Celts Set Sights on Saints Semi
~~~~~~~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~~~~~~~


Nidfielder Reo Hatate netted twice in the 5-1 Premiership win over Killie last weekend


Hampden Park, Glasgow
Sunday, 20 April 2025
15.00 BST

The Hoops head to Hampden tomorrow, where they will square up against St Johnstone, with the prize of a place in next month's Scottish Cup Final on the line.

Celtic are on the brink of securing the Premiership title after last weekend's resounding 5-1 victory over Kilmarnock, but the immediate attention switches now to the defence of their Scottish Cup crown.

Victory tomorrow would see the Bhoys within touching distance of another potential domestic treble, as they look to join Aberdeen in the end of season showpiece, after the Dons' 2-1 win over Hearts in the first Semi-Final.

But first the Hoops have to contend with St Johnstone, and nothing can be taken for granted, as the Perth side have already proven capable of causing an upset, as they did just a couple of weeks ago when these sides last met.

Brendan Rodgers, under whose leadership Celtic have a 100% win record at Hampden, will be preparing the team with the memory of that still fresh in the mind, and knowing that the Hoops have a point to prove.


Adam Idah battles with the spirited St Johnstone defenders in the most recent match up

It could be another tense affair, as has been the case the last few times that these sides have met in either of the Cup tournaments. While the Hoops came out of both with the win, it was far from straight forward.

The Celts only narrowly edged out a 1-0 Scottish Cup win in March 2020, just weeks before the COVID lockdowns began, with the result coming courtesy of a late Ryan Christie freekick with less than 10 minutes left.

And it was a similiar story the last times these sides went toe to toe at Hampden Park in November 2021, wiith James Forrest the difference from off the bench in another nervy 1-0 win in the League Cup Semi-Final.

So there can be absolutely no complacency from the Bhoys tomorrow when they line up to take to the Hampden Park pitch once more.


Nov 2021: James Forrest scored the only goal the last time these sides met at Hampden Park

While Celtic are eyeing a potential treble, this competition has in some ways served as a catalyst for St Johnstone, instilling belief and providing a real psychological bounce, as the Saints set aside the concerns of their Premiership status temporarily, following their 1-0 loss to United, last week.

It has provided the Saints' fans with a welcome distraction from those relegation worries, by sparking warm memories of the last two occasions that the Perth side reached the Semi-Final stage of this competiion - and both times resulting in them going on to lift the Cup, in 2014 and 2021.

As for Simo Valakari and his team, January's 1-0 success over Motherwell in the Cup snapped a 9 game run without a victory, and kicked off a 4 game winning streak.

And just as the wobbles set in again in March, the Perth side were able to capitalize on a 4 game undefeated run as they booked their place in the Final Four, with a 1-0 win away at Livingston.

The Perth side are looking to overcome a recent goal drought, with just 1 scored in their past 4 games. It is a little ironic then, in that one goal happens to be Daniels Balodis' headed strike from a set piece against Celtic, a couple of weeks ago.

And, it is possible, especially after the recent league victory, it will be have given them that little bit extra belief that they could do it again, when the proverbial 'anything can happen' in a one off Cup game.

Something that Celtic will be keen to rectify when these sides take to the Hampden pitch tomorrow.​

Anthony Ralston scored his second goal of the season last weekend against Killie​

Stats & Facts​

• The Hoops have won 25 of the past 26 overall visits to Hampden Park since 2016.

• Celtic under Brendan Rodgers have a 100% win record at Hampden Park.

• The Bhoys won the last meeting against St Johnstone at Hampden, in the 2021/22 League Cup Semi-Final, 1-0.

• Keeping it tight: 7 of the past 8 games that the Saints have been involved in have finished in a single goal margin, irrespective of victory, draw or defeat.

• Scoring Issues: the Perth club have scored just 1 goal in their past 4 games overall - ironically, that sole goal being in their 1-0 win against Celtic.

December 2024: Arne Engels does battle with Saints' Matt Smith in the 4-0 win earlier this seaosn

Team News

Brendan Rodgers will be once again without the services of Kasper Schmeichel (shoulder) and Yang Hyun-Jun, whose arm is still in a support sling, while fringe defender Dane Murray is also ruled out with a knee problem.

As for the Saints, Sam McClelland (achilles), Drey Wright (ankle) and Uche Ikpeazu (knee) remain sidelined, while defender Zach Mitchell (hamstring) is considered a doubt.​

Referee: Calum Scott

This is just the 3rd time that he has been appointed to a game involving Celtic, with the Bhoys having won both previous matches. This will be by far the most high profile appointment in Scott's career to date, after he had previously overseen the match where Queens Park won at Ipox, back in February.

Celtic's Overall Record
M:2 W:2 D:0 L:0

VAR: Andrew Dallas


~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~

Overall
P:229 W:138 D:54 L:37​

Last 5 Meetings
L W W W W

~~~~ 2024/25 Form ~~~~ ​

Overall
W L W L W ~ L W L D W​