Matches › 2025/26

Celtic 3–1 Motherwell

Saturday 14 March 2026, 15:00 · Celtic Park · Round 30 · Half-time 1–1 · Referee John Beaton · Attendance 58,904

Celtic Yang 38', 79', Cvancara 72' (pen)

Motherwell Just 32' · Longelo sent off 71'

Post-match

Result and Expected Points

Measure	Celtic	Motherwell
Goals	3	1
xG	2.12	0.64
Non-penalty xG	1.33	0.64
Expected Points	2.48	0.35

Celtic 77%Draw 17%Motherwell 6%

Most likely score 2–0, 19%. Final score 3–1, 8%.

Own goals have no xG.

xG race

Each side's xG added up shot by shot through the match. Stoppage time is shaded as far as the last shot or event recorded in it. Triangles along the foot mark each side's substitutions.

Match stats

CelticMotherwell

2.12 −0.14xG0.64 −0.96

1.33Non-penalty xG0.64

2.93 +0.76xG on target1.02 −0.64

13 −4Shots12 −2

6 +0.3Shots on target3 −2.1

4 +0.2Big chances0 −2.5

26 −11Touches in the opposition box18 −10

47% −20Possession53% −7

478 −145Passes558 +4

87% +1Pass accuracy88% +3

47% −29Field tilt53% −10

44 −21Final-third entries42 −9

9 −13Box entries13 −3

14.1 +4Passes per defensive action21.7 +9

2 −5.0Corners3 −0.8

20 +6Tackles17 +3

11 +4.0Interceptions7 −0.4

13 −13Clearances15 −8

3 +0.8Saves4 +1.2

10 −2Fouls10 −2

0 −1.4Offsides3 +0.9

The small figure beside each value is its difference from the side's average per league match this season before this one. Field tilt is each side's share of the open-play passes completed in the final third; entries are completed open-play passes and carries into the final third and the box; passes per defensive action (PPDA) counts the opponent's passes in its own 60% of the pitch for each tackle, interception, challenge, or foul there.

Chance locations

Zones Shots

Celtic

Motherwell

Each area's share of the side's xG from open play and set pieces, with the xG in it. The two wide areas of the box count together, as on the club pages. Shots shows each of those shots instead, sized by its xG, with goals filled in.

Chance types

CelticMotherwell

1.20 10 shots, 2 goalsOpen play0.43 9 shots, 1 goal

0.04 1 shot, 0 goalsCounter-attacks0.14 2 shots, 0 goals

0.09 1 shot, 0 goalsSet pieces0.08 1 shot, 0 goals

0.79 1 shot, 1 goalPenalties0.00 0 shots, 0 goals

xG by type of chance, with each side's shots and goals beside it.

Game state

0–01–12–13–1

Level: 67 min (71%) · Celtic 1.01, Motherwell 0.54 xG
Celtic ahead: 22 min (23%) · Celtic 0.98, Motherwell 0.08 xG
Motherwell ahead: 6 min (6%) · Celtic 0.12, Motherwell 0.02 xG

Line-ups

Celtic substitutes

46' Cvancara for Tounekti · goal 72' (pen)
62' McCowan for Nygren
78' Ralston for Donovan · yellow card 82'
78' Saracchi for Tierney
78' Bernardo for Oxlade-Chamberlain

Motherwell substitutes

78' Priestman for Fadinger
78' Bjørgolfsson for Said
83' McGhee for Sparrow
83' Nicholson for Just
90+1' Ross for Maswanhise

Players

Celtic

Player	Pos	Min	G	xG	xA	KP	xT	Prog	Def
Sinisalo	GK	90		0.00	0.00	0	0.02	4	0
Donovan	RB	78		0.02	0.01	0	0.03	3	7
Arthur	CB	90		0.09	0.01	0	0.05	3	7
Scales	CB	90		0.00	0.02	1	0.09	8	4
Tierney	LB	78		0.00	0.05	2	0.15	5	13
Oxlade-Chamberlain	DM	78		0.03	0.01	0	−0.01	4	2
Hatate	DM	90		0.00	0.07	0	0.02	1	4
Yang	RW	90	2	0.54	0.66	2	0.17	7	4
Nygren	AM	62		0.07	0.21	3	0.07	2	1
Tounekti	LW	46		0.04	0.02	0	0.08	4	0
Maeda	ST	90		0.49	0.04	0	0.06	3	0
Cvancara	FW	44	1	0.79	0.09	0	0.02	3	1
McCowan	MF	28		0.03	0.26	0	0.01	1	1
Ralston	DF	12		0.02	0.00	0	0.01	1	2
Saracchi	DF	12		0.00	0.10	0	0.09	4	1
Bernardo	MF	12		0.00	0.01	0	0.01	2	0

Motherwell

Player	Pos	Min	G	A	xG	xA	KP	xT	Prog	Def
Ward	GK	90			0.00	0.00	0	0.05	4	3
Sparrow	RB	83			0.00	0.02	0	−0.02	2	3
O'Donnell	CB	90			0.03	0.01	0	0.08	7	5
McGinn	CB	90			0.00	0.01	0	0.09	6	7
Longelo	LB	71			0.00	0.07	1	0.08	5	5
Watt	CM	90			0.02	0.13	0	0.12	6	6
Slattery	CM	90		1	0.25	0.10	3	0.01	5	2
Fadinger	CM	78			0.00	0.01	0	−0.02	2	1
Said	RW	78			0.09	0.02	2	0.10	6	2
Maswanhise	ST	90			0.13	0.00	0	0.03	1	2
Just	LW	83	1		0.08	0.03	1	0.07	11	1
Priestman	MF	12			0.00	0.01	1	0.00	1	2
Bjørgolfsson	FW	12			0.03	0.00	0	0.00	0	0
McGhee	DF	7			0.00	0.00	0	0.01	2	2
Nicholson	DF	7			0.00	0.05	1	0.18	1	1
Ross	FW	0			0.00	0.00	0	0.00	0	0

Starters, then substitutes in the order they came on. KP is chances created and Def defensive actions (tackles, blocks, clearances, and interceptions). xT is the expected threat added by the player's completed open-play passes and carries, and Prog counts progressive passes and carries.

Pass networks

Celtic

Motherwell

Each starter at the average position of their passes and receptions until the side's first substitution or red card, sized by completed passes. Lines join pairs who passed to each other often, thicker for more passes.

Passing combinations

Celtic

From	To	Passes
Donovan	Arthur	24
Arthur	Donovan	24
Sinisalo	Scales	18
Arthur	Scales	18
Scales	Tierney	15

Motherwell

From	To	Passes
Watt	O'Donnell	18
McGinn	Ward	16
Watt	McGinn	15
Watt	Slattery	15
O'Donnell	Ward	14

The five pairs with the most completed passes from one to the other over the whole match.

Defensive actions

Celtic

Against its average of 29 matches

Motherwell

Against its average of 29 matches

Where each side made its tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocks, recoveries, challenges, and fouls, attacking up the page. Areas are shaded by the difference from the side's average per match this season before this one: amber for more, blue for fewer.

Threat

Celtic

Motherwell

Expected threat added by completed open-play passes and carries, by where the move started, attacking up the page. Expected threat is the chance that possession in an area leads to a goal; a move adds the difference between where it ends and where it starts.

Ratings

The goals each side would score (attack) and concede (defence) per game against an average team, from the forecast ratings before this matchday (ring) and after it (dot); a lower defence number is better. Grey dots are the other clubs after the matchday, spread up and down only so they don't overlap. The change takes in the whole matchday.

League probabilities

Chance	Before	With this result	Change
Celtic
Title	39%	47%	+8
Motherwell
Title	1%	<1%	−1
Hearts
Title	41%	36%	−5
Rangers
Title	19%	17%	−2

From the forecast before the match (14 March 2026): each chance then, and across the simulations in which the match ended this way. The change is in percentage points.

Pre-match

As things stood before kick-off.

Forecast

Measure	Celtic	Motherwell
Expected goals	2.00	0.90
Win	62%	16%
Expected Points	2.09	0.69
Clean sheet	41%	14%

Celtic 62%Draw 22%Motherwell 16%

Most likely score 2–0, 11%. Both sides score 52%.

From the forecast as it stood on 14 March 2026: each side's attack and defence ratings in a Dixon–Coles score model, as on the Forecasts page.

League probabilities by result

Chance	Now	Celtic win	Draw	Motherwell win
Celtic
Title	39%	47%	31%	24%
Motherwell
Title	1%	<1%	1%	2%
Hearts
Title	41%	36%	47%	50%
Rangers
Title	19%	17%	21%	24%

Each chance before the match and across the simulations ending in each result. Other teams are listed where a chance moves by at least 3 percentage points.

Form

Celtic

Motherwell

The last six league matches, newest first, with xG for and against.

Season to date

Measure	Celtic	Motherwell
Position	2nd	4th
Played	29	29
Won, drawn, lost	18–⁠4–⁠7	14–⁠11–⁠4
Points	58 (2.00 per game)	53 (1.83 per game)
Expected Points per game	2.04	1.73
Goals	53–⁠31	48–⁠20
xG per game	2.26–⁠1.01	1.60–⁠1.10
Home: points, xG per game	2.21, 2.66–⁠0.70	2.27, 1.77–⁠0.72
Away: points, xG per game	1.80, 1.88–⁠1.30	1.36, 1.41–⁠1.51
Manager	Martin O'Neill (9)	Jens Berthel Askou (29)

League matches this season before kick-off. The manager's number is league matches in charge since 2020/21.

Ratings

This season

The goals each side would score (attack) and concede (defence) per game against an average team, from the forecast ratings before this matchday, with their rank among the league's clubs; a lower defence number is better. Grey dots are the other clubs, spread up and down only so they don't overlap.

Strengths and weaknesses

Chances	Celtic		Motherwell
Chances	Created	Conceded	Created	Conceded
Open play	+102%	−36%	+25%	−14%
Counter-attacks	−21%	−49%	−4%	−20%
Set pieces	+8%	−22%	−34%	−32%
Penalties	+15%	+15%	+85%	−54%
Headers	+64%	−30%	−16%	−30%
Left side	+66%	−44%	+29%	−24%
Centre	+84%	−28%	−25%	−13%
Right side	+12%	−34%	+48%	−29%

xG created and conceded per game against the league average this season: +24% is 24% more than an average side. Left and right are each side's own, so chances conceded on its left come from opponents attacking down their right. Green favours the side and amber doesn't.

Matchups

Celtic attacking

Celtic createdMotherwell concededLeft side+66%−29%Centre+84%−13%Right side+12%−24%Open play+102%−14%Counter-attacks−21%−20%Set pieces+8%−32%Headers+64%−30%

Motherwell attacking

Motherwell createdCeltic concededLeft side+29%−34%Centre−25%−28%Right side+48%−44%Open play+25%−36%Counter-attacks−4%−49%Set pieces−34%−22%Headers−16%−30%

Each side's xG created per game down each side of the pitch, through the centre, and from each type of chance, against what its opponent concedes there, both relative to the league average.

Season averages

CelticMotherwell

2.26xG1.60

1.01xG against1.10

67%Possession60%

17.2Shots13.7

8.9Shots against10.4

5.7Shots on target5.1

3.8Big chances2.5

37.2Touches in the opposition box27.5

623Passes554

87%Pass accuracy85%

7.0Corners3.8

76%Field tilt63%

65.4Final-third entries51.3

21.6Box entries16.4

10.3Passes per defensive action12.8

Per league match this season before kick-off.

Game state this season

Celtic

State	Minutes per game	xG per 90	xG against per 90
Level	43	2.22	0.85
Ahead	31	1.87	1.20
Behind	16	3.12	1.03

Motherwell

State	Minutes per game	xG per 90	xG against per 90
Level	48	1.29	1.14
Ahead	31	1.85	1.05
Behind	11	2.24	1.11

xG by period

Celtic

Minutes	xG per game	xG against	Goals
1–15	0.39	0.14	9–5
16–30	0.33	0.17	7–6
31–45	0.39	0.18	8–3
46–60	0.28	0.27	6–10
61–75	0.35	0.10	10–4
76–90	0.51	0.14	13–3

Motherwell

Minutes	xG per game	xG against	Goals
1–15	0.14	0.10	3–2
16–30	0.28	0.17	11–3
31–45	0.28	0.19	7–1
46–60	0.32	0.14	11–3
61–75	0.26	0.25	5–6
76–90	0.32	0.25	11–5

Per game this season, with stoppage time counted in its half; goals are totals for and against.

Most used players by position

Celtic

Formations: 4-3-3 (20), 3-4-2-1 (4), 4-2-3-1 (3), 4-4-2 (1), 3-4-3 (1)

Motherwell

Formations: 4-2-3-1 (18), 4-3-3 (4), 4-1-3-2 (2), 4-4-2 (2), 4-4-1-1 (1), 4-3-2-1 (1), 3-1-4-2 (1)

This season's most used formation, with up to three players who started most often in each position and their league starts there. Underneath, when a side has used more than one, every formation with its starts.

Head to head

Date	Home	Score	Away	xG
30 December 2025	Motherwell	2–0	Celtic	xG 1.40–0.59
5 October 2025	Celtic	3–2	Motherwell	xG 2.62–1.39
2 February 2025	Motherwell	1–3	Celtic	xG 0.52–3.26
26 December 2024	Celtic	4–0	Motherwell	xG 3.55–0.23
27 October 2024	Motherwell	0–3	Celtic	xG 0.71–1.45
25 February 2024	Motherwell	1–3	Celtic	xG 0.69–2.87

18 league meetings since 2020/21: Celtic won 15, Motherwell won 1, and 2 were drawn. Goals 46–13 and xG 2.30–0.70 per game.

Key players

Celtic

Player	Starts	Min	G	A	xG per 90	xA per 90
Kenny	8	688	4	2	0.89	0.07
Nygren	20	1,850	15	4	0.52	0.27
Forrest	2	608	1	1	0.25	0.49
Maeda	23	2,041	7	5	0.51	0.16

Motherwell

Player	Starts	Min	G	A	xG per 90	xA per 90
Stamatelopoulos	9	868	6	2	0.89	0.08
Maswanhise	26	2,106	16	2	0.49	0.09
Just	23	1,944	6	6	0.27	0.26
Slattery	19	1,745	3	7	0.18	0.26

Up to four players a side with the most xG plus xA per 90 minutes, from those with at least 450 league minutes.