Celtic vs Dundee FC — Match Preview
A Wednesday night under the lights at Celtic Park awaits as Celtic look to keep the pressure on league leaders Hearts in the Scottish Premiership. The Hoops are in a fascinating transitional period; while the appointment of Wilfried Nancy appears imminent, it is club legend Martin O’Neill who remains in interim charge for this fixture due to administrative delays. Fresh off a hard-fought 2-1 win over Hibernian, O’Neill will demand a professional performance to bridge the gap to the new era.
Visiting Glasgow are a Dundee FC side who just snapped a four-game losing streak with a vital 3-1 win over St Mirren. Manager Steven Pressley will hope that result serves as a turning point for his 9th-placed side. However, the Dark Blues have a wretched recent record at Parkhead, including a 6-0 drubbing earlier this year. Can they capitalize on Celtic’s off-field distractions, or will the champions prove too strong on home soil?
Celtic vs Dundee FC — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Celtic vs Dundee FC
- Competition: Scottish Premiership (Matchday 15)
- Venue: Celtic Park, Glasgow (Capacity: 60,411)
- Date: Wednesday, 03 December 2025
- Kickoff Time: 19:45 GMT / 20:45 CET / 01:15 IST (Thursday)
- Referee: TBC
- TV Channel (UK): Celtic TV (International), PPV (Domestic)
- TV Channel (India): Not Televised
- Live Stream: Celtic TV
Celtic vs Dundee FC — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Celtic:
- Position: 2nd in Premiership (29 Points).
- Form: Recovering. Since O’Neill took temporary charge, they have stabilized with wins over Kilmarnock, St Mirren, and Hibs, plus a European victory over Feyenoord.
- Current Challenge: Focus. With the “Wilfried Nancy” rumors dominating the headlines, the players must stay focused on the 90 minutes ahead.
Dundee FC:
- Position: 9th in Premiership (12 Points).
- Form: Poor but improving. The 3-1 win vs St Mirren ended a dismal run of four straight defeats where they conceded 11 goals.
- Current Challenge: Away Form. Dundee have struggled on the road against the Old Firm, and their goal difference of -13 suggests a fragile defense.
Celtic vs Dundee FC — What’s at Stake
For Celtic:
- Title Race: Sitting 2nd, they cannot afford to drop points while Hearts (or Rangers) are picking up wins. A comfortable victory is needed to boost their goal difference further.
For Dundee FC:
- Survival Buffer: Sitting 9th, they are uncomfortably close to the relegation playoff spot. Any point at Parkhead would be a massive bonus in their fight for safety.
Celtic vs Dundee FC — Team Form
Celtic (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Hibernian (2-1)
- W vs Feyenoord (3-1 – EL)
- W vs St. Mirren (1-0)
- W vs Kilmarnock (4-0)
- L vs Midtjylland (1-3 – EL)
Dundee FC (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs St. Mirren (3-1)
- L vs Hibernian (0-2)
- L vs Rangers (0-3)
- L vs Hearts (0-4)
- L vs Falkirk (1-2)
Celtic vs Dundee FC — Team News
Celtic:
- Cameron Carter-Vickers: Out (Achilles – Long-term absentee).
- Alistair Johnston: Out (Hamstring Injury).
- Jota: Out (Knee Injury – Out until Jan 2026).
- Callum Osmand: Out (Hamstring).
- Kyogo Furuhashi: Fit and expected to lead the line after his goal against Hibs.
- Arne Engels: Should continue in midfield after impressive recent displays.
Dundee FC:
- Squad Health: Steven Pressley has a largely fully fit squad to choose from.
- Simon Murray: The striker returned to the starting XI with a bang against St Mirren and is expected to keep his place.
- Joe Westley: Also impressed in the last game and could partner Murray if Pressley goes aggressive.
Celtic vs Dundee FC — Head to Head
- 19 Oct 2025: Dundee FC 2–0 Celtic
- 06 Feb 2025: Celtic 6–0 Dundee FC
- 15 Jan 2025: Dundee FC 3–3 Celtic
- 31 Oct 2024: Celtic 2–0 Dundee FC
- 28 Apr 2024: Dundee FC 1–2 Celtic
Celtic vs Dundee FC — Predicted Lineups
Celtic (4-3-3):
O’Neill is likely to rotate slightly to keep legs fresh for the busy December schedule.
- GK: Kasper Schmeichel
- RB: Anthony Ralston
- CB: Auston Trusty
- CB: Liam Scales
- LB: Greg Taylor
- CM: Callum McGregor (C)
- CM: Reo Hatate
- CM: Arne Engels
- RW: Nicolas Kühn
- ST: Kyogo Furuhashi
- LW: Daizen Maeda
Dundee FC (5-3-2):
Pressley will likely revert to a back five to try and contain Celtic’s width.
- GK: Jon McCracken
- RWB: Ethan Ingram
- CB: Clark Robertson (C)
- CB: Ryan Astley
- CB: Jordan McGhee
- LWB: Ziyad Larkeche
- CM: Lyall Cameron
- CM: Mo Sylla
- CM: Finlay Robertson
- ST: Simon Murray
- ST: Curtis Main
Celtic vs Dundee FC — Impact Bench Options
Celtic:
- Adam Idah: The powerful striker is a great option if Celtic need to break down a low block late on.
- Luis Palma: Can provide magic from set-pieces if the game is tight.
Dundee FC:
- Scott Tiffoney: Offers pace and direct running on the counter-attack.
- Antonio Portales: Defensive reinforcement if they are holding onto a result.
Celtic vs Dundee FC — Tactical Outlook
Celtic:
- Playing Style: Relentless Pressure. At Parkhead, O’Neill demands high intensity. They will look to pin Dundee back and use the pace of Maeda and Kühn to stretch the back five.
- Weakness: Counter-Attack Defense. Without Carter-Vickers and Johnston, the recovery pace at the back is reduced.
Dundee FC:
- Playing Style: Contain and Counter. Pressley will instruct his team to stay compact and frustrate the crowd. They will look for Simon Murray to chase long balls into the channels.
- Strength: Physicality. In Sylla and Main, they have players who can disrupt Celtic’s rhythm physically.
Celtic vs Dundee FC — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Kyogo Furuhashi vs. Clark Robertson | Movement vs. Positioning: Kyogo never stops moving. Robertson needs to be alert for 90 minutes or Kyogo will score. | Celtic |
| Callum McGregor vs. Lyall Cameron | Midfield Control: Cameron is a bright talent, but McGregor is the master of Scottish midfields. | Celtic |
| Daizen Maeda vs. Ethan Ingram | Stamina Duel: Maeda will sprint at Ingram all night. If Ingram gets tired, Celtic will overload that flank. | Celtic |
Celtic vs Dundee FC — Spotlight Players
Arne Engels (Celtic):
The Belgian midfielder is growing into a key player. His ability to drive forward and shoot from distance is vital against teams that “park the bus.”
Simon Murray (Dundee FC):
He scored against Celtic in the shock 2-0 win in October. He loves playing on the big stage and will be Dundee’s only real hope of a goal.
Celtic vs Dundee FC — Fan Reactions
Celtic Fans:
“Martin O’Neill has done a great job stabilizing us. One last win for him before Nancy arrives!”
“Dundee beat us last time… we owe them a hammering.”
Dundee Fans:
“We won at the weekend, so confidence is back. But Parkhead is a different beast.”
“Just keep it respectable. 6-0 again would be a disaster.”
Celtic vs Dundee FC — Match-Defining Factors
- The Managerial Situation: Will the players be distracted by the imminent arrival of Nancy? Or will they want to impress the incoming boss?
- Early Goal: If Celtic score early, it could be a long night for Dundee. If Dundee hold out for 30 minutes, the crowd might get anxious.
- Revenge: Celtic players will remember the 2-0 loss at Dens Park in October. They will be motivated to set the record straight.
Celtic vs Dundee FC — Prediction
Score Prediction: Celtic 3–0 Dundee FC
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Celtic to Win (-2 Handicap).
- Total Goals: Over 2.5 Goals.
- Anytime Goalscorer: Kyogo Furuhashi.
Analysis: Celtic are back in a groove under O’Neill, and the players will be eager to put on a show ahead of the new manager’s arrival. Dundee’s defense has been leaky all season (25 goals conceded), and Celtic’s attack should have far too much quality at home. Expect a comfortable win.
Celtic vs Dundee FC — Final Word
Celtic are firm favorites to continue their winning run. While Dundee FC will arrive with slightly renewed confidence, the gap in quality and squad depth is vast. Martin O’Neill will want to sign off his interim spell (potentially) with a dominant victory, and the Parkhead faithful should have plenty to cheer about.
Celtic vs Dundee FC — FAQs
When is the Celtic vs Dundee FC match?
The match kicks off on Wednesday, 03 December 2025, at 19:45 GMT.
Who is managing Celtic?
Martin O’Neill is in interim charge for this match, with Wilfried Nancy expected to take over soon.
Where can I watch the match?
Fans outside the UK can watch on Celtic TV.
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