Celtic secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over a resolute Dundee United side to extend their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 16 points. Goals in each half proved enough for Brendan Rodgers’ side, who remain unbeaten at home this season.
Rodgers was determined to avoid a repeat of the goalless stalemate at Tannadice just over two weeks ago and named an unchanged starting XI from their convincing win over St Mirren three days prior. However, a late injury to Nicolas Kuhn saw Hyun-jun Yang drafted into the lineup shortly before kick-off.
The Hoops dominated from the outset on a bitterly cold evening at Parkhead, and their pressure paid off when Daizen Maeda reacted quickly to a rebound, firing in the opener to lift the home crowd. Despite controlling possession, Celtic struggled to break down Dundee United’s well-organized defense, with the visitors limiting clear-cut opportunities while threatening on the counter.
Late in the second half, Reo Hatate came off the bench to settle the contest, smashing a powerful shot into the roof of the net to secure the points. Dundee United had a few late chances to narrow the gap, but Celtic’s defense held firm to maintain their perfect home record.
While Celtic continue to cruise at the top of the table, Dundee United remain in fourth, showing resilience despite the result.
