run in the four post-split fixtures leading up to this game, Robinson might opt for a largely unchanged lineup.


Celtic possible starting lineup:

Sinisalo; Ralston, Nawrocki, Trusty, Schlupp; Bernardo, McGregor, McCowan; Forrest, Kenny, Hyun-Jun

St Mirren possible starting lineup:

Hemming; Fraser, Gogic, Taylor; Alebiousu, Phillips, Boyd-Munce, O'Hara, John; Mandron, Ayunga

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