Preview:Celtic vs St Mirren - prediction, team news, lineups

Celtic and St Mirren are set to clash on Sunday afternoon in the opening match of the 2025-26 Scottish Premiership season.

The hosts are heading into the campaign aiming to lift the title for the fifth consecutive campaign, while the visitors are hoping to finish in the top six for the fourth straight year.

Match preview

Celtic have been the dominant force in Scottish football in modern history, and that proved the case once again last season as the Bhoys lifted the Scottish Premiership and Scottish League Cup trophies.

Their title triumph marked the fourth straight year of lifting the first division trophy, and Brendan Rodgers will be hoping to lead his side to a fifth consecutive title this term.

Despite their successful campaign, Celtic did end the term on a disappointing note as they lost on penalties to Aberdeen in the Scottish FA Cup, but they quickly returned to form during pre-season.

The Bhoys won five and lost only two of their seven pre-season fixtures, including particularly impressive victories against Sporting Lisbon (2-0) and Newcastle United (4-0).

Now looking to maintain that form and start the Scottish Premiership with a victory, Celtic will take on St Mirren at Celtic Park on Sunday afternoon.

The visitors secured their third consecutive top-six finish last term as they narrowly placed a point above seventh-placed Hearts in the pre-split fixtures, following on from a fifth-placed finish in 2023-24 and sixth in 2022-23.

The Saints went on to enjoy a superb post-split run, remaining undefeated in their five fixtures with two wins and three draws, though they were unable to climb above sixth spot.

That momentum carried into pre-season, as they won all of their three friendlies, while they have started the 2025-26 competitive campaign with three wins and a draw - failing to win the extra point on penalties with a 5-3 loss - in the Scottish League Cup.

Those results ensured their first-placed finish in Group D, and Stephen Robinson will be hopeful that his team's superb form can help lead them to a shock victory over Celtic.

St Mirren have, however, failed to win any of their last 13 meetings with the Bhoys across all competitions, losing 11 and drawing two in that period.

Celtic form (all competitions):

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St Mirren form (all competitions):

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Team News

Celtic will remain without the services of Jota for the foreseeable future due to a cruciate ligament injury, with the winger expected to remain out until at least January 2026.

Jota's absence means Daizen Maeda and Yang Hyun-Jun start on the wings, while Adam Idah - who scored 13 league goals in 19 starts last term - could lead the line.

Further back the pitch, captain Callum McGregor should start in the middle of the park, with Reo Hatate and new signing Benjamin Nygren also likely to feature.

As for St Mirren, Killian Phillips and Mikael Mandron impressed in the Scottish League Cup with four goals each, and both should start on Sunday.

Phillips is likely to partner Mark O'Hara in the middle of the park, while Mandron could spearhead an attack alongside Conor McMenamin and Jonah Ayunga.

Celtic possible starting lineup:

Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney; Nygren, McGregor, Hatate; Hyun-Jun, Idah, Maeda

St Mirren possible starting lineup:

George; Gogic, King, Fraser; Tanser, Phillips, O'Hara, Taylor; McMenamin, Mandron, Ayunga

We say: Celtic 3-1 St Mirren

Celtic have dominated St Mirren and Scottish football in general in modern history, and the hosts are expected to start their title defence with a commanding victory.

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