Match Pictures | Matches: 2024 – 2025
Trivia
- KO: 15:00; Saturday, Celtic TV only league match 26
- Celtic on top on 69pts with +64GD, 16pts & +32GD ahead of Sevco who play the next day.
- Jota has scored twice now since his return, another excellent goal. All three goals were excellent, with Idah really deserving his goal after great work through the game.
- Various players rested today for Tuesday’s game, albeit some came on later on in the game. McGregor scored another long range goal, and Idah scored again proving his ability.
- Reports: Newcastle had representatives at last game v Bayern Munich to watch Nicolas Kuhn. Brentford & Brighton also in the hunt.
- James Forrest back on the training pitch, albeit he’s still a couple of weeks away from first team action.
- Paulo Bernardo sidelined through injury for the next ‘four or five weeks’.
- Media: Patrick Barclay, a much talented and widely respected Scottish football journalist, has died. RIP.
Summary
Adam Idah prematch: We aim to win every game. It’s the goal at every game – we want to win games, and we want to go out and perform well.”
BBC: FULL-TIME Celtic 3-0 Dundee Unitedpublished at 16:55 Greenwich Mean Time 16:55 GMT Celtic move 16 points clear at the top of the Premiership following a dominant home performance. Two fantastic first-half finishes from Callum McGregor and Jota were followed up by a spectacular Adam Idah strike in the second 45. Dundee United, who failed to threaten throughout against the league leaders, are now 50 without a win against Celtic in all competitions. They remain fourth despite the defeat.
Celtic convincing with gears left to find FT: Celtic 3-0 Dundee United Martin Dowden BBC Scotland at Celtic Park This was another convincing win as Celtic’s march to the title shows no sign of relenting. The worry for competitors is it felt like Brendan Rodgers’ side had a few gears left at times. They left key men on the bench from the start and it made little difference. Dundee United stuck to their task but were always struggling to land a blow to give them something tangible as reward. With 12 games to go for the champions, another Premiership crown looks a certainty.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers tells BBC Scotland: “I thought we were excellent today off the back of a tough physical game in the midweek. The level of the game and the quality of the goals was outstanding. [Callum McGregor] is such a big tactical reference for the team. He sits in there and controls the game. Overall, he was excellent. We want to win every game. If you don’t do your work, or you look for an easy game, that’s when you come unstuck. United have been fantastic this season. We knew we had to play to a good level to get a result.”
Torquemeda of KDS: Thoroughly professional performance in the midst of an incredibly demanding run of games. Three excellent goals will do but we should have scored double that amount. Just the 16 points ahead with 12 games to go. I might even break the habit of a lifetime and watch the huns against their bunny rabbits at Tynecastle tomorrow since I couldn’t care less how they get on. Brendan is in his post-January pomp and all is well in my world.
E-Tims @ETimsNet · 1h FT #Celtic 3 DU 0 Convincing win for Celts. Jota & Schlupp standouts 1st half. Idah with brilliant strike. CalMacs & Jota goals also not too bad! Ref (Walsh) dreadful. Good win after tough runout midweek v Bayern. Celtic go 16 points clear
Inside The SPFL @AgentScotland · 1h Adam Idah’s fantastic strike was the highlight of the second half, it turned into a bit of a training session, some really nice football, but the intensity understandably dropped considerably after the break. Nick Walsh had one of those afternoons where he just annoys everyone. Dominant first half from Celtic, McGregor’s controlling the tempo and took his goal really well, Jota has been brilliant & caused Adegboyaga all sorts of problems, Schlupp has also been really impressive and I think Idah’s movement has really improved compared to a month ago
Teams
Celtic
Formation: 4 – 3 – 3
01 K. Schmeichel
15 J. Schlupp, subbed for G. Taylor at 71mins
06 A. Trusty
20 C. Carter-Vickers
56 A. Ralston
41 R. Hatate, subbed for A. Engels at 62mins
42 C. McGregor (c), Captain
14 L. McCowan
07 Jota, subbed for D. Maeda at 62mins
09 A. Idah, subbed for J. Kenny at 85mins
13 Yang Hyun-Jun, subbed for N. Kühn at 71mins
Subs:
27 A. Engels
02 A. Johnston
24 J. Kenny
10 N. Kühn
38 D. Maeda
47 D. Murray
05 L. Scales
12 V. Sinisalo
03 G. Taylor
Goals:
C. McGregor (23′)
Jota (35′)
A. Idah (84′)
Assists:
Yang Hyun-Jun (23′), A. Trusty (35′)
Dundee Utd
Formation: 4 – 2 – 3 – 1
01 J. Walton
17 L. Stephenson
06 R. Graham
31 D. Gallagher
16 E. Adegboyega 74′, Yellow Card at 74mins, subbed for R. Strain at 89mins
05 V. Ševelj 56′, Yellow Card at 56mins, subbed for D. Babunski at 89mins
23 R. Docherty (c), Captain, subbed for R. Paton at 70mins
15 G. Middleton 53′, Yellow Card at 53mins
22 A. Campbell
18 K. Fotheringham, subbed for K. Trapanovski at 69mins
19 S. Dalby, subbed for L. Moult at 76mins
Subs:
10 D. Babunski
37 S. Harding
09 L. Moult
21 R. Paton
25 D. Richards
02 R. Strain
07 K. Trapanovski
20 J. van der Sande
Goals:
Assists:
Match Officials
Referee Nick Walsh
Video Assistant Referee Kevin Clancy
Assistant Referee 1 Frank Connor
Assistant Referee 2 Alastair Taylor
Fourth Official Graham Grainger
Assistant VAR Official Alan Mulvanny
Att:
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Stats
Overall possession
Celtic 76.3% Dundee United 23.7%
Shots
Celtic 21 Dundee United 6
Shots on target
Celtic 7 Dundee United 2
Total touches inside the box
Celtic 37 Dundee United 10
Goalkeeper saves
Celtic 3 Dundee United 4
Fouls
Celtic 7 Dundee United 9
Corners
Celtic 15 Dundee United 0
Advanced match stats
Shots
Celtic 21 Dundee United 6
Shots on target
Celtic 7 Dundee United 2
Shots off target
Celtic 7 Dundee United 3
Blocked shots
Celtic 7 Dundee United 1
Attempts out of box
Celtic 6 Dundee United 5
Hit woodwork
Celtic 2 Dundee United 0
Total offside
Celtic 4 Dundee United 1
Total tackles
Celtic 13 Dundee United 15
Won tackles
Celtic 5 Dundee United 9
Fouls
Celtic 7 Dundee United 9
Total yellow cards
Celtic 0 Dundee United 3
Total clearances
Celtic 19 Dundee United 47
Headed clearances
Celtic 16 Dundee United 20
Duels won
Celtic 44 Dundee United 42
Total passes
Celtic 699 Dundee United 221
Accurate passes
Celtic 640 Dundee United 153
Backward passes
Celtic 108 Dundee United 35
Forward passes
Celtic 172 Dundee United 89
Total long balls
Celtic 36 Dundee United 57
Successful final third passes
Celtic 158 Dundee United 41
Total crosses
Celtic 37 Dundee United 9
Touches
Celtic 895 Dundee United 393
Touches in the box
Celtic 37 Dundee United 10
Dispossessed
Celtic 9 Dundee United 6
Goalkeeper saves
Celtic 3 Dundee United 4
Diving saves
Celtic 1 Dundee United 2
Saved shots from inside the box
Celtic 0 Dundee United 2
Saved shots from outside the box
Celtic 2 Dundee United 2
Keeper throws
Celtic 7 Dundee United 1
Goal kicks
Celtic 6 Dundee United 9
Punches
Celtic 0 Dundee United 1
Pre Match Facts
Celtic are unbeaten in 21 meetings with Dundee United in all competitions (W16 D5) since going down 2-1 in December 2014 under Ronny Deila.
Dundee United have failed to win each of their last 49 away games at Celtic in all competitions (D12 L37). The only side to fail to win 50+ consecutive away games against the Hoops in all competitions were Kilmarnock from 1957 to 2011 (64).
Celtic have conceded in just one of their 12 home league games this season (2-2 draw v Aberdeen in October), winning their last eight at Celtic Park in the Scottish Premiership by an aggregate score of 29-0.
Dundee United have lost four of their last five league games (W1), as many as their first 20 such matches of the season beforehand (W9 D7 L4).
Celtic’s Daizen Maeda has scored in each of his last three Scottish Premiership appearances (4 goals), his longest scoring streak in the competition. Since Christmas, he has 10 goal involvements in the top-flight (6 goals, 4 assists), more than any other player.
Articles
Celts cruise to a 3-0 home victory over Dundee United
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/february/15/celts-cruise-t/
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
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15 Feb 2025, 5:24 pm
Scottish Premiership
Saturday, February 15
Celtic Park, Glasgow
CELTIC…3
(McGregor 23, Jota 35, Idah 84)
DUNDEE UTD…0
Celtic moved 16 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table after defeating Dundee United 3-0 at Celtic Park, thanks to goals from Callum McGregor, Jota and Adam Idah.
From the get-go at Celtic Park this afternoon, the Celts were on the front foot and looked like they were out to put Dundee United to the sword early.
Over the course of the opening 45 minutes, Brendan Rodgers’ men dominated the ball and would go on to end the half having enjoyed 80 per cent of the possession.
There were a few early half-chances from the Bhoys, with Jota causing problems for the visitors on the left wing and able to send a number of good crosses in to the box.
Dundee United defended resolutely, however, and the Celts had to settle for a series of corner-kicks, with the Tannadice side spending the majority of the half on the back foot.
The champions continued to hunt for the opener which came in the 23rd minute from the left foot of the Celtic skipper, Callum McGregor.
The captain received the ball from Yang on the right-hand side, and proceeded to drift towards the edge of the area with one eye on goal.
He skipped past one Dundee United defender before pulling the trigger and his shot arrowed in to the bottom corner of the net, beyond the reach of Dundee United keeper Jack Walton.
The Celtic captain almost made it 2-0 seven minutes later when he shot from the edge of the box, but his curling effort crept just wide of the post.
Just before the 35-minute mark, Jeffrey Schlupp looked like he had scored a goal of the season contender when he fired an effort towards goal from 25 yards out, but the ball cannoned off the post and drifted to safety.
It wasn’t long before Celtic had the second goal, however, and this time it was Jota who got his name on the scoresheet.
And in typical fashion from the Portuguese winger, the goal was a piece of brilliance and a fitting finish to mark his first goal at Paradise since his return to the Hoops.
Auston Trusty passed to Jota on the left wing and the Celts’ No. 7 skipped inside towards the edge of the box before firing a shot towards goal which glided into the bottom corner and gave the champions a comfortable 2-0 lead at half time.
76%
Possession
24%
21
Shots
6
7
Shots On Target
2
15
Corners
0
7
Fouls
9
0
0
Cards
3
0
Dundee United enjoyed a spell of possession at the start of the second half and it was clear that Jim Goodwin had asked his side to get on the ball more in the second 45 minutes.
However, the threat from the champions was present all afternoon, and 10 minutes in to the second half, Yang won a free-kick on the edge of the Dundee United penalty area.
Luke McCowan was the man to take the set-piece, and his effort looked destined for the bottom corner, but a good save from Jack Walton prevented McCowan from getting on the scoresheet.
Chances for both sides were limited as the second half wore on, but the Celts continued with their relentless attacking play and it seemed like only a matter of time before the third goal arrived.
With 70 minutes gone, Dundee United tried to fashion an opportunity of their own as Trapanovski whipped a ball in to the area, but Kasper Schmeichel was alert to the danger and got up early to gather the ball.
Just under 10 minutes later, Daizen Maeda almost continued his brilliant scoring run when he got on to the end of an Arne Engels corner, but the Japanese forward’s header was cleared off the line at the back post.
It was beginning to look like Celtic’s two first-half goals would be the difference between the sides today, but with just over five minutes remaining, the champions added a third.
Greg Taylor stung the palms of the Dundee United keeper with an effort from the edge of the box, and the ball ended up with Anthony Ralston on the right wing.
The full back sent a ball across the box which was headed on by a Dundee United defender and was picked up by Adam Idah at the edge of the box.
The Irish forward took one touch to control the ball before unleashing a blistering strike in to the top corner to give the Bhoys a 3-0 lead.
The scoreline reflected Celtic’s dominance throughout the match and will serve as the perfect preparation ahead of Tuesday night’s UEFA Champions League tie against Bayern Munich in Germany.
Manager: Our attitude was spot-on to get victory over Dundee United
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/february/15/manager–our-attitude-was-spot-on-to-get-victory-over-dundee-united/
First Team
By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor
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15 Feb 2025, 5:46 pm
Celtic produced another strong domestic display to beat Dundee United at Paradise and go 16 points clear at the top of the Premiership table.
Goals from Callum McGregor, Jota and Adam Idah secured a 3-0 win, and Brendan Rodgers was delighted with the performance and result.
Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, the Celtic manager said: “The attitude in the game was very good and right from the off we were looking to impose ourselves in the game and I thought the quality of our football – and the pitch is very difficult, as people can see – was so good. Work-rate, quality, mentality – it was a really professional performance.
‘All of Callum’s goals have been superb this season and I said to him that’s like rollback to when I was first here because he used to be higher up the pitch and dribbling inside.’
“It was a bit of individual brilliance which gets us on the way, and he nearly got a second one coming in off the other side, and he was instrumental today in everything and got us off to a really good start.”
As for Jota’s goal, which made it 2-0, the manager added: “Jeffrey opens up the space for him to go outside and he makes a really good run that clears the space inside and then it’s a wonderful finish.
“Everyone in the stadium has seen his quality before so it’s really good that he’s getting back to that feeling of scoring goals and working hard.”
Chances were harder to come by in the second-half, but Celtic’s third goal when it came was a thing of beauty, with Adam Idah scoring his 13th goal of the season with a brilliant curling effort from the edge of the area.
It was a reward for his hard work throughout the match, and it drew praise from his manager.
“He worked very, very hard,” Brendan Rodgers said. “Greg was unlucky because the keeper made a really good save from his strike, and then the ball comes out.
“Tony’s there to counter-press the game, the cross comes out and then Adam’s finish was absolutely superb, and he really deserved that because he worked ever so hard.
“The mentality of this team has been relentless all season and obviously after a tough game, Dundee United coming here fresh, having not played for a while, I thought the performance level was really good.
“So we’ll get back in, recover tomorrow and prepare for a really exciting game for us on Tuesday, and we go in with a good feeling.”
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cq8k91vx3j2t#Report
Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Celtic prepared for their Champions League trip to Bayern Munich by continuing the march towards another Scottish Premiership title with a convincing win over Dundee United.
Fine first-half finishes from Callum McGregor and Jota made the difference before Adam Idah fired a sensational late third as the home side extended their lead to 16 points, with closest challengers Rangers visiting Hearts on Sunday.
With just 12 league fixtures remaining for Celtic, that gap looks impenetrable.
Another clean sheet means Brendan Rodgers’ side have won every home league game bar a 2-2 draw with Aberdeen, having not conceded in any other Premiership match at Celtic Park this season, while United’s defeat drops them to fourth place.
With the Champions League play-off second leg in Germany on Tuesday in mind, Daizen Maeda, Nicolas Kuhn, Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels started on the bench. It made little difference.
After initially showing stiff resistance, Jim Goodwin’s side afforded Celtic captain McGregor too much space. The midfielder capitalised, holding off a couple of challenges before he reversed the ball just inside Jack Walton’s post.
United struggled to threaten but Allan Campbell did have one chance in front of goal that he couldn’t quite get on the end of.
McGregor then went close and Jeffrey Schlupp struck a post before Jota became increasingly influential.
His reward was an excellent second. Cutting in from the left the winger found a gap to curl the ball into the far corner beyond Walton.
The visitors stuck at it but were undone again late in the second half when Idah fired home a brilliant finish from the edge of the box to seal another three points.
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Dundee Utd news, view & analysis
Celtic coast to another convincing win
Quality was the difference. McGregor and Jota’s goals had that and this could have been a far healthier scoreline. Idah’s was the pick of the bunch as his eye for goal has been fully rediscovered.
Resting Maeda, for the most part, and Khun has no obvious impact. Jota started, his influence grew and he seems to be working his way back to the kind of form he showed in his first stint.
Rodgers might be tempted to find a starting role for the Portuguese winger in Munich on Tuesday but is blessed in those areas. Perhaps Maeda may be of use as the main striker given his pace and intensity but Idah’s emphatic finish may counter that idea.
This was another convincing win. One in which you felt the champions had a number of gears left to find if required.
United stick to task when up against it
In the opening quarter, Goodwin’s side gave up an incredible amount of possession but retained a good structure and discipline to minimise direct threat.
One lapse, in affording McGregor a little too much space, was key to their downfall. From there, Jota stepped up to make their task a long shot.
To United’s credit, they hung in and tried to get forward when possible but to little avail.
The desire was there but they could barely land a punch in the final third, like many teams domestically.
United’s good work early in the season means a difficult run of results has been absorbed to a large extent.
The priority now is to capitalise on a couple of home fixtures to keep them firmly within the top six.