Celtic will aim to continue their remarkable 2024-25 season when they welcome Dundee to Celtic Park for matchday 24 in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts are top of the standings with 60 points from 23 matches, while the visitors are seventh in the table with 27 points from their first 23 fixtures.
Match preview
© Imago
Celtic came into the 2024-25 campaign aiming to defend their Scottish Premiership title for the fourth successive year, and the Bhoys are certainly on course to lift the trophy at the end of the season.
Brendan Rodgers's team comfortably lead the standings after 23 matches, with 19 wins, three draws and just one loss, leaving them with 60 points and a significant 13-point advantage over second-placed Rangers.
Their league form has continued across all four competitions they have been involved in throughout this season thus far, with the Bhoys suffering just two losses from 35 matches this term.
That has seen Celtic already lift their first silverware of the campaign, beating Rangers on penalties in the Scottish League Cup final, and secure their place in the knockout rounds of the Champions League, with a chance of placing in the top eight depending on results in the final league phase matchday.
After suffering their first league defeat of the season in their 19th fixture, a 3-0 loss to Rangers, Celtic have instantly bounced back with five wins and one draw, and they will be looking to extend that streak here.
Their opponents, Dundee, are heading into the game enjoying a recently improved run of results, with Tony Docherty's men unbeaten in their last four with two wins and two draws, following a streak that saw them lose four and win one in five outings.
Those results have contributed to Dundee placing seventh in the Scottish Premiership table with 27 points, after seven wins, six draws and 10 defeats, meaning they trail the top six by just two points.
While their confidence will be high given their recent run of positive results, Dundee have struggled in meetings with Celtic, taking just one point from the last 36 available in their past 12 league meetings.
Team News
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Celtic are anticipated to be without the services of James Forrest (foot) for this match due to an injury that will keep him out until February, while Arne Engels may be a doubt after coming off with a suspected injury in their last outing.
Following their impressive and dominant victory over Young Boys in their previous game, Rodgers may decide to field a largely unchanged starting lineup for this game.
Daizen Maeda was sent off in the 88th-minute of that match, but the forward is likely to start alongside Adam Idah, due to the likely departure of Kyogo Furuhashi, and Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn.
As for Dundee, Billy Koumetio, Joe Shaughnessy, Jordan McGhee, Juan Portales, Scott Fraser, Ziyad Larkeche are all unavailable due to ongoing injury issues.
With the visitors heading into this game on the back of a four-game unbeaten run across all competitions, Docherty is likely to name a similar starting team in this one.
Celtic possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor; McCowan, McGregor, Hatate; Kuhn, Idah, Maeda
Dundee possible starting lineup:
Carson; Astley, Robertson, Donnelly; Mulligan, Sylla, Garza, Ingram; Adewumi, Robertson; Murray
We say: Celtic 2-0 Dundee
The hosts have dropped points in just one of their 11 home league matches this term, while Dundee have lost five of their 11 away league games, leading us to believe Celtic will win here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
