Celtic v Hearts: title talk returns to Celtic Park
Hearts walk back into Celtic Park on Sunday with the league title in their talk and last season's heartbreak in their memory.
The Edinburgh club visit Glasgow for a 15:00 BST kick-off on 18 October in the Scottish Premiership. It will be shown live on Sky Sports and on CelticPlayer, according to Celtic's matchday information. BBC Sport
The last trip hurt. Hearts arrived with a title dream alive. It died in the space of 11 minutes. That is the scar they carry into this one.
This time the belief is back. Investor Tony Bloom restated his title ambition for Hearts earlier in the week. Manager Wouter Vrancken has made a fast start, with five wins and a draw in seven matches.
Last weekend brought the loudest statement yet. Hearts beat St Mirren 5-0. In midweek they drew 1-1 with Danish side Nordsjaelland in the Conference League, UEFA's third-tier European competition, with Oisin McEntee scoring the opener.
Celtic arrive from a different direction. Martin O'Neill's side lost 4-1 to Benfica in the Europa League, UEFA's second-tier competition. It was a fourth defeat in five games in all competitions. Yahoo Sports
Domestic form tells another story. Celtic have won 14 of their past 15 league games, scoring two or more goals in 11 of those. They sat top on 21 points ahead of the weekend.
History leans heavily to the hosts. Celtic have won 26 of their past 29 home league games against Hearts. But the grip has slipped a little. They have lost two of the last six.
Hearts helped loosen it. Last season they took seven points from four league games against Celtic. That is the most by any club outside Celtic and Rangers — the Old Firm, Scottish football's dominant pair — in a single campaign since the 1999-00 season.
Away form is the worry for Hearts. They have won two of their past 11 away league outings. They have failed to keep a clean sheet, a shutout, in any of them.
What makes this stand out is the contrast. One team is flying at home in the league and stumbling in Europe. The other is full of goals and confidence, but yet to prove it can win regularly on the road.
Expect noise. Hearts announced on 6 October that their allocation of tickets for Celtic away had sold out. Heart of Midlothian FC Supporters without a ticket have been told not to travel.
For neutrals, this is simple. The champions against the challengers. Sunday afternoon. Everything to play for.
