Published 31 July 2026. Updated 3 August 2026. Analysis and predictions are our opinion,
not a guarantee of anything. 18+, please gamble responsibly.
Celtic open the defence of their Scottish Premiership title at home to Dundee FC on Monday night, kick-off 7.30pm UK time at Celtic Park. It is the first competitive fixture of the new season for both clubs and the first as permanent Celtic manager for Martin O’Neill, who took the job on a one-year deal after guiding the club to a domestic double last season, the league title plus a 3-1 Scottish Cup final win over Dunfermline Athletic at Hampden.
A sixth straight title is the target, though O’Neill’s summer has been quiet in the transfer market by Celtic’s usual standards, and that lack of incoming business has been enough to get some pundits asking whether Rangers or Hearts can finally close the gap this season. Encouragingly for the champions, O’Neill says he expects close to a full squad available for Monday, with several players only just back from international duty over the summer. Kieran Tierney, Anthony Ralston and Sebastian Tounekti all played in Saturday’s pre-season draw with AC Milan.
Dundee arrive under Steven Pressley, who signed a new contract to stay on after keeping the Dens Park side up last term. Pressley has added a couple of faces in defence and midfield, left-back Idris Odutayo in from Bromley and midfielder Ryan Finnigan from Blackpool, while Luke Graham and Billy Koumetio have both left for the English Championship. It is a squad still finding its shape three days before a trip to face the champions.
History gives Dundee very little to work with. The sides have met 43 times since 2003 and Celtic have won 36 of those, Dundee just the once, with 6 draws. The most recent meeting did go Celtic’s way too, a 2-1 win at Dens Park back in April, though it was tighter than the overall record suggests. Celtic’s underlying form is solid rather than spectacular, two wins and three draws in their last five matches in all competitions, while Dundee have been streakier, two wins and two defeats in their own last five.
What looks the smart angle
The market has this about as one-sided as the history books do. William Hill go 1/5 Celtic, 11/2 the draw and 10/1 Dundee, and nothing in the squad news changes that shape, an almost-full-strength champions side at home to a Dundee team still bedding in two new arrivals. Backing the home win at those prices is short, but it is priced short for a reason. Anyone looking for value rather than a banker might have half an eye on the draw, out to 7/1 with Grosvenor, Ladbrokes, Coral, Paddy Power and Betfred: Dundee took a result off Celtic as recently as this year and O’Neill’s side have drawn three of their last five, so it is not as far-fetched a punt as the outright odds imply. That is a read on the numbers, not a tip, and Celtic remain the obvious favourites on current form and squad strength.
Elsewhere in the Premiership
The rest of the opening round is spread across the weekend before this one. Aberdeen host Hearts at Pittodrie on Saturday as Stephen Robinson’s side look to make home advantage count, while St Johnstone v Kilmarnock and Hibernian v Motherwell both kick off on Sunday. Dundee United host Rangers on the Friday night, giving Rangers an early look at whether they can back up the pre-season talk of closing the gap on Celtic. O’Neill’s side are back in action quickly too, away to Kilmarnock the following Sunday in the second televised fixture of their campaign.
18+ | BeGambleAware.org. Odds shown are a snapshot at the time of writing and can move before kick-off. Any view on the match above is opinion, not advice, and is not a guarantee of any outcome.
