It was a tense and gritty afternoon for Celtic at Tannadice as the Hoops failed to break down a stubborn Dundee United side.
Despite dominating large spells of the match, Brendan Rodgers’ men couldn’t find the cutting edge to secure the three points.
The first half was a tale of missed opportunities for Celtic. Reo Hatate came close to opening the scoring in the 44th minute, his left-footed effort sailing just over the bar after a cross from Callum McGregor. Earlier, Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi both had chances but couldn’t capitalise, with Dundee United keeper Jack Walton proving tough to beat.
The second half saw Celtic ramp up the pressure. Substitutions brought fresh energy, with Luis Palma and Adam Idah entering the game, but the breakthrough remained elusive. A blocked effort from Hatate in the 67th minute highlighted Celtic’s frustrations, as Dundee United’s defence held firm under relentless pressure.
Dundee United, for their part, showed flashes of attacking threat. Glenn Middleton forced a fine save from Kasper Schmeichel in the 72nd minute, but the home side largely focused on disrupting Celtic’s rhythm and countering where possible.
The game was also marked by several stoppages due to injuries and a scrappy midfield battle, with fouls disrupting any fluidity that Celtic tried to create. Hatate’s yellow card in the 59th minute for a challenge highlighted the growing frustrations among the visitors.
Arne Engels had the best chance of the game in the 91st minute, forcing a save from Walton, but the breakthrough never came.
Despite winning a number of corners late in the game, Celtic couldn’t find the crucial goal to take all three points. As the final whistle blew, the 0-0 score line left the travelling fans disappointed.
For Celtic supporters, this result is undoubtedly a bump in the road. However the Hoops are still 9 points clear of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
