Looking to maintain their fantastic undefeated start to the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season, Celtic will host Dundee at Celtic Park on Wednesday evening.
The hosts are top of the table with 25 points from a possible 27 after nine fixtures, while the visitors are eighth in the standings with nine points from nine games.
Match preview
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Celtic, in pursuit of their fourth consecutive Scottish Premiership title, have made a remarkable start to the 2024-25 season, remaining unbeaten through their first nine league matches.
After winning their initial nine games across all competitions at the beginning of this season, a crushing 7-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund threatened to disrupt their momentum.
However, Brendan Rodgers' side have bounced back in superb fashion, winning two and drawing two of their subsequent four outings, including an inspiring defensive performance in an impressive 0-0 draw with Atalanta in the Champions League, marking their first clean sheet away from home in Europe for seven years.
That result marked their second consecutive stalemate, following a 2-2 clash with Aberdeen where the Bhoys squandered a 2-0 lead, leaving Celtic in need of a victory in their latest fixture.
Celtic certainly achieved that, with Rodgers' men dominating Motherwell in a comfortable 3-0 victory on the road, with goals from Luke McCowan, Alistair Johnston and Adam Idah.
With Celtic and Aberdeen level on points for the entire 2024-25 season so far, Aberdeen's upcoming clash with Rangers presents the Bhoys with a chance to claim the top spot outright if they can secure a victory over Dundee.
Dundee are coming into this one having endured a difficult opening to the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership, sitting eighth in the table with nine points from their first nine fixtures.
The visitors started the campaign unbeaten in their opening nine matches across all competitions, winning six and drawing three, but they have since managed just one win in the next six games.
Tony Docherty's men have suffered five losses in that time, causing them to slip down the Scottish Premiership standings, and with upcoming matches against Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen, Dundee face a particularly challenging stretch.
Dundee have been extremely inferior in this encounter in recent years, including a devastating 7-1 defeat to Celtic in their last visit to Celtic Park, leaving them as major underdogs heading into this one.
Team News
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Having enjoyed a dominant 3-0 win against Motherwell in their last outing, Rodgers could name a similar lineup for this upcoming meeting with Dundee.
Former Dundee player McCowan scored for Celtic in their last outing, and the midfielder could be in line to start against his former side here.
As for the visitors, Joe Shaughnessy has been out of action since suffering a knee injury in April, and the defender is not expected to return until next month.
Jordan McGhee also remains a doubt due to a calf injury that he suffered in late September, though the defender is likely to return to action in early November.
Celtic possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Johnston, Trusty, Scales, Valle; McCowan, Bernardo, Hatate; Forrest, Furuhashi, Maeda
Dundee possible starting lineup:
Carson; Astley, Koumetio, C Robertson; Ingram, Cameron, Sylla, F Robertson, Larkeche; Main, Murray
We say: Celtic 3-0 Dundee
The hosts are undeniably the favourites heading into this game, and with the two sides in vastly opposing form in recent outings, we expect a comfortable win for Celtic.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
