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Kilmarnock logo
Scottish League Cup | Second Round
Aug 20, 2023 at 3pm UK
Rugby Park
Celtic logo

Kilmarnock
1 - 0
Celtic

Watkins (59')
Watkins (52'), Findlay (67'), Watson (77')
FT(HT: 0-0)

McGregor (50'), Ralston (68')

Preview: Kilmarnock vs. Celtic - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Scottish League Cup clash between Kilmarnock and Celtic, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Scottish League Cup holders Celtic begin their defence of the trophy with a trip to Rugby Park to face Kilmarnock in the last 16 on Sunday.

Celtic beat Glasgow rivals Rangers in the final last season, with Kyogo Furuhashi's double sealing a 2-1 win at Hampden Park.


Match preview

Celtic's Tomoki Iwata reacts on July 29, 2023© Reuters

Celtic returned to form on the road by beating Aberdeen 3-1 in their first away match of the season at the weekend.

With the title already secured, Celtic took their foot off the gas a little at the end of last season and lost their final two matches away from home, conceding seven.

The win at Aberdeen sees them top the Scottish Premiership after two matches, with only them and St Mirren still maintaining a 100% record.

Brendan Rodgers and his side will hope to navigate this tie and the upcoming league fixture with St Johnstone without much fuss, before the first Old Firm clash of the season on September 3.

Kilmarnock are a side that Celtic comfortably brushed aside on many occasions last season too, winning all four meetings by an aggregate score of 13-1.

Kilmarnock players in action against Celtic on April 16, 2023© Reuters

Just three wins over Celtic at Rugby Park since 2001 illustrates the tall order facing Killie ahead of this cup tie.

Derek McInnes's side have already caused a major shock in Scottish football this season, though, beating Rangers on the opening day.

Bradley Lyons's goal midway through the second half sealed a 1-0 win here at Rugby Park, and it remains the only goal seen in their league campaign so far.

Another successful shutout in a 0-0 draw at Hearts over the weekend means the Killie goal has yet to be breached.

Kilmarnock edged past Raith Rovers to take top spot in their League Cup group, but have now been handed the toughest possible draw.

Kilmarnock Scottish League Cup form:


Kilmarnock form (all competitions):


Celtic form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W



Team News

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers before the match on July 29, 2023© Reuters

Celtic are set to be without Reo Hatate for this encounter after he went off not long after coming on as a half-time substitute against Aberdeen.

Hatate would have likely been one of the players brought in as rotation, so Rodgers may need to go stronger in midfield than he would have preferred.

Gustaf Lagerbielke has arrived from Elfsborg this week and could be in line for a debut in defence.

Yuki Kobayashi and Hyeongyu Oh are also set to miss out though, having not featured for Celtic in the league yet this season.

For Kilmarnock, they should have a full-strength side available to them once again here to face the holders.

Manager McInnes has gone with his first-choice side throughout much of their League Cup campaign so far and could remain unchanged from last weekend.

Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:
Dennis; Mayo, Deas, Findlay; Armstrong, Lyons, Watson, Magennis, Ndaba; Kennedy, Watkins

Celtic possible starting lineup:
Hart; Ralston, Lagerbielke, Nawrocki, Taylor; O'Riley, Iwata, Turnbull; Haksabanovic, Kyogo, Maeda


SM words green background

We say: Kilmarnock 0-3 Celtic

Even if Rodgers rings the changes, Celtic still should have enough to see off Kilmarnock here.

No defeats in 90 minutes in their six competitive matches so far this season looks almost certain to end for the hosts, who have an almighty task ahead of them to reach the quarter-finals.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Away Win:data


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Game History

How you voted: Kilmarnock vs Celtic

Kilmarnock
21.1%
Draw
10.5%
Celtic
68.4%
19
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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers before the match on July 29, 2023
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
1Ayr431010
2Stirling431010
3St Johnstone41033
4Stenhousemuir41033
5Alloa41033

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
1Partick32107
2Falkirk32016
3Dundee Utd42026
4Spartans42026
5Peterhead40131

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
1Livingston33009
2Hamilton22006
3Cove Rangers32016
4Brechin41033
5Clyde40040

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
1Ross County33009
2Morton43019
3Kelty Hearts32016
4Stranraer41033
5Edinburgh40040

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
1Airdrieonians440012
2Dundee43019
3Dumbarton31023
4Inverness41033
5Bonnyrigg Rose30030

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
1Kilmarnock33009
2Dunfermline32016
3Raith Rovers22006
4Albion Rovers41033
5Annan40040

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
1Motherwell33009
2QotS22006
3Queen's Park41124
4East Fife31114
5Elgin40040

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
1St Mirren43019
2Forfar43019
3Arbroath31023
4Montrose31023
5Cowdenbeath20020


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