Preview: Dundee vs. Celtic - prediction, team news, lineups

Seeking to claim their fifth successive away victory across all competitions, Celtic travel to Dens Park where they will face Dundee in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

The hosts, meanwhile, have claimed seven points from their last 12 available and will be hoping to cause an upset this weekend as they aim to climb away from the relegation zone.

Match preview

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Dundee managed to bounce back from their disastrous 5-0 home defeat against Ross County with a slender 1-0 victory away against St Mirren last weekend.

The only goal of the game came in the 11th minute from midfielder Max Anderson, who placed his effort from the edge of the area into the bottom right corner, a strike which secured the Dark Blues just their second league victory of the campaign.

James McPake's men remain in 11th place, four points clear of basement club Ross County and just two points behind Livingston in 10th.

Dundee head into Sunday's clash with a terrible record against Celtic, after failing to win any of their last 33 league meetings against them, losing 27 times in the process. Their last triumph against the Hoops was back in May 2001, when they secured a 2-0 win under former boss Ivano Bonetti.

McPake will have been pleased with elements of his team's performance in the narrow 1-0 loss to champions Rangers in September, and a similar resilience in defence will be required this weekend if they are to keep Celtic's in-form attackers at bay.

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Celtic's hopes of advancing into the knockout stages of the Europa League remain alive after they claimed a 3-2 victory in Budapest against Ferencvaros on Thursday night.

Josip Juranovic's 11th-minute own goal cancelled out Kyogo Furuhashi's third-minute strike, though the Hoops managed to restore their lead midway through the first half with a goal from Jota, before Liel Abada added a third on the hour mark.

Myrto Uzuni pulled one back for the hosts to make it a nervy finish for the Glaswegian side, but they were able to hold on for three crucial points.

Back-to-back victories in Group G have moved Celtic just one point behind second-placed Real Betis, who they will face in their final group game in December.

Ange Postecoglou's men now turn their attention back to the Premiership before the international break, with a favourable fixture against a Dundee outfit, who they have beaten by a combined scoreline of 18-0 in their last seven league meetings.

After losing each of their first three away games in the top flight this season, Celtic have since won each of their last three on the road, and will be seeking their fourth in succession for the first time since October 2020.

Team News

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Dundee were dealt a huge injury blow last weekend as McPake confirmed that striker Cillian Sheridan will miss the rest of the season after rupturing his Achilles against St Mirren.

The Dark Blues will also be without midfielder Shaun Byrne and forward Alex Jakubiak as they continue to recover from respective knee and shoulder injuries, while Celtic loanee Leigh Griffiths is ineligible to face his parent club.

McPake switched to a 4-5-1 formation for the victory against St Mirren and could stick with this system again this weekend, which would see Anderson, Charlie Adam and Paul McGowan operate in central midfield roles in behind lone striker Jason Cummings.

As for Celtic, Carl Starfelt and Tom Rogic remain out with hamstring problems, while Greg Taylor (shoulder), Christopher Julien (knee) and Karamoko Dembele (ankle) are also unavailable with injuries.

Postecoglou is expected to stick with a 4-3-3 formation, with Abada and Jota providing support from the flanks for Furuhashi up front, though James Forrest is another option to play on the wing.

Midfielders Ismaila Soro and James McCarthy will be hoping to force their way into the first XI, after starting on the bench in midweek, however, Nir Bitton, David Turnbull and captain Callum McGregor are all set to keep their places in the middle of the pitch.

Dundee possible starting lineup:
Legzdins; Kerr, Ashcroft, Sweeney, Marshall; McMullen, McGowan, Adam, Anderson, McCowan; Cummings

Celtic possible starting lineup:
Hart; Ralston, Welsh, Carter-Vickers, Juranovic; Bitton, McGregor, Turnbull; Abada, Furuhashi, Jota

We say: Dundee 0-3 Celtic

Considering their impressive record against Dundee, Celtic are strong favourites to come away with all three points this weekend with a routine victory on the cards.

The hosts, who have conceded more goals than any other Premiership side so far this season, will need to be on top of their game defensively if they are to keep the Hoops quiet. However, we feel that their backline will be breached on more than one occasion at Dens Park.

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