Celtic

Watch highlights from Celtic Park as the Premiership leaders dispatch Dundee United 3-0. (UK users only)

We asked for your views on Celtic's 3-0 Scottish Premiership win over Dundee United.

Here's what some of you said:

Liam: We don't get a lot of credit for winning the league but this side shows amazing professionalism. Coming off the back of a tiring game against Bayern Munich and the levels were good. The quality shines through, and if one player isn't quite at it another steps up. Auston Trusty looks better every game.

Ray: Clinical and a refreshing performance all round. Jeffrey Schlupp is finding his feet and a stronger option at left-back with his phyisque plus Jota is building up to his lethal best. It's all about a strong, concentrated team performance away to Bayern which is all that can be asked for.

Steven: Twisting, turning and scoring Jota on the wing part two looks like a sequel worth seeing. The Portuguese adds another dimension to Celtic's attacking play. As a Celt I'm so glad he's back, what a re-signing. Adam Idah with the icing on the cake.

Christine: Fascinating, since Kyogo Furuhashi's departure everyone seems to have stepped up. Jota has only been back home two weeks and he's getting back to his brilliant self.

Bear: Good, solid, professional performance and well-deserved three points. Daizen Maeda has to start through the middle on Tuesday. It was a different game when the switch was made midweek, Bayern looking rattled by his pressing and speed.

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• Celtic have kept a clean sheet in 19 of their 26 games, more than any other in the Premiership this season.

• Jota has contributed to goals in his last four games in the Premiership (two goals, two assists).

• Celtic have scored 19 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, more than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• Dundee United have lost their last three games in the Premiership, their last longer losing streak was from 6 May 2023 to 28 May 2023, a run of five games.

• Dundee United have failed to score a first-half goal in 19 of their 26 games, no team has failed to do so more often in the Premiership this season.

Manager Brendan Rodgers urges Celtic to be bold in their Champions League play-off decider with Bayern Munich in Germany on Tuesday, with the Scottish Premiership leaders trailing 2-1. (Sun), external

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany believes it was good his side were made to defend in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Bayer Leverkusen, with Celtic up next on Tuesday. (Record), external

Jota may have played his way into the Celtic starting XI in Munich after his scoring performance in Saturday's 3-0 win over Dundee United. (Herald - subscription), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

Celtic prepared for their Champions League trip to Bayern Munich by continuing the march towards another Scottish Premiership title with a convincing win over Dundee United.

Fine first-half finishes from Callum McGregor and Jota made the difference before Adam Idah fired a sensational late third as the home side extended their lead to 16 points, with closest challengers Rangers visiting Hearts on Sunday.

With just 12 league fixtures remaining for Celtic, that gap looks impenetrable.

Another clean sheet means Brendan Rodgers' side have won every home league game bar a 2-2 draw with Aberdeen, having not conceded in any other Premiership match at Celtic Park this season, while United's defeat drops them to fourth place.

Celtic fans, were you at Parkhead on Saturday or following the action from home? Either way we want your views on the game.

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "I thought we were excellent today off the back of a tough physical game in the midweek. The level of the game and the quality of the goals was outstanding.

"[Callum McGregor] is such a big tactical reference for the team. He sits in there and controls the game. Overall, he was excellent.

"We want to win every game. If you don't do your work, or you look for an easy game, that's when you come unstuck. United have been fantastic this season. We knew we had to play to a good level to get a result."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Quality was the difference. Callum McGregor and Jota's goals had that and this could have been a far healthier scoreline. Adam Idah's was the pick of the bunch as his eye for goal has been fully rediscovered.

Resting Daizen Maeda, for the most part, and Nicolas Kuhn has no obvious impact. Jota started, his influence grew and he seems to be working his way back to the kind of form he showed in his first stint.

Brendan Rodgers might be tempted to find a starting role for the Portuguese winger in Munich on Tuesday but is blessed in those areas. Perhaps Maeda may be of use as the main striker given his pace and intensity but Idah's emphatic finish may counter that idea.

This was another convincing win. One in which you felt the champions had a number of gears left to find if required.

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A superb strike from captain Callum McGregor set Celtic on their way to victory over Dundee United. The holding midfielder followed up the opener with a fantastic shift in the middle of the park for the full 90.

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Mathias Kvistgaarden, the 23-year-old striker who had a January transfer to Celtic collapse after the clubs failed to agree a fee, says he is happy at Brondby. (Record), external

Newcastle have joined Brentford and Brighton in the hunt to sign Celtic's 25-year-old German winger Nicolas Kuhn. (Teamtalk), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

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Celtic midfielder Paulo Bernardo faces four to five weeks out with an ankle injury while James Forrest has just started running again after a foot injury.

Dundee United remain without Craig Sibbald (groin).

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Brendan Rodgers has praised the improvement of Yang Hyun-jun and insists the winger is "still developing" at Celtic.

The 22-year-old came off the bench in Wednesday night's 2-1 Champions League play-off defeat to Bayern Munich and set up Daizen Maeda for the goal which keeps Celtic in the tie for their trip to Germany.

The South Korean youth international has struggled to make a notable impact since arriving in summer 2023 but has contributed two goals and four assists this season.

"Yang has done really well," Rodgers said.

"He's looking strong, he's improving and he came on and gave us that energy. The Champions League is an arena where you need your squad, the level of physicality that is required, you need those players that can come on and impact the game for you which I think he did.

"Yang has done great for us, he's a young player still developing and adapting to the culture and everything about the game here and the size of the club but he's made a valuable contribution this year.

"There's ones ahead of him but when he's been asked to play he's done well. He wants to improve his numbers and he's starting to affect games more.

"Because of the intensity of which we play, we need four or five wingers. We can see improvement, the strength in his game and for him it's about efficiency. He presses the game, he works very hard and I like that side of him."

Chris Bertram
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

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Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media before the Scottish Premiership game against Dundee United on Saturday.

Here are the key things he said:

• Paulo Bernardo will be out for up to five weeks with an ankle injury but otherwise the squad that faced Bayern Munich is available to take on United. James Forrest is running again but will not return to the first team for a few weeks.

• Rodgers praised Yang Hyun-jun for improving his numbers and affecting games more. The manager said the winger is still adapting to the culture and size of the club but has made "valuable contributions with energy and physicality".

• The Celtic boss will rotate some positions against United because the turnaround to the Bayern second leg is so quick and Rodgers says his side will "have to be at a real high level physically" for the game in Germany on Tuesday.

• He also warned Celtic need to be ready physically on Saturday, not least because since United's last game, his side have played four times.

• Rodgers said his side have faced an "unrelenting schedule" but praised his players for their focus, pointing to the Dundee match at the end of seven games in 21 days as the only one where their intensity dropped.

• The boss is "so happy" Daizen Maeda "getting the reward in terms of his numbers and his finishing". He said the forward is really high on confidence and praised his "will to do it repetitively" - but that he has to be "mindful he is still human" and so has tried to manage his load this season.

Chris Bertram
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Third-placed Dundee United are the visitors to Celtic Park this weekend, so it is a long way from the Premiership leaders' most straightforward game of the season.

That said, the Tangerines have won just once in five league games, and Celtic's lead at the top is 13 points.

So, while Brendan Rodgers will be focused on a win against Jim Goodwin's side, he will surely have one eye on Tuesday's Champions League game at Bayern Munich, when Celtic need to turn around a 2-1 deficit.

Could that therefore mean a start on Saturday for Jota, to get the Portuguese winger valuable minutes as he seeks sharpness?

He has understandably looked short of top form since he returned to Glasgow after relatively little football in the past 18 months, but Celtic looked a more effective team when he came on against Bayern in the first leg.

Perhaps just as important, his introduction meant Daizen Maeda moved more central, and his harassing of Bayern's defenders forced them to hit more long balls under pressure.

If Jota starts against United, would a game alongside Maeda as the central striker help their understanding or might Adam Idah continue as the number nine to give the workaholic Japan forward a rest before the do-or-die match in Germany?

Read all this weekend's Premiership picks

• Celtic are unbeaten in 21 meetings with Dundee United in all competitions (W16 D5) since going down 2-1 in December 2014 under Ronny Deila.

• Dundee United have failed to win each of their past 49 away games at Celtic in all competitions (D12 L37). The only side to fail to win 50+ consecutive away games against the Hoops in all competitions were Kilmarnock from 1957 to 2011 (64).

• Celtic have conceded in just one of their 12 home league games this season (2-2 draw v Aberdeen in October), winning their past eight at Celtic Park in the Scottish Premiership by an aggregate score of 29-0.

• Dundee United have lost four of their past five league games (W1), as many as their first 20 such matches of the season beforehand (W9 D7 L4).

• Celtic's Daizen Maeda has scored in his past three Premiership appearances (four goals), his longest scoring streak in the competition. Since Christmas, he has 10 goal involvements in the top flight (six goals, four assists), more than any other player.

Newcastle had representatives at Celtic's Champions League play-off against Bayern Munich to watch Nicolas Kuhn, who they have already run the rule over several times this season. (Daily Mail), external

German legend Michael Ballack believes Celtic were denied a clear penalty against his former club Bayern in the second half of their first leg. (Scottish Sun), external

Pundit Micah Richards admits the atmosphere before the Celtic-Bayern game left the CBS studio speechless before kick-off. (The Rest is Football podcast), external

Roy Keane says he doesn't support former clubs Manchester United or Celtic and instead the team he does have an affinity for is Juventus. (Scottish Sun), external

Read the rest of Friday's gossip.

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Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers says it's "game on" in Munich after his team showed they could hurt Bayern in their Champions League play-off first-leg.

Brendan Rodgers' side were heading for a 2-0 defeat and a mountain to climb in Bavaria next Tuesday, but Daizen Maeda's deft header with just over 10 minutes to go has given the Scottish champions hope.

"It was an interesting game, we contained them fairly well in the first half," the USA international said.

"We were probably a bit too passive in some of our defensive moments and I thought we could have been a bit better on the ball.

"The last 20-25 minutes we grew into the game and we showed that we can hurt them and keep the ball at times. By the end of it we were kind of on the front foot and looking pretty good and we have to take that into the next leg.

"Later on in the game when we started to get our passing game together, we looked dangerous.

"As long as it's one goal, it's definitely game on. For us, it's probably about going over there and either trying to keep that scoreline or better it for as long as we can, and trying to take the game over there to the dying minutes of that game.

"We know we've got that side so it's just about doing that on the ball, that belief that we can go and hurt them and create a chance before it goes."

Former Celtic midfielder Peter Grant: "Getting the goal back gives us great hope. I thought there was a 10-15 minute spell towards the end of the game where a few half chances were created and it was a bit unfortunate not to score again.

"Bayern are a team who are more than capable of winning it, but I think Celtic are more than capable of going across there, but we'll have to be at our very, very best and pick up a result that'll go down in history.

"If Celtic turn this around, this will be one of the greatest results in the club's history."

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton: "Celtic finished the stronger team. It took until after Bayern eased off after scoring their second goal but Celtic showed their resilience and ended up taking the game to them - they were much braver in the final third in the closing stages.

"Celtic have lost but look they are still in the tie which is what Brendan Rodgers wanted. They will take heart from the way they finished."

Former Scotland international James McFadden: "In years gone by, that could have been a totally different story. The reaction was superb.

"Towards the end, Celtic looked the better side. They looked more threatening and Bayern lost all the control they had.

"Celtic coming back with that belief, energy and intent is a warning to Bayern. Listen, it's not over. It's highly unlikely, but Bayern have work to do next week."

Former Scotland international Pat Nevin: "There was a penalty Celtic didn't get, some referees might've given that. They scored an early goal which was unfortunately ruled out for offside.

"They made opportunities and they need to keep that in mind. They won't give up and football is strange, football is mad sometimes. Anything could happen."

We asked for your views on Celtic's 2-1 defeat against Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League play-off.

Here's what some of you said:

Roderick: At this level, second rate. Bayern were superior in all aspects: passing, pressing, instant ball control, speed, reflexes and awareness. When Celtic won the ball the player had virtually no options available because of the pressing. The midfield of Celtic were out of their depth. I have been a Celtic supporter for over 70 years and was in Lisbon. Money rules.

Angus: Still not on a par with Champions League big boys, but are learning and progressing. Domestic dominance means they are unfamiliar with playing without the ball - they need to adapt.

David: Celtic were good. Bayern were the better side but not by much. Daizen Maeda's goal keeping us in the tie. A suggestion to Brendan Rodgers: play our three wingers from the off in Munich, Maeda through the middle. I saw more worry in the Bayern defence in the last 20 minutes than with Adam Idah as striker. Our three wingmen are fast and elusive and terrific playing together.

George: Celtic seemed to have more stamina and the ability to play at a high level for the full 90 minutes. Bayern ran out of steam in the last 15 minutes allowing Celtic to get on top. Maeda was the prime example.

Mark: There were at least two clear and obvious errors by the referee that VAR chose to ignore. Bayern Munich players knocking the ball out but the referee giving the decision in their favour. Also, blatant penalty denied when Bayern player stood on Celtic player's foot in the box. If this had happened outside the box it would have been given.

Alan: Good, hard-working performance. They could have capitulated after being totally outplayed for most of the game and going down 2-0, but stuck with it and were in with a chance of equalising in the latter stages.

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland

Celtic got away with it once. But when they left Harry Kane unmarked at a corner a second time, they were ruthlessly punished by Bayern Munich's England striker.

Kane's goal ended up separating the sides after a raucous night at Parkhead. And while Celtic skipper Callum McGregor admitted that instance of lax defending was a "lesson" to be learned, he stressed the importance of his side's strong finish that had Bayern "hanging on" for a 2-1 win in the Champions League play-off first leg.

"They've got big quality and you see that with the with the level of goals," McGregor told Celtic TV.

"An amazing finish for the first one and then obviously Harry Kane, you leave him unmarked inside the penalty box and he's going to get goals. So a little bit of a lesson for us in that one.

"But we're competitive, we're still in the tie and and that's where we want to be come next week."

Yang Hyun-jun, so often a peripheral figure during his Celtic career, helped ignite the home side to life with an impressive cameo off the bench and it was from the South Korean's touch that Daizen Maeda headed Celtic's late lifeline.

"The last 25 minutes is a good template for us and once we started to find that personality to play forward then you can see we can cause them problems," McGregor added.

"The bravery and the way the boys stay in the game even now at this level, you've got to commend them for that because at 2-0 the game can look difficult.

"The last 25 minutes we get going and and it's a different game at the end - they're sort of hanging on a little bit so we can take big confidence into next week."

Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn rued the offside decision that denied him a sensational first-minute opener, with Adam Idah deemed to be obstructing Manuel Neuer's vision as the ball flashed past the Germany goalkeeper.

"It could have been a nice start, but unfortunately it wasn't," said Kuhn.

"The stadium was going crazy, it was amazing. The flag came up really late, so I was still hoping it was not offside.

Former France striker Loic Remy, who won the Premier League with Chelsea, says missing out on playing in the Old Firm match is his biggest regret in football. (Plejmo.com via Daily Record), external

Celebrity Celtic fan Sir Rod Stewart gatecrashed TNT and CBS' TV coverage of Celtic against Bayern Munich - and promised to fly pundit Jamie Carragher to watch the return leg in Germany. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Thursday's gossip.