Prediction: Dundee United vs Celtic

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 2/5

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Dundee United host Celtic in a Scottish Premiership clash that carries contrasting stakes for both sides. The hosts are desperate to halt a worrying winless run, while Celtic aim to recover from a poor sequence under new management and keep pace in the title race. Despite recent struggles for both teams, history and squad depth make Celtic strong favourites heading into this fixture.

Dundee United

Dundee United currently sit 8th in the Scottish Premiership with 17 points from 16 matches, having recorded 3 wins, 8 draws, and 5 defeats. Their goal difference stands at -4, with 21 goals scored and 25 conceded. After a promising start that included three wins in their first nine games, the Tangerines have gone seven matches without a victory, drawing four and losing three in that period. Their most recent outing was a 0-0 draw at home to Motherwell, which extended their run of failing to score to two consecutive games.

Jim Goodwin’s side has struggled to replicate last season’s impressive fourth-place finish, and their attacking output has dipped significantly, averaging just 0.88 goals per game over the last eight matches. Craig Sibbald remains their top scorer with three goals, while Zachary Sapsford and Amar Fatah have chipped in with two each. Despite their poor form, Dundee United remain only seven points behind sixth-placed Aberdeen, leaving hope for a turnaround. However, facing Celtic—a team they have not beaten in their last 23 meetings—is a daunting task.

Team News

Dundee United will be without Dario Naamo, Isaac Pappoe, Panutche Camara, and Yevhenii Kucherenko, all sidelined through injury. Goodwin may opt for changes in attack, with Ivan Dolcek and Nikolaj Möller candidates to start given the team’s recent scoring woes.

Celtic

Celtic occupy 2nd place in the table with 32 points from 15 matches, having won 10, drawn 2, and lost 3, with a goal difference of +14 (25 scored, 11 conceded). They trail leaders Hearts by six points but have two games in hand. The Bhoys’ recent form has been mixed: after a strong run under interim boss Martin O’Neill, new manager Wilfried Nancy has endured a nightmare start, losing his first three matches, including a 3-1 defeat to St Mirren in the League Cup final and a 3-0 Europa League loss to Roma. Their last league outing was a 1-2 home defeat to Hearts, which ended a five-match unbeaten Premiership run.

Despite these setbacks, Celtic remain formidable in domestic competition. They have averaged 69% possession and 1.7 goals per game over their last 10 league matches, with Daizen Maeda (4 goals) and Johnny Kenny (3 goals) leading the scoring charts. Reo Hatate has been influential in midfield, contributing two assists. Celtic’s away record includes two consecutive Premiership wins before the recent slump, and they will look to reassert dominance at Tannadice, where they won 5-0 in April.

Team News

Celtic are missing several key players: Alistair Johnston, Callum Osmand, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Marcelo Saracchi are all unavailable due to injuries, while Sebastian Tounekti is away on international duty with Tunisia. This could see James Forrest start alongside Maeda and Kenny in attack, with Kasper Schmeichel expected to continue in goal.

Head-to-Head

Celtic have dominated this fixture historically. In the last 31 meetings, Celtic have won 24, Dundee United just 1, with 6 draws. The Bhoys have scored 88 goals in those games compared to United’s 15. Recent encounters underline this gulf: Celtic won all three meetings in 2025, including a 5-0 victory at Tannadice in April. Dundee United’s last win over Celtic came in 2014, making this one of the most one-sided rivalries in Scottish football.

Conclusion

Celtic enter as clear favourites despite their managerial turbulence and injury concerns. Their superior squad depth and attacking quality should be enough to overcome Dundee United, who are struggling for goals and confidence.

For the hosts, a disciplined defensive display and opportunistic counterattacks will be key to salvaging a result. However, given the historical trend and current form, anything other than a Celtic win would be a major surprise.

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 2/5

Bookmaker: ZetBet