Celtic get their Premiership title defence under way at home to Dundee on Monday 3rd August, with kick-off at 7.30pm at Celtic Park.
Celtic were worthy champions last season, edging out Hearts by two points, and they open up against a Dundee side that finished eighth and conceded 61 goals along the way. Our football tips desk has two Premium Tips for the opener below, followed by the full market-by-market predictions and a score prediction.
Premium Tips
Two standout calls for the Premiership opener, hand-picked by our tipster Anthony Eadson and backed with the numbers. Our full market-by-market predictions table sits further down the page.
| Premium Tip | Odds | Why we’re backing it |
|---|---|---|
| Celtic to Win & BTTS | 7/5 (bet365) | Dundee have already built up valuable match sharpness after playing four League Cup games and scoring 14 goals. Celtic, meanwhile, have struggled to keep clean sheets, managing just one in their final 14 league matches last season and none across their last 11 games in all competitions, including friendlies. With that in mind, Dundee can find the net, but Celtic still have enough quality to secure a regulation victory. |
| Benjamin Nygren to score | 6/4 (Sky Bet) | Nygren top-scored for Celtic with 16 last season and, with Daizen Maeda moved on, he is now the main man through the middle. 6/4 on the sharpest finisher at the club against a back line this porous makes plenty of appeal. Other firms have him as short as 8/11, so this looks a standout price worth taking from Sky Bet. |
18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware — gambleaware.org · Odds correct at time of publishing.
How Celtic go into the game
Celtic start the season as they finished the last one — as the team to beat. Martin O’Neill’s side racked up 73 goals and 91 big chances in 2025-26, comfortably the most in the division, and they have made a habit of pulling clear early. Benjamin Nygren’s 16 league goals led the way, and with Daizen Maeda having moved on over the summer the Swede looks the clear focal point through the middle. The one note of caution is that this is a first competitive outing, and opening-day sharpness is never a given even for the champions.
How Dundee go into the game
Dundee did enough to finish eighth last term, but Steven Pressley’s side were among the most generous in the league, shipping 61 goals in 38 games. Simon Murray was their main threat with seven, and they will need him at his best again. A trip to Celtic Park on the opening night is about as unforgiving a start as the fixture computer could have handed them, and keeping the scoreline respectable may be the realistic aim — they did, though, win 2-0 at Dens in this fixture only last October, so it is not a lost cause on paper.
Celtic vs Dundee head-to-head
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05/04/26 | Dundee | 1-2 | Celtic |
| 03/12/25 | Celtic | 1-0 | Dundee |
| 19/10/25 | Dundee | 2-0 | Celtic |
| 05/02/25 | Celtic | 6-0 | Dundee |
| 14/01/25 | Dundee | 3-3 | Celtic |
Celtic have dominated the recent meetings, winning eight of the last 10 against Dundee and scoring 29 goals in those games. Dundee’s one win in that run was a notable one, though — a 2-0 success at Dens Park last October.
Celtic vs Dundee predictions & betting tips
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celtic to win | 1/6 (bet365) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Champions at home to the side that finished eighth — the only question is the margin. |
| Over 3.5 Goals | 10/11 (bet365) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Celtic’s firepower against a Dundee defence that conceded 61 last term. |
| Both Teams to Score – yes | 10/11 (bet365) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Celtic haven’t kept a clean sheet in 11 games including friendlies, |
| Benjamin Nygren anytime | 6/4 (Sky Bet) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Sixteen goals last season and now the focal point of the attack. |
| Correct Score – Celtic 3-1 | 9/1 (bet365) | ⭐⭐ | The scoreline the recent Celtic Park meetings point towards. |
Celtic vs Dundee score prediction
Everything points to a comfortable home win. Celtic’s attacking numbers dwarf Dundee’s, they have kept clean sheets in four of the last five home meetings in this fixture, and openers at Celtic Park tend to be one-sided. We are backing the champions to make a statement, but Dundee can get on the scoresheet. Score prediction: Celtic 3-1 Dundee.