CELTIC can focus fully on domestic duties after the end of their European campaign and have the chance the open up a seven-point lead in the SPFL Premiership when they host Dundee United.
The Champions League finished on a sour note for the Hoops in midweek as they crashed 5-1 against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on a night where all my main tips came up.
It was a familiar story for Ange Postecoglou's side as missed chances and weak defending cost them against the top teams and Celtic will now need to put the disappointment behind them to secure a Champions League return next term.
They already hold a four-point lead over Rangers and can extend that advantage for 24 hours with the Ibrox side facing a road trip to Perth on Sunday. This clash with Dundee United is the first of three remaining games before the World Cup break and Postecoglou will be demanding maximum points.
The Tannadice side were battered 9-0 by Celtic at home in August, a result that saw Jack Ross sacked as manager. Interim boss Liam Fox has now been handed the reins full-time but United remain in relegation trouble as they sit level on points with Ross County at the bottom.
Back-to-back home wins over Aberdeen and Hibs hinted at a resurgence under Fox but they have since gone four games without a win and another heavy loss to Celtic would damage morale further.
How the bookies view it
Dundee United have been written off and the strugglers are a massive 25/1 with SBK to win at Parkhead. Even the draw pays as big as 19/2 with the same firm while Celtic's best price is just 1/9 at SportNation.
Recent head to head
Celtic romped to that 9-0 victory when these sides last faced off but Dundee United were a tougher nut to crack last term. Under former boss Tam Courts they claimed a couple of 1-1 draws and only missed out on another when Liel Abada scored a last-gasp winner at Parkhead in January.
But you have to go back to 2014 for Dundee United's last victory against the Hoops and they haven't won at Celtic Park since season 1992/93.
Players to watch
Postecoglou has rotated his squad pretty heavily in the wake of European games so expect plenty of changes here. Sead Haksabanovic is still waiting on his first Celtic goal but has looked dangerous so could be worth backing for anytime scorer at 13/8 with McBookie.
Tony Watt is clear to face his old club after Dundee United successfully appealed against his red card in the loss to Motherwell. The man who scored that famous goal against Barcelona is 7/1 at William Hill for another shock strike at Parkhead.
Anything else catch the eye?
Celtic have scored three or more in the last four domestic outings and it could be another long 90 minutes for United's defence if they concede early. Backing the champions to win both halves pays 5/6 at McBookie and you have to go to over 3.5 Hoops goals to get into odds-against territory at 6/4 with Paddy Power.
Neither team has been picking up a lot of cards this season and Dundee United only collected one yellow in that 9-0 hammering. That makes under 3.5 cards a good option here at evens with Bet365.
Celtic are usually good value for corners but we've only seen double figures in one of their last four matches and that was in the Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk. Bet365 price under 11 corners at 6/5 for this one and that might be worth a punt.
This Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United will be played on Nov 5, 2022 and kick off at 15:00. Check below for our tipsters best Celtic vs Dundee United prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
