Dundee v Celtic – Team news, referee details, KO time, where to watch

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The Celtic Star

·19 October 2025

Dundee v Celtic – Team news, referee details, KO time, where to watch

Celtic will kick-off at Dens Park this lunchtime knowing the importance of picking up the three points after Hearts stretched their lead over the Scottish Champions to five points with an impressive 3-0 win against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park yesterday afternoon.

Brendan Rodgers media conference, Friday 17 October ahead of trip to face Dundee at Dens Park.

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Before Hearts play again – at Tynecastle next weekend against Celtic – Brendan Rodgers’ side have two games to play, against Dundee this afternoon and Sturm Graz in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Hearts exited the Premier Sports Cup early doors and have not had European football to cope with this season and have therefore had plenty of preparation for their Scottish Premiership matches and that advantage has been grasped by Derek McInnes who yesterday afternoon turned his attention to Celtic’s visit to Tynecastle next Sunday. McInnes will be hoping that Dundee can do Hearts a massive favour this afternoon by taking something from a Celtic side that has yet to hit top gear in this campaign.

Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Celtic, celebrates with players next to the Premier Sports Cup following the William Hill Premiership match between Celtic FC and St Mirren FC at Celtic Park on May 17, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Brendan Rodgers though has been over the course and distance in the Scottish Premiership and has never been found wanting and you can expect more urgency and attacking intent from his team this afternoon.

Celtic Team News

Daizen Maeda sits this one out and there’s a doubt over Paulo Bernardo who has been ill over the last few days. As assessment on him was to take place yesterday but there’s no update since Brendan gave his team news update at Friday’s media conference.

Alistair Johnston and Auston Trusty will both return to the match-day squad and will sit alongside Bernardo on the Celtic bench should the Portuguese midfielder be available.

Kasper Schmeichel will have the gloves after his international break exploits and the back four looks like being Scotland’s Anthony Ralston at right back, Cameron Carter-Vickers alongside Liam Scales in the centre of the Celtic defence, and Kieran Tierney at left-back.

The Celtic captain Callum McGregor will be joined by Reo Hatate and Benjamin Nygren in the middle of the park and the front three for Celtic this after will probably be Michel-Ange Balikwisha Kelechi Iheanacho and Sebastian Tounekti.

Benjamin Nygren of Celtic celebrates scoring during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Motherwell FC at Celtic Park, on 5th October 2025. Photo by Mark Runnacles/Shutterstock

On the bench for Celtic today we expect to see Sinisalo, Johnston, Trusty, Saracchi, McCowan, Engels, possibly Bernardo, Yang, Kenny and Forrest.

We’ll post the team news when we get it around 10.45am.

Celtic Manager’s View

Brendan Rodgers gave this preview of today’s game at his media conference on Friday afternoon at Lennoxtown…

“We’ve showed glimpses of our game in a lot of our domestic matches, but we just need to find a more consistent level and, of course, that’s something we’re really looking forward to doing.

“The players are working very hard, we had a good victory in our last game against a good team that’s unbeaten in the league so far, so we had to really work for that, and we showed our spirit and our quality by the end of that game. So we want to continue in that vein and now the focus is very much on the seven games in 21 days.

Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic scores a penalty during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Motherwell FC at Celtic Park, on 5th October 2025 Photo by Mark Runnacles IMAGO /Shutterstock

“Our record there is very good over a number of years, but that still doesn’t make it an easy place to go. I think Steven (Pressley) will have them really well-organised, he’ll have them competitive and they’ve shown already this season that they can get good results and performances. So we know coming back after the international break we have to get our fluency and our tempo into the game as quickly as we can and look to make it really difficult for them hopefully.”

Match Officials

The Scottish FA earlier in the week confirmed the refereeing appointments for Celtic’s trip to face Dundee at Dens Park this lunchtime.

Referee Matthew MacDermid with Callum McGregor. Ross County v Celtic in Dingwall. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

They have handed the whistle for today’s vital Scottish Premiership match to 32-year-old Matthew MacDermid. The referee was recently behind the screen at Clydesdale House for Celtic’s dramatic win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park with MacDermid advising John Beaton to check the monitor, which resulted in the awarding of the spot kick.

MacDermid today will be assisted by Dougie Potter and Chris Rae. Meanwhile, Gavin Duncan has been placed on VAR duties with Duncan Nicolson assisting.

Kick-off Time

It has been an early start for the thousands of Celtic supporters making their way to the City of Discovery to cheer on the Hoops to a vital victory and with it the three points to narrow the gap back to two points ahead of our trip to Tynecastle. Today’s match kicks-off at 12 o’clock and hopefully we’ll see a Celtic team ‘Putting on the Style’ on the anniversary of Celtic’s record breaking cup final victory back on this day in 1957 when we beat Rangers 7-1 in the League Cup Final.

Where to Watch

Dundee v Celtic is live on Sky Sports Football with the coverage beginning at 11am. The match is also live on Celtic TV for subscribers based outside of Britain and Ireland and there’s a playback available later in the day on the club’s own channel. Highlights will be shown on BBC Sportscene this evening.

Score Prediction

Would love another 19 October 7-1 but that’s unlikely today with Dundee likely to frustrate Celtic with a low block. However the Bhoys can get the job done with a 2-0 victory and that will suit its just fine.

COYBIG

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Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star

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Celtic 3-0 St Mirren, Scottish Premier League, Celtic Park, 15 May 1982.Celtic captain Danny McGrain collects the championship trophy as Roy Aitken looks on. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Danny McGrain signing copies of Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Photo: Celtic Star Books

Please note that stocks are now running very low indeed and the book will NOT be reprinted. Click on the image below to order. Please note that postage will only be charged on ONE book.

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Out now on Celtic Star Books. Click on image above to order.