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

Two teams in desperate need of a win will come together on Wednesday night when Dundee United host Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.

The Tangerines are winless in their last seven games. while the Bhoys have lost all of their last three matches, including a 3-1 defeat in the Scottish League Cup final.

Match preview

Dundee United recorded a fantastic fourth-placed in their first season back in the Scottish Premiership in 2024-25, but they have failed to reach those same heights so far this term.

The Tangerines are down in eighth in the standings with 17 points after their 16 league fixtures, from three wins, eight draws and five defeats.

Despite a largely positive start to the campaign, recording three wins, four draws and only two defeats in their first nine league fixtures, Dundee United have subsequently gone without a victory in their last seven matches, featuring three defeats and four stalemates.

While that disappointing run has seen the Tangerines drop out of the top six into eighth, they still trail sixth-placed Aberdeen by only seven points, and Jim Goodwin will be eager to avoid slipping any further behind the Dons.

As a result, Goodwin will be hoping his side can capitalise on Celtic's ongoing struggles and claim all three points on Wednesday, but history is certainly against Dundee Utd heading into the encounter.

The Tangerines have failed to win any of their last 23 matches against the Bhoys, including three straight defeats coming into Wednesday's clash.

However, Celtic are far from their usual selves heading into this encounter, with the Bhoys enduring a miserable start to life under newly-appointed manager Wilfried Nancy.

Going back to the start of the season, an underwhelming summer transfer window led to fan fury and protests due to the disagreement with how the board are running the club, while manager Brendan Rodgers also made his frustrations clear.

After a string of lacklustre results and performances, including winning just two of seven games - featuring back-to-back Scottish Premiership defeats that left them eight points behind leaders Hearts - Rodgers handed in his resignation.

Martin O'Neill swiftly took charge on an interim basis, and the legendary manager quickly turned Celtic's fortunes around, steering the club to seven wins from his eight games at the helm, including leading the Bhoys to the Scottish League Cup final.

The Bhoys eventually appointed Nancy as Rodgers' permanent successor, but the former Columbus Crew boss has failed to maintain the momentum that was built by O'Neill.

Nancy's side were defeated 2-1 by Hearts in his first match in charge, meaning they fell three points behind the leaders, followed by a miserable 3-0 loss to Roma in the Europa League.

Celtic fans would have been hoping that a victory against St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup final would serve as a platform for the Bhoys to build from moving forward, but Nancy's side were unable to claim the trophy.

The Bhoys devastatingly lost 3-1 to St Mirren, handing the Saints just their second ever Scottish League Cup trophy, while it means Nancy becomes the first Celtic boss to lose all of their first three matches at the helm.

Hoping for his nightmare start in the Celtic dugout to end, the Bhoys will be desperate for all three points when they take on Dundee United, and their history in this fixture certainly suggests they are favourites going into the clash.

Dundee United Scottish Premiership form:

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Dundee United form (all competitions):

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Celtic Scottish Premiership form:

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Celtic form (all competitions):

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Team News

Dundee United are without the availability of Dario Naamo, Isaac Pappoe, Panutche Camara and Yevhenii Kucherenko for this match due to ongoing injury problems.

The Tangerines have now failed to score in each of their last two matches, meaning Goodwin may opt to make changes to his attack, with Ivan Dolcek and Nikolaj Moller potentially being given the chance to start.

As for the Bhoys, Celtic are unable to call upon Alistair Johnston, Callum Osmand, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota, Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi due to injury issues.

Sebastian Tounekti is also unavailable due to his involvement with Tunisia at the Africa Cup of Nations, meaning James Forrest could start alongside Daizen Maeda and Johnny Kenny in attack.

Dundee United possible starting lineup:

Richards; Iovu, Esselink, Graham; Strain, Stephenson, Sibbald, Ferry; Dolcek, Moller, Ahmed

Celtic possible starting lineup:

Schmeichel; Donovan, Trusty, Scales, Tierney; Engels, McGregor, Hatate; Maeda, Kenny, Forrest

We say: Dundee United 1-2 Celtic

Celtic may be enduring a miserable start under Nancy's management, but the Bhoys remain favourites heading into this game against a Dundee United side who are without a win in their last seven.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.