After securing a pressure-relieving victory over Besiktas in the Europa League during the week, Celtic will be aiming to return to winning ways domestically when they welcome Kilmarnock to Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
To say Martin O'Neill's side were in need of a win on Thursday was an understatement, as they were on a run of six defeats in 10 and had failed to pick up a point from their opening three league-phase matches in the Europa League.
Substitutes Camilo Duran and Callum Osmand were key to the 3-2 success and O'Neill will hope his side can now follow up after taking just a solitary point from their last two league fixtures.
Kilmarnock will arrive in the East End of Glasgow in need of a lift of their own, with a three-game winless run leaving them languishing at the wrong end of the table.
Celtic v Kilmarnock Tips Summary
Best Bet - Celtic to win and both teams to score @ 13/10
Alternative Bet - Celtic to win from behind @ 9/2
Bet Builder - Over 3 goals, Camilo Duran anytime scorer, Callum Osmand 3+ shots & Aaron Tshibola to be booked @ 25/4
Celtic v Kilmarnock Prediction
Best Bet: Celtic to win and both teams to score @ 13/10
Celtic showed plenty of spirit in a topsy-turvy second half against Besiktas that saw them fall behind, battle back to take the lead, concede an equaliser before then grabbing an 87th-minute winner.
O'Neill will be hoping that result and performance can help kickstart the Bhoys' season and they certainly need a pick-me-up after drawing with Dundee United and losing to Falkirk in their last two Premiership matches.
A visit from a struggling Kilmarnock side certainly looks like a kind fixture on paper, with Neil McCann's side battling at the wrong end of the table and holding the division's worst away record.
Killie's recent record against Celtic is also poor, as they have lost each of the last nine meetings between the two sides - including a 5-1 defeat at Rugby Park earlier this season - with their last success over the reigning champions coming in December 2023.
Their record when visiting Parkhead makes for even worse reading, as Kilmarnock are winless in their last 22 away trips to Celtic, losing 18 of those games since last claiming a victory at the venue over 14 years ago.
There is some hope for Killie, at least in the final third, as they have scored in five of the last six head-to-heads, while Celtic's vulnerable backline is without a clean sheet in seven matches since shutting out Motherwell nearly a month ago.
Alternative Bet: Celtic to win from behind @ 9/2
Celtic's less than robust defence means they have had to do things the hard way at times this season and it is no surprise that the seven points they have picked up from losing positions was a Premiership high heading into this weekend's action.
The Bhoys also showcased their comeback spirit against Besiktas in the week, while they memorably came from two goals down to beat Kilmarnock 3-2 at Rugby Park in February - Julian Araujo scoring a 97th-minute winner in that game that ultimately proved pivotal in the title race.
For their part, Killie came into matchday 13 having surrendered the most points from winning positions (also seven), so even if they can take the lead at Parkhead, the chances of them holding out for victory appear slim.
Celtic v Kilmarnock Bet Builder Tip
Over 3 goals
Camilo Duran anytime scorer
Callum Osmand 3+ shots
Aaron Tshibola to be booked
Pays 25/4
Duran and Osmand were the heroes for Celtic on Thursday, coming on when the team were 1-0 down and inspiring them to victory.
Colombian Duran scored twice, including the late winner, taking his goals tally for the season to 13, while he has seven in his last eight matches, a hot streak he can extend on Sunday.
Osmand scored with his first touch against Besiktas before laying on an assist for Duran's first goal.
The highly-rated 20-year-old is likely to be rewarded with a start on Sunday, and given he is averaging a shot every 25 minutes this season, he should have plenty of efforts on goal.
With Celtic scoring and conceding freely and Kilmarnock having shipped a league-high 28 goals in 12 matches, the chances of this game featuring four or more goals appear high.
Celtic will almost certainly dominate the ball at Parkhead, which means Killie's defensive midfielder Aaron Tshibola will have to put in a shift in the middle of the park.
The DR Congo international has given away a team-high 24 fouls this season and has been booked three times, including in last weekend's 2-2 draw with St Johnstone at Rugby Park, a match Killie could not win despite playing against 10 men for 77 minutes.
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Key Match Stats
- Celtic have won nine matches in a row against Kilmarnock
- Kilmarnock have not won at Parkhead since October 2012, a run of 22 matches
- Celtic have lost six of their last 11 games in all competitions
- The Bhoys have picked up the most points from losing positions in this season's Premiership (seven)
- Kilmarnock have dropped the most points from winning positions in the top flight (also seven)
- Camilo Duran has a league-high 12 goal involvements for the season
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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.
