Celtic 1-2 Hearts: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Celtic 1-2 Hearts in the Premiership on Sunday, 07 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Hearts pulled off a 2-1 victory over Celtic in a tense encounter at Celtic Park. The first half saw both sides probing, but it was Hearts who broke the deadlock just before the break when Cláudio Braga found the net in the 43rd minute, giving them a deserved lead after weathering Celtic’s early pressure. Celtic, coming off a strong run of four straight wins before this, pushed hard in the second half but couldn’t convert their dominance into goals until very late.

The game turned further in Hearts’ favour when Oisin McEntee doubled their lead in the 64th minute, capitalising on a swift counter. Celtic threw everything forward, and Kieran Tierney pulled one back in the 90+3rd minute, but it was too little too late for the hosts. This result snaps Celtic’s winning streak and boosts Hearts, who had been drawing a lot recently but showed real grit to hold on here.

Celtic bossed possession with 72% of the ball compared to Hearts’ 28%, which shows how they controlled much of the game’s tempo, yet Hearts made the most of their limited chances on the counter. The home side racked up 38 successful dribbles against Hearts’ eight, highlighting their attacking flair, while five corners to Hearts’ three underlines Celtic’s pressure in the final third without enough end product. On the discipline side, Celtic picked up just one yellow card, but Hearts saw three, suggesting a more frantic defensive effort from the visitors.

Substitutions told a story too, with Celtic making two changes – Luke McCowan came on for Sebastian Tounekti at 59 minutes, and Johnny Kenny replaced Benjamin Nygren at 65 minutes – perhaps to inject fresh energy. Hearts used all five available, starting with Stephen Kingsley for Harry Milne and Jamie McCart for Alexandros Kyziridis both at 71 minutes, followed by Frankie Kent for Craig Halkett at 77 minutes, Pierre Landry Kabore for Cláudio Braga at 78 minutes, and Christian Borchgrevink for Lawrence Shankland at 85 minutes, which helped them manage the game and see out the win. Each team recorded one assist, fitting a match where goals came from well-worked moves rather than individual brilliance alone.

The match’s big shifts came around the goals, with Cláudio Braga’s strike in the 43rd minute giving Hearts a crucial edge going into half-time after a fairly even opening. Celtic’s Hyun-jun Yang picked up a yellow card at 35 minutes, and Hearts’ Harry Milne followed suit a minute later, adding some spice, while Cammy Devlin and Michael Steinwender got bookings for Hearts around the hour mark at 60 and 62 minutes. Oisin McEntee’s goal in the 64th minute, assisted by Harry Milne, really put Hearts in control, though Kieran Tierney’s late reply in the 90+3rd minute, set up by Daizen Maeda, made for a nervy finish.

Substitutions played a role in the flow, like Celtic bringing on Luke McCowan for Sebastian Tounekti at 59 minutes and Johnny Kenny for Benjamin Nygren at 65 minutes to chase the game. Hearts refreshed their lineup later, with changes such as Stephen Kingsley replacing Harry Milne at 71 minutes and others helping to shore up their defence as Celtic piled on the pressure.

Celtic lined up in a 3-4-2-1 shape, which allowed them to build from the back and push wide, with Kieran Tierney proving a key figure in defence and attack, especially with his late goal. Partnerships like Daizen Maeda assisting Tierney showed their attacking intent, while players such as Hyun-jun Yang added energy before his yellow card. Substitutes Luke McCowan and Johnny Kenny came on to try and turn the tide in midfield and up front.

Hearts set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on a solid backline and quick breaks, with Cláudio Braga and Oisin McEntee making the difference by scoring the goals. Harry Milne stood out with his assist for McEntee before being replaced by Stephen Kingsley, and the midfield held firm despite yellow cards for Cammy Devlin and Michael Steinwender. Late subs like Frankie Kent for Craig Halkett and others helped maintain their structure under pressure.

Kieran Tierney is Coral’s Man of the Match after a standout performance that included scoring one goal, creating two big chances and delivering three key passes. Even in a losing effort, his energy and leadership shone through, especially with that late strike assisted by Daizen Maeda, showing why he’s such a vital player for Celtic.

Recent Premiership matches:

• Loss: 1-2 vs Hearts (H)
• Win: 1-0 vs Dundee (H)
• Win: 2-1 vs Hibernian (A)
• Win: 1-0 vs St. Mirren (A)
• Win: 4-0 vs Kilmarnock (H)

Recent Premiership matches:

• Win: 2-1 vs Celtic (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Kilmarnock (H)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Motherwell (A)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Aberdeen (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Dundee United (H)

Celtic have just suffered a 1-2 home defeat to Hearts, which sees them sitting second in the league on 32 points after a run that included four wins before this setback. They’ll be looking to bounce back quickly against Roma on 11 December 2025 at 20:00, a match that could help them maintain their strong position and push for European spots. With recent victories over teams like Dundee and Hibernian, a positive result here would get them back on track.

Hearts have just secured a 2-1 away win over Celtic, boosting them to first place on 35 points following a string of draws mixed with this vital victory. Their next challenge is against Falkirk on 13 December 2025 at 20:00, with the opponents currently seventh on 21 points, offering a chance to extend their lead at the top. Building on this momentum after recent stalemates against Kilmarnock and Motherwell, three points here would solidify their title push.

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