Dundee United vs Celtic Predictions & Tips - United Tipped to Test Celtic in League Cup Clash
Dundee United face Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup, with the hosts banking on their impressive home record despite a recent heavy defeat. Historically, Celtic dominate head-to-head, but United's resilience at Tannadice, including two consecutive wins over the Hoops at home, cannot be overlooked. Recent form and team news suggest that Dundee United could challenge Celtic and are backed to cover a +2 handicap. Expect a competitive encounter likely decided by a narrow margin, with Celtic still favorites but not guaranteed an easy win.
- Dundee United host Celtic in Premier Sports Cup
- Tought to beat hosts tipped to cover handicap at Tannadice
- Get our Dundee United vs Celtic tips for the Premier Sports Cup
- Dundee United vs Celtic Predictions
- Hoops Struggle at Tannadice
- Celtic Dominate Head to Head Record
- Dundee United Suffer Tynecastle Hammering
- Celtic Cruise to Rugby Park Victory
- Dundee United vs Celtic Team News
Dundee United vs Celtic Predictions
Celtic begin the defence of their Premier Sports Cup crown when they take on Dundee United on Saturday.
The hosts won both of their last two home games against Celtic, and are unlikely to make life easy for the visiting champions.
I have my stake on Dundee United to cover a +2 handicap on Saturday.
Hoops Struggle at Tannadice
- Dundee United are unbeaten in their last 9 home matches
- Dundee United are unbeaten in 3 of their last 4 home matches against Celtic
- Dundee United lost by no more than 1 goal in 4 of their last 6 home matches against Celtic
- Celtic failed to win 9 of their last 21 away matches (domestic fixtures)
Celtic Dominate Head to Head Record
Dundee United and Celtic have met on 18 occasions since 2020. Celtic won 12 of those games while United picked up two victories, including both of their last two encounters at Tannadice.
Dundee United Suffer Tynecastle Hammering
Dundee United return to Tannadice after a comprehensive 4-0 defeat against Hearts last weekend.
Jim Goodwin’s side fell two goals behind inside 12 minutes following early strikes from Tom Renaud and Calvin Miller. Claudio Braga added a third after the interval before Josh McPake completed a miserable afternoon for the Tangerines.
Hearts were good value for their win, with last season’s runners-up generating an xG of 2.12 from 12 efforts on goal. United mustered an xG of only 0.58 from their ten attempts on the Hearts goal.
United had begun their Premiership campaign with an encouraging 1-1 home draw against Rangers two weeks ago.
The Terrors secured their place in the Premier Sports Cup last 16 after topping Group B with 12 points. United recorded victories against Stirling Albion, Montrose, Arbroath and Spartans, scoring nine goals without conceding.
An impressive home record will give the hosts plenty of confidence this weekend. Jim Goodwin’s men are unbeaten in their last nine games at Tannadice, including a 2-0 win against Celtic last March.
Celtic Cruise to Rugby Park Victory
Celtic travel to Tannadice after extending their perfect start to the season with a commanding 5-1 Premiership victory against Kilmarnock.
Kasper Hogh opened the scoring after only 64 seconds before completing a first-half hat-trick at Rugby Park. Benjamin Nygren added a fourth shortly after the interval, while substitute Luke McCowan completed the scoring.
The rampant Premiership champions registered a remarkable 5.44 xG from over 30 efforts on the Killie goal.
Martin O’Neill’s men began their league campaign with a less impressive 1-0 home win against Dundee two weeks ago.
The Glasgow giants completed a domestic double last season, beating Dunfermline 3-1 in the Scottish Cup final after retaining their Premiership crown on the final day of the season.
Dundee United vs Celtic Team News
Dundee United: (3-4-2-1) Dave Richards; Iurie Iovu, Ross Graham, Krisztian Keresztes; Ryan Strain, Craig Sibbald, Vicko Sevelj, Will Ferry; Kristijan Trapanovski, Panutche Camara; Zac Sapsford.
Goodwin could make changes after last weekend’s heavy defeat against Hearts.
Zac Sapsford is expected to return to the attack, with Kristijan Trapanovski and Panutche Camara expected to provide support from the wide areas.
Dario Naamo and Miller Thomson are expected to miss Saturday’s cup tie through injury.
Speaking after the 4-0 defeat at Hearts, Goodwin felt the final scoreline did not accurately reflect his side’s performance.
“For people not at the game today, they’d look at the scoreline and think that Hearts have given us a right going over.
“The reality is that we had plenty of the game. In the first half, I didn’t think there was a lot between the two teams.
“Hearts hit the target on seven occasions and scored four goals. We didn’t manage to hit the target once. You can’t win games of football like that.”
Celtic: (4-2-3-1) Viljami Sinisalo; Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, Kieran Tierney; Arne Engels, Callum McGregor; Camilo Duran, Benjamin Nygren, Yang Hyun-jun; Kasper Hogh.
O’Neill could retain the majority of the team that cruised to victory at Rugby Park last weekend.
Kasper Hogh will lead the attack after scoring a first-half hat-trick against Kilmarnock.
Benjamin Nygren is also expected to retain his place after scoring in both Premiership fixtures this season.
Jota has returned to light training following a serious knee injury but is not expected to return to action until later this year.
Haissem Hassan has joined from Real Oviedo and could feature in the Celtic squad this weekend.
The Egyptian international impressed in the World Cup but O’Neill revealed he was a long-term target.
“We’d been tracking him in January time,” the former Northern Ireland international said.
“We were hoping that we’d be able to do something. Oviedo, obviously, at the bottom end of the league, were unwilling to let anybody go at that stage. Totally understandable. So, it wasn’t as if to say it was just like an afterthought for us in the last couple of weeks. Far from it.
“We have been chasing him, a number of players, in that sort of position that we feel as if they will add something to us. And he very, very much fitted the bill.”
Verdict
Dundee United have an excellent home record, and the hosts can test a Celtic side that has struggled at this venue in recent seasons.
I fancy the hosts to push the Hoops and lose by no more than one goal this weekend.
I fancy the hosts to push the Hoops and lose by no more than one goal this weekend.
Dundee United +2
Handicap
@11/18 - 3 Units
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Celtic 2-1
Correct Score
@8/1 - 1 Unit
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