In a clash that could define the trajectory of the Premiership season, ST Mirren welcomes Celtic to The SMISA Stadium on November 22, 2025. This matchup pits the struggling ninth-placed side against the title contenders sitting in second, all while ST Mirren is desperate to claw its way out of the relegation battle, and Celtic seeks to capitalize on every misstep from league leaders Rangers.
Predicted Lineups: ST Mirren: GK: Shamal George, DEF: Alexander Gogić, Marcus Fraser, Miguel Freckleton, MID: Mark O'Hara, Keanu Baccus, Declan John; FWD: Mikael Mandron, Dan N'Lundulu. Celtic: GK: Kasper Schmeichel, DEF: Kieran Tierney, Liam Scales, Auston Trusty; MID: Callum McGregor (C), Arne Engels; FWD: Johnny Kenny, Benjamin Nygren, Daizen Maeda.
The stakes are sky-high for both teams. ST Mirren's recent form has been nothing short of dismal-two wins in their last eleven games-and they are still licking their wounds after a comprehensive 0-3 defeat at home against Hibernian. Meanwhile, Celtic boasts seven wins out of their last eleven matches but faces criticism after faltering against FC Midtjylland in Europe-a game where they were thoroughly outclassed statistically (23 shots to just 5).
For ST Mirren to upset the odds against a Celtic side oozing with attacking talent like Johnny Kenny and Benjamin Nygren-both of whom have shown flashes of brilliance this season-their approach must be nothing short of tactical brilliance. A few noteworthy trends emerge when analyzing both teams' recent performances.
Tactical Analysis
First and foremost is ball possession. In their recent outings under head coach Stephen Robinson, ST Mirren has averaged around 50% possession in their last five league games-a statistic that belies their struggles to convert control into tangible scoring chances. Contrarily, Celtic has consistently dominated possession across matches-most recently achieving an impressive 59% against Kilmarnock where they thrashed them 4-0. If Celtic can seize control early on Saturday as expected, expect them to dictate tempo and rhythm throughout the match.
Then there's the shooting metrics-another crucial element revealing ST Mirren's ongoing offensive struggles. Despite having created more total shots than Dundee United two matches ago (23 total shots), they only managed a solitary goal in that match due to finishing woes; they simply lack clinicality in front of goal. In stark contrast stands Celtic's ability to convert opportunities efficiently-they put four past Kilmarnock with precision finishing and aggressive pressing that suffocated their opponents' defense.
Moreover, if we delve deeper into shot accuracy-as shown by expected goals (xG)-ST Mirren finds itself frequently underperforming relative to its xG output due to poor execution by players such as Dan N'Lundulu and Mikael Mandron who need to rediscover their scoring touch if they're to make an impact against the likes of formidable defenders Kieran Tierney and Auston Trusty who have been effective at thwarting opposition attempts this season.
Defensively speaking, both sides have faced varying challenges lately: While ST Mirren's backline looked shaky after conceding three against Hibernian-a clear indication of organizational frailties under pressure-Celtic needs solid defending too after allowing three goals in their recent loss against Heart Of Midlothian. Both teams will aim for clean sheets here; thus defensive duels will be a battlefield worth monitoring.
Key Players To Watch
Look out for several standout performances that could sway this fixture decisively. For ST Mirren fans hoping for respite amid turbulence following woeful showings recently:
- Dan N'Lundulu stands as a potential game-changer despite his inconsistent run-his combination play upfront alongside Mikael Mandron will be pivotal.
Conversely for Celtic:
- Johnny Kenny is primed for stardom within this squad-his pace and finesse can turn half chances into glorious opportunities especially when paired with Benjamin Nygren's creative flair providing additional avenues from midfield.
Statistical Insights
Peering into player stats reveals even more intrigue ahead of this matchup.
- For instance, midfielder Arne Engels has been instrumental for Celtic with ten goals already across competitions demonstrating his ability to chip in from deeper areas while maintaining high pass accuracy (currently sitting at over 70%).
- From ST Mirren's perspective: Mark O'Hara provides significant energy through midfield contributing vital defensive tackles as evidenced by consistently high duel win percentages throughout previous matches-a key component needed if ST Mirren aims to wrestle back some control away from Celtic.
As both teams prepare for this much-anticipated encounter-one heavy with implications on multiple fronts-the question remains: can ST Mirren conjure enough collective resolve against relentless opponents ready sharpened by disappointment? With so much riding on it-not merely points but pride-we are set up for what promises not just an ordinary league tie but rather an electric contest rife with tactical intricacies unfolding under intense scrutiny.
In summary? Expect an entertaining showdown where tactical nuances merge seamlessly with emotional intensity-and ultimately I predict a hard-fought victory for Celtic propelled by key contributions from players like Kenny and Engels who'll exploit any openings presented by a fragile ST Mirren defense yielding only bruised confidence currently tainted through successive setbacks suffered over weeks gone past.
Stay tuned; it's about time these giants clash again!