Celtic kick-off their 2026/27 season this evening with a home match against Dundee at Celtic Park with the SPFL Champions Flag set to be raised prior to kick-off after the most dramatic title victories of the record breaking 56 titles Celtic has won over the years…
Steven Pressley’s side caused Celtic all sorts of problems last season as Martin O’Neill pointed out at his mainstream media conference at the end of last week.
Martin O’Neill on the thread Dundee pose
“They caused us all sorts of problems last year,” the Celtic manager admitted. “Beat the club at Dens Park away back early in the season. And certainly in the time that I’ve been here, really difficult games.
“We were 30 seconds away from being knocked out of the Scottish Cup. They played brilliantly that day. And, of course, we won it in extra time.
“And the game at Dundee was difficult. We made a number of great chances in the first half at Dundee. It was a game we had to win. And then they got a penalty in the second half. And the game was in the balance until Kelechi (Iheanacho) scores for us towards the end of the game. So I expect exactly the same again,” Martin O’Neill said.
Celtic Team News
Ordinary Bhoy posted his predicted team this morning and accounting for the imminent departures of both Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels, he reckons that Martin O’Neill will NOT select these two players this evening.
That in my view is a clear mistake as Johnston’s presence at the back is needed while the midfield will serious lack running power if Engels doesn’t play and we go with Callum McGregor, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Benjamin Nygren.
And with the Champions League play-off matches against Austrian Champions LASK to come in a few weeks time Celtic need to ready and need to keep both players OR ensure than quality replacements have arrived to play in those games where £40m is at stake.
🍀 Celtic have been drawn against Austrian champions LASK in the Champions League play-off round.
Watch the start of their Scottish Premiership title defence tonight as they host Dundee, live on Sky Sports 📺 pic.twitter.com/MbQtr6z9lD
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 3, 2026
So from the predicted team line-up posted by my colleague I would certainly make a few changes with Alistair Johnston in at right back ahead of Colby Donovan and Arne Engels starting ahead of The Ox.
I’d also go with a CCV and Trusty partnership at the heart of our defence with the balance of a right and left footer restored for the first time since Carter-Vickers suffered an Achilles injury last October.
Up front like many Celtic supporters I remain unconvinced by Sebastian Tounekti as a starter, he only seems to play well as an impact player coming off the bench. I’d go with James Forrest and make the change after an hour with either Yang or Tounekti coming on.
Predicted Celtic Team
So my predicted Celtic team for this evening is as follows:
Celtic starting XI: Sinisalo; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Tierney; McGregor(c), Engels, Nygren; Forrest, Hogh and Duran.
Subs: Doohan, Donovan, Ralston, Murray, McCowan, Oxlade-Chaberlain, Hatate, Bernardo, Tounekti, Osmand, Yang and hopefully a few of the Academy Bhoys such as Hatton and McArdle.
Match Officials
Matthew MacDermid will have the whistle this evening and he will be assisted by Chris Rae and Dougie Potter. The VAR operation will he headed up by Grant Irvine who will be assisted by Ryan Lee over at Clydesdale House.
Kick-off Time
Celtic v Dundee is the last of the opening day matches in round one of this season’s Scottish Premiership with the game kicking off at 7.30pm, Celtic Park Time.
Where to Watch
Like all other opening day Scottish Premiership matches, tonight’s Celtic v Dundee Flag Day opener is live on Sky Sports. The match will also be streamed live on CelticPlayer, formerly known as Celtic TV, for subscribers based outside of Britain and Ireland.
A live audio feed available for subscribers in Britain and Ireland and a full match replay will be available later tonight for all subscribers on the CelticPlayer service.
Predicted Score
Debut goals for Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran will contribute towards a 3-0 Celtic victory which will take the Hoops to the top of the League looking down on current leaders St Mirren and will see St Johnstone drop down to third. That will also see the Rangers drop out of the top six while Hearts are clearly falling apart again and are in the bottom two.
Yet another Flag Day at Celtic Park
Here’s a reminder of how the league was won…to make it FIVE in a row and 14 titles in 15 seasons only missing out during the Covid year.
Enjoy the game and remember to make some noise for the Bhoys!
COYBIG
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