Celtic Eye Resurgence Against Resilient Motherwell at Paradise
As the Scottish Premiership roars into action this Sunday, October 5, 2025, all eyes turn to Celtic Park where the reigning champions, Celtic, host an in-form Motherwell side. Kick-off is scheduled for 14:00:00 UTC, and the atmosphere in Glasgow is set to be electric. This clash carries significant weight for both teams, albeit for different reasons. Celtic, under mounting pressure after a mixed start to their domestic and European campaigns, desperately need a convincing win to close the gap on league leaders Hearts. Meanwhile, Motherwell arrives with quiet confidence, having enjoyed an impressive unbeaten run in the Premiership under new manager Jens Berthel Askou, and will be eager to prove their mettle against the league’s perennial powerhouse.
Can Celtic rediscover their dominant home form and placate a restless fanbase? Or will Motherwell’s defensive resilience and counter-attacking threat spring a surprise in Paradise?
Head-to-Head: A Hoops’ Dominance
The historical rivalry between Celtic and Motherwell has largely been a story of Celtic’s supremacy. In the 46 Premiership meetings between these two clubs, Celtic boasts a commanding record of 36 wins, while Motherwell has secured just 3 victories, with 7 matches ending in a draw. Across all competitions, Celtic’s dominance is even more pronounced, with some records indicating Celtic winning 78 out of 111 total matches or 63 out of 82 games played since 2003. This fixture has often seen Celtic score freely, accumulating 122 goals to Motherwell’s 30 in their 46 Premiership encounters.
Recent Results (Last 5 Meetings):
- 02 February 2025: Motherwell 1 – 3 Celtic (Scottish Premiership)
- 26 December 2024: Celtic 4 – 0 Motherwell (Scottish Premiership)
- 27 October 2024: Motherwell 0 – 3 Celtic (Scottish Premiership)
- 25 February 2024: Motherwell 1 – 3 Celtic (Scottish Premiership)
- 25 November 2023: Celtic 1 – 1 Motherwell (Scottish Premiership)
Celtic comes into this game having won their last four successive encounters against Motherwell, underlining their recent superiority in this fixture.
Current Form & Team News
Celtic
Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side enters this match on the back of a somewhat disjointed run of results. Their last five competitive outings show two wins, two draws, and one loss:
- L: Celtic 0 – 2 Braga (Europa League, 02/10/2025)
- D: Celtic 0 – 0 Hibernian (Scottish Premiership, 27/09/2025)
- D: Crvena Zvezda 1 – 1 Celtic (Europa League, 24/09/2025)
- W: Partick Thistle 0 – 4 Celtic (League Cup, 21/09/2025)
- W: Kilmarnock 1 – 2 Celtic (Scottish Premiership, 14/09/2025)
The recent 0-2 home defeat to Braga in the Europa League and a goalless draw against Hibernian in the Premiership have sparked discontent among the Celtic faithful, with concerns raised about the team’s attacking fluency.
Team News:
- Injuries: Fullback Alistair Johnston (hamstring) has resumed individual training but remains sidelined for this clash, though an early return is anticipated. Winger Jota is also still out with a knee injury.
- Returning Players: Auston Trusty is back in full training and could feature on the bench.
- Key Players: Kelechi Iheanacho is expected to lead the line after a strong performance against Braga, despite a controversially disallowed goal. Captain Callum McGregor remains a pivotal figure in midfield. There is scrutiny on goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel following recent errors, though he is likely to retain his spot.
- Tactical Considerations: Brendan Rodgers may consider tactical adjustments, having experimented with a back-three against Braga, but is largely expected to stick with a back four in the Premiership.
Motherwell
Motherwell arrives at Celtic Park in impressive league form, currently sitting unbeaten in their last six Scottish Premiership matches, with one win and five draws.
- W: Motherwell 2 – 0 Aberdeen (Scottish Premiership, 27/09/2025)
- W: Aberdeen 0 – 1 Motherwell (League Cup, 20/09/2025)
- D: Dundee FC 1 – 1 Motherwell (Scottish Premiership, 13/09/2025)
- D: Motherwell 2 – 2 Kilmarnock (Scottish Premiership, 30/08/2025)
- D: Hearts 3 – 3 Motherwell (Scottish Premiership, 23/08/2025)
Their recent 2-0 victory over Aberdeen, featuring late goals from Johnny Koutroumbis and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, highlights their fighting spirit.
Team News:
- Injuries: Captain Paul McGinn is progressing from injury but the Celtic clash is deemed “too early” for his return. Long-term absentees include Sam Nicholson and Filip Stuparevic (both knee), Eseosa Sule and Jordan McGhee (both thigh), and Zach Robinson (Achilles).
- Returning Players: Elijah Just, Tom Sparrow, Callum Hendry, and Callum Slattery have all returned to training this week, with manager Askou hopeful some may be available.
- Suspensions: Stephen Welsh is ineligible to play against his parent club, Celtic, due to loan restrictions.
- Key Players: Goalscorers from their last game, Johnny Koutroumbis and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, will be looking to make an impact. Tawanda Maswanhise offers pace and creativity.
Tactical Preview
This match promises a clash of styles. Celtic, under Brendan Rodgers, typically deploys a 4-3-3 or occasionally a 4-2-3-1 formation, emphasizing ball retention, defensive solidity, and flexible attacking play. They are known for dominating possession and pressing high up the pitch. However, recent performances suggest a slight dip in their attacking sharpness and defensive cohesion.
Motherwell, led by Jens Berthel Askou, is expected to set up in a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 formation, prioritizing defensive solidity and looking to hit Celtic on swift counter-attacks. Their recent unbeaten run has been built on a solid defensive foundation and opportunistic scoring, particularly late in games. The midfield battle will be crucial, with Celtic’s Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate looking to control possession against Motherwell’s industrious midfield, which will aim to disrupt Celtic’s rhythm and launch quick transitions.
Conditions:
The weather in Glasgow on Sunday, October 5, 2025, is forecast to be cool, with temperatures around 13°C (55°F). There is a chance of light rain and overcast conditions, accompanied by winds from the west-northwest at around 14 mph, with gusts up to 34 mph. These conditions could make for a scrappy affair, impacting passing accuracy and the effectiveness of long balls, potentially leveling the playing field slightly against a free-flowing Celtic side.
Travel fatigue might be a minor factor for Celtic, who played a Europa League fixture on Thursday night, requiring a quick turnaround. Motherwell, having last played on September 27, will be comparatively fresher.
