Celtic vs Dundee United

Premiership runners-up Celtic play host to underperforming Dundee United in a must-win league fixture at Celtic Park.

Celtic have hit the ground running since the calendar flipped to 2022, winning all three competitive outings by an aggregate score of 6-2, all of which saw them take a 2-0 half-time lead. Following an underwhelming six-game start to the season (W3, L3), the ‘Hoops’ have racked up an intimidating 16-match unbeaten run in the Premiership (W13, D3). Ahead of the kick-off, Ange Postecoglu’s men have put together three league victories by an aggregate score of 7-2, reducing the gap on pacesetters Rangers to four points in the process. What’s more, Celtic have been a force to be reckoned with at home lately, stringing together four consecutive league triumphs, including the last three in a row without conceding. Indeed, their impressive defence has conceded a league-low two goals at home this Premiership campaign so far.

On the other hand, Dundee United came from behind to defeat Ross County 2-1 at home last time out, bringing their frustrating six-game winless run to a halt. Interestingly, they scored as many goals in that encounter as they had in their previous six Premiership outings combined. But they go into this round as one of only four top-flight sides yet to smash a 20-goal barrier in the ongoing Premiership campaign (19), which stands for an underwhelming average of 0.86 goals per game. However, after drawing a blank in their last two league travels (L2), Dundee will feel insecure about their scoring prospects at Celtic Park. Encouragingly, though, they held Celtic to a 1-1 draw earlier in the season and could go unbeaten in back-to-back league H2Hs for the first time since January 2009.