Celtic v Dunfermline Athletic Prediction, Tips and Bet Builder

Celtic are hot favourites to secure a second trophy in eight days when they take on Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish FA Cup final on Saturday and the Premiership champions should have few problems overcoming the Championship side.

While the Bhoys have been celebrating their dramatic last-day victory over Hearts that clinched the Scottish Premiership title, they should not be complacent as they bid to complete a double having lost 3-1 to top-flight strugglers St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup final in December.

Celtic won their last five matches to pip Hearts to the title but Dunfermline's form has tailed off as they finished fourth in the second tier this season and their promotion hopes were ended by a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Partick Thistle in the play-offs last week.

Celtic v Dunfermline Athletic Tips Summary

Best Bet - Celtic to win to nil @ 1/1
Alternative Bet - Daizen Maeda anytime goalscorer @ 4/5
Bet Builder - Celtic to win by 3+ goals, Kelechi Iheanacho to score last @ 9/1

Celtic v Dunfermline Athletic Prediction

Best Bet: Celtic to win to nil @ 1/1

Wins to nil have been scarce for Celtic in recent weeks and all of their last five victories have come in matches in which both teams scored, but they should be able to dispatch Dunfermline without much fuss.

Goals have dried up for the second-tier team in recent weeks. They have found the net only three times in their last five matches and have been shut out in four of their last eight fixtures.

All of those games were against weaker teams than Celtic and it's hard to see them being able to lift their form again on the big stage. The Pars' below-par spell has seen them win only two of their last 10 matches in 90 minutes.

Celtic might feel their name is on the cup this year as they have not had a smooth run to the final, beating Dundee after extra-time having scored a late equaliser in the fifth round, needing penalties to get past Old Firm rivals Rangers in the quarter-finals and scoring four extra-time goals to beat St Mirren 6-2 in their semi-final.

Dunfermline knocked out Hibs and Aberdeen at home and saw off Falkirk on penalties in their semi-final but they have lost their last 11 clashes with the Bhoys and a Celtic win to nil looks a likely outcome for the final.

Alternative Bet: Daizen Maeda anytime goalscorer @ 4/5

Daizen Maeda scored the critical goal that put Celtic 2-1 ahead late in their decisive game against Hearts last week and the in-form forward can get on the scoresheet again at Hampden.

The Japanese star is on an incredible scoring run, netting at least once in each of his last six appearances, including braces against Falkirk and Rangers.

Having scored in the first minute of the semi-final against St Mirren, Maeda may not take too long to reward his anytime goalscorer backers against Dunfermline.

Celtic v Dunfermline Athletic Bet Builder Tip

• Celtic to win by 3+ goals
• Kelechi Iheanacho to score last
  Pays 9/1

Create a simple two-leg Bet Builder on Saturday's Scottish Cup final by taking Celtic to win by three or more goals and Kelechi Iheanacho to be the last goalscorer..

The Bhoys should be full of confidence after their title success and won't want to leave anything to chance this time after their League Cup upset.

They have found their form in front of goal when it matters most and are facing a side whose impressive season looks to be tailing off.

Former Manchester City and Leicester striker Kelechi Iheanacho has played the super sub role well for Celtic of late, with five goals in his last eight appearances that were all scored in the second half or in extra time.

The Nigerian forward had come off the bench in all of those matches and could be the man to finish off the second-tier side with another late strike.

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Key Match Stats

• Celtic have won 11 consecutive matches against Dunfermline
• Dunfermline have not won any of their last three games
• Celtic have won their last five matches, scoring 14 goals in the process
• There have been over 3.5 goals in five of Celtic's last six fixtures
• Dunfermline have not scored more than one goal in any of their last five matches
• Celtic's Daizen Maeda has scored in six successive appearances

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.