Celtic and Dundee FC go head-to-head in the Scottish Cup fifth round on Saturday evening, with both Premiership sides eyeing a quarter-final place at Celtic Park.
The fixture is one of two all-top-flight ties in the last 16 and kicks off a busy Scottish Cup weekend that also features Aberdeen vs Motherwell and Rangers vs Stranraer.
Celtic vs Dundee FC – Match preview and team news
- Date: Saturday, 7th February.
- Kick-off: 5:30pm BST.
- Venue: Celtic Park, Glasgow.
Celtic team news
Celtic come into the tie in strong shape results-wise during Martin O’Neill’s second spell, but they are still without several players through injury.
Alistair Johnston, Callum Osmand, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota and Marcelo Saracchi all remain sidelined and are not expected to feature against Dundee.
Carter-Vickers has been ruled out for the season. Osmand and Johnston are long-term hamstring absentees, and Jota continues his recovery from a serious cruciate ligament injury. Saracchi has been edging closer to a return after a hamstring problem, but the Uruguayan full-back is not expected to be risked here. Kieran Tierney will continue at left-back.
Viljami Sinisalo started in the fourth-round win over Auchinleck Talbot and could keep his place in goal. Anthony Ralston, Dane Murray, Liam Scales and Tierney likely to form the back four.
Further forward, Benjamin Nygren has hit form at a crucial time. He has scored in each of his last three Celtic appearances, making the Swedish attacker a key threat.
Dundee FC team news
Dundee travel to Glasgow with several players still missing as Steven Pressley’s side look to spring a major upset.
Defensive duo Clark Robertson (thigh) and Billy Koumetio (knee) are both sidelined. Return dates are projected for late February and early March respectively.
Striker Joe Westley is also out with an ankle problem picked up earlier in the campaign, while young forward Ashley Hay is another absentee for the Dark Blues.
Pressley is expected to lean again on Simon Murray as his main attacking outlet. The experienced forward has led the line in recent weeks and will be central to Dundee’s hopes of nicking a goal on the counter.
Form
Celtic
Celtic’s form under O’Neill has been impressive, with the Hoops unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions, winning five and drawing two.
That run includes league victories over Falkirk, a 2-0 Scottish Cup fourth-round win away to Auchinleck Talbot and an eye-catching 4-2 Europa League success against Utrecht at Celtic Park.
Dundee FC
Pressley’s men sit 10th in the Scottish Premiership with six wins, five draws and 13 defeats from 24 league games, leaving them six points above the bottom two.
In the cup, however, Dundee showed character to come from behind and beat Kilmarnock 2-1 away in the fourth round, with Ashley Hay and Drey Wright scoring late to turn the tie around.
Predicted lineups
Celtic: Sinisalo; Ralston, Murray, Scales, Tierney; Hyun-Jun, Bernardo, McGregor, Tounekti; Nygren, Iheanacho.
Dundee FC: McCracken; Halliday, Astley, Graham, Wright; Congreve, Dhanda, Hamilton, Jones, Yogane; Murray.
How to watch Celtic vs Dundee FC?
In the UK, Celtic vs Dundee FC in the Scottish Cup fifth round will be shown live on Premier Sports 1, with coverage from Celtic Park.
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