Match Pictures | Matches: 2025 – 2026
Trivia
- KO: 15:00; Saturday, Celtic TV
- Managerial changes:
- Wilfried Nancy was sacked on Monday just past with Celtic Head of football operations (and self-styled “football doctor”) Paul Tisdale also sacked.
- Ex-Celtic manager Martin O’Neill returned for third stint as manager, this time expected to remain till the end of the season. This is his first match in charge in this new spell. Maloney returns as his assistant manager.
- Match
- Sevco leap had frogged above Celtic in the league table during the week albeit having played a game more to the end of that game.
- Julian Araujo ‘s first start, and deemed to be fortunate not to have seen red in this match in opinion of some after one very strong challenge.
- Martin O’Neill has admitted he would love a job upstairs at Celtic after being linked with replacing Peter Lawwell as chairman.
- Bookmakers have slashed Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez’s odds to become the next permanent Celtic manager.
- Ex Celt Barry Robson, recently sacked by Raith Rovers, among the candidates to be Cork City’s new manager.
- Shay Given has “unreservedly” apologised for describing Wilfried Nancy’s brief time as Celtic manager as an “absolute Holocaust” on live television. It was very poor taste.
- Reports:
- Celtic are finalising a £2m transfer for 20-year-old Maccabi Netanya winger Jocelin Ta Bi, who has also agreed a long-term contract with the Scottish champions.
- Kyogo to return? He’s done poorly since he left.
- Dundee have renewed their interest in signing Celtic right-back Colby Donovan on loan after failing to secure the 19-year-old during the summer transfer window.
- Celtic are facing mounting pressure to abandon a proposed £2m transfer deal with Israeli club Maccabi Netanya for Ivory Coast winger Jocelin Ta Bi after the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) wrote directly to the club calling on its board to halt the move.
- Celtic, Rangers and a handful of Championship clubs have registered their interest in signing Bowie in this month’s transfer window.
- Aberdeen have made an approach to Celtic to sign centre-half Stephen Welsh on a permanent transfer despite the 25-year-old currently being on loan to Motherwell.
- Interest in a January move for Hacken midfielder Silas Andersen.
- Transfers – January transfer window:
- Loan exit of defender Hayato Inamura to FC Tokyo until the end of the 2025/26 season. The 23-year-old has made just one appearance since joining the club from J1 League side Albirex Niigata, where he started his professional career in 2024.
- In:
- Julian Araujo – On loan – 6mth
- Out:
- Hayato Inamura – Loan exit to FC Tokyo until the end of the 2025/26 season.
- Jahmai Simpson-Pusey loan cancelled early
Summary
Pre match: Martin O’Neill has reverted to a back four with Liam Scales returning to Celtic’s defence. O’Neill has made a further three changes to the side that started Wilfried Nancy’s last game in charge. Julian Araujo replaces Anthony Ralston for his first Celtic start, Reo Hatate comes into midfield while Sebastian Tounekti is back on the wing. Luke McCowan, Benjamin Nygren and Johnny Kenny are on the bench. Jim Goodwin has also made four changes to his Dundee United team following their 1-0 derby defeat last weekend. Dario Naamo returns having recovered from a groin injury and joins Vicko Sevlej, Ross Graham and Owen Stirton in the starting line-up. Bert Esselink, Iurie Iovu, Amar Fatah and Max Watters are replaced.
Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill tells BBC Scotland: “I get pretty anxious before the games but looking forward to it, concerned about it. Dundee United will have a lot of confidence from their win but it’s up to us now. “This season has been narrowed down now, we’re well into the second part of the season so there’s a task ahead for us to try and overcome. “Hearts are going strong, Rangers have had a renaissance, Motherwell are probably the best footballing side in the division. It’s probably the first time in some years there’s less points than normal. We just have to concentrate today and take on from there.” On the team news, O’Neill adds: “Araujo has done fine. he’s a strong lad, he’s got a wee bit of extra energy. The other lads have played a lot of games so he maybe gives us a wee bit of freshness more than anything else. “Scales did well for me, did well for the football club so he comes back again, Tierney will go to left-back. It can maybe give us a little bit more solidity at the back, although that could be famous last words. “You never know until the game if the players are responding so it’s up to them now to take it on and for us, and the backroom staff, to support.” No update on potential transfers… “We’re looking at a number of positions to supplement the squad,” O’Neill added. “The players have played a lot of games this season. This week is the first one that I have experienced having no midweek games. “It’s pretty obvious to people where we need to supplement.”
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin tells BBC Scotland: “We always knew today’s fixture was going to be difficult. “We know the quality Celtic have got but obviously the change in management has given the players and home supporters are real lift because the atmosphere here was a lot better than what it was a week prior. “When you come here you know you’re going to be starved of possession at times and you have to really show a bit of resilience in and around your penalty area. I think today there’s lots of areas within the goals we’ve conceded we could’ve done a lot better. When you give Celtic a two-goal advantage it becomes a mountain to climb. “When you come here you have to do the basics well defensively, at times you need your goalkeeper to make saves and when you get half chances you’ve got to be clinical and take them, we couldn’t do that today.”
Flinchy of KDS:
Lots to like about that today:
Four goals, four different scorers
Clean sheet
Daizen scores
Arne scores
Callum digging in
Tounekti being more effective
Araujo looks decent (and rough)
Yang the man again, two goals in two games
From <https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/celtic-v-dundee-utd-post-match-thread-ft-4-0-yang–t144196-s100.html>
JimmyMac of KDS:
For the first time in 9 games I didn’t fear we would lose a goal and struggle to score. What a difference playing controlled football is over chaos ball and nuanced overloads. Players knew where they were to be, they weren’t miles apart meaning there was always an option and as soon as the first goal went in, the confidence was there. Despite scoring 4, we still managed to show that we needed a striker. Maeda’s work rate and ability to be a menace is never in doubt but he missed some straight forward chances due to his technical ability, plus he is not very good at leading the line. Kenny came on and I thought outside the box he showed what a good striker can bring but inside the box his finishing further demonstrated the need for a striker. This is not meant to be a negative to both players, just fact.
Yang continued his good form and Engels was back to playing the way he previously was under MON, confident and assured. Special mention to Tounekti. Part way through the first half I was getting frustrated with him as he was holding on to the ball too much but he delivered a number of good balls that should have been converted if players had more composure.
Teams
Celtic
Manager Martin O’Neill
Formation 04 – 3 – 3
01, K. Schmeichel
63, K. Tierney
05, L. Scales
06, A. Trusty
22, J. Araujo, Yellow Card 35′, subbed for C. Donovan at 61mins
41, R. Hatate, subbed for B. Nygren at 61mins
42, C. McGregor (c), Captain
27, A. Engels
23, S. Tounekti, subbed for J. Forrest at 72mins
38, D. Maeda, subbed for J. Kenny at 72mins
13, Yang Hyun-Jun, subbed for L. McCowan at 72mins
Subs:
51, C. Donovan
49, J. Forrest
28, Paulo Bernardo
24, J. Kenny
14, L. McCowan
47, D. Murray
08, B. Nygren
56, A. Ralston
12, V. Sinisalo
Goals:
Yang Hyun-Jun (27′)
A. Engels (32′)
B. Nygren (63′)
D. Maeda (69′)
Assists:
L. Scales (27′), K. Tierney (32′)
Dundee Utd
Manager Jim Goodwin
Formation 05 – 3 – 2
Manager Jim Goodwin
Formation 05 – 3 – 2
25, D. Richards
23, K. Keresztes
06, R. Graham (c), Captain
05, V. Ševelj, subbed for J. Eskesen at 78mins
11, W. Ferry
22, D. Naamo, subbed for K. Trapanovski at 60mins
08, Panutche Camará, subbed for A. Fatah at 46mins
14, C. Sibbald
21, L. Stephenson
34, O. Stirton, subbed for R. Strain at 60mins
09, Z. Sapsford, subbed for N. Möller at 79mins
Subs:
31, R. Adams
17, A. Fatah
37, S. Cleall-Harding
10, J. Eskesen
04, I. Iovu
77, N. Möller
02, R. Strain
07, K. Trapanovski
36, M. Watters
Referee Nick Walsh
Video Assistant Referee Andrew Dallas
Assistant Referee 1 Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee 2 Frank Connor
Fourth Official George Calder
Assistant VAR Official Gavin Duncan
Att:
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
- Prior https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/celtic-v-dundee-utd-pre-match-thread-saturday-10-j-t144172.html
- Match https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/celtic-v-dundee-utd-live-match-thread-2nd-half-4-0-t144195.html
- Post https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/celtic-v-dundee-utd-post-match-thread-ft-4-0-yang–t144196.html
- MoTM https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/motm-v-dundee-utd-t144197.html
Stats
Basic Stats
Overall possession
Celtic 78% Dundee United 22%
Shots
Celtic 22 Dundee United 3
Shots on target
Celtic 8 Dundee United 0
Total touches inside the opposition box
Celtic 47 Dundee United 9
Goalkeeper saves
Celtic 0 Dundee United 4
Aerial duels won
Celtic 20 Dundee United 7
Fouls committed
Celtic 12 Dundee United 5
Corners
Celtic 12 Dundee United 3
In-depth match stats
Attack
Shots
Celtic 22 Dundee United 3
Shots on target
Celtic 8 Dundee United 0
Shots off target
Celtic 7 Dundee United 1
Attempts out of box
Celtic 7 Dundee United 1
Hit woodwork
Celtic 1 Dundee United 0
Total offsides
Celtic 3 Dundee United 1
Distribution
Total passes
Celtic 792 Dundee United 222
Pass accuracy %
Celtic 92 Dundee United 67.1
Backward passes
Celtic 120 Dundee United 34
Forward passes
Celtic 181 Dundee United 92
Total long balls
Celtic 34 Dundee United 64
Successful final third passes
Celtic 270 Dundee United 23
Total crosses
Celtic 33 Dundee United 11
Defence
Total tackles
Celtic 7 Dundee United 15
Won tackle %
Celtic 57.1 Dundee United 53.3
Fouls committed
Celtic 12 Dundee United 5
Total yellow cards
Celtic 1 Dundee United 0
Total clearances
Celtic 17 Dundee United 39
Pre Match Facts
Celtic are unbeaten in their last 50 home games against Dundee United in all competitions (W38 D12) since a 0-1 league defeat in December 1992. It’s just their second ever run of 50+ home matches unbeaten against any club, along with a 64-match spell against Kilmarnock from 1957 to 2011.
After their 2-1 win in December, Dundee United could enjoy back-to-back league victories over Celtic for the first time since January 1990.
After winning all five of their Scottish Premiership games under Martin O’Neill this season, Celtic lost four of six league matches under Wilfried Nancy (W2), with O’Neill now returning to the club. During his first spell in charge of the Hoops, the Northern Irishman won all 19 of his games against Dundee United in all competitions – the most any Celtic manager has faced a single opponent without ever failing to win.
Dundee United have gained a league-high 10 points from losing positions in the Scottish Premiership this season, coming from behind to beat Celtic 2-1 in December. Indeed, Celtic have lost two of the last four league games in which they have led at any stage (W2), as many as their previous 220 when leading beforehand (W201 D17 L2).
Celtic are looking to avoid losing three successive league matches for the first time since October 1994, while, after their 1-3 defeat to Rangers, the Hoops could also lose both of their opening two league games of a calendar year for the first time since 1994.
Articles
BBC
At a glance
O’Neill wins first game back in interim charge
Goals from Yang, Engels, Nygren & Maeda for dominant Celtic
Celtic back within three points of Hearts; United remain seventh
Watch Celtic v Dundee Utd highlights
10/01/26
Watch on iPlayer
ByCharlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland
Martin O’Neill marked his first game back in charge by returning Celtic to second place in the Scottish Premiership – and within three points of leaders Hearts – with a comfortable victory over struggling Dundee United.
After last weekend’s bruising Old Firm defeat, one which spelled the end of Wilfried Nancy’s 33-day reign, O’Neill returned to lift Celtic’s spirits.
Celtic were all over a hugely defensive United in the first half and the breakthrough came from Yang Hyun-jun, whose low drilled strike deflected off a defender and fizzed into the back of the net.
Arne Engels doubled the hosts’ advantage five minutes later when he fired home Kieran Tierney’s cross with a one-touch finish from close range.
United, when they did manage to escape their own half, created a few decent opportunities.
Owen Stirton had a chance to level at 1-0 when he robbed the ball from Auston Trusty, but the teenage striker took too long over the strike and allowed Liam Scales to track back and clear the danger.
The second half was more of the same from Celtic and United, having adopted a more progressive approach, were repeatedly picked open.
Substitute Benjamin Nygren added a third from close range before Daizen Maeda slotted in the fourth after Dave Richards failed to hold Sebastian Tounekti’s strike.
The result leaves United seventh – level on points with Aberdeen, but now five behind Falkirk having played a game more – while Celtic leapfrog Rangers before Danny Rohl’s side visit Pittodrie on Sunday.
Analysis: Celtic confidence returns as United struggle
Celtic outperformed their xG of 2.8 against Dundee UnitedImage source, Opta
Image caption,
Celtic outperformed their xG of 2.8 against United
The feelgood factor is well and truly back at Celtic Park.
After Nancy was sacked earlier this week, the Celtic support needed something to cheer about. They got it when O’Neill was confirmed as interim manager again.
While there were perhaps questions about whether the 73-year-old could replicate the form of his previous interim spell – during which he won all of his Premiership fixtures and seven out of eight games overall – any doubt was cast aside here.
It was as emphatic a victory as you can get – a clean sheet, four goals, 22 shots (eight on target), 78% possession, and most importantly three points.
Celtic looked like they were playing with a confidence and self-assuredness that was sorely lacking during Nancy’s tenure.
They were solid at the back – Liam Scales in particular looked back to his best – and looked dangerous in attack, and were unlucky not to have had a few more goals.
For United and Jim Goodwin the worries continue.
They failed to attempt a single shot on target, and have now gone 51 games since last winning at Parkhead in December 1992.
This was the first time since facing Aberdeen in October 2024 that they have not managed an attempt on target in the Premiership. And their three shots is the lowest in a league game this season.
Their 22% share of possession speaks volumes about the lack of control they had.
The table is starting to look a little ominous for Goodwin. They stay level on points with Aberdeen and only three above Dundee – both of whom play on Sunday – and drop five behind Falkirk having played a game more.
What they said
00:42
Media caption,
O’Neill says win is a ‘boost of confidence’
Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill: “It was delightful, we played really well in the game and in the end we won quite convincingly.
“You still have to score the first goal in the game, Yang takes it magnificently and we get up and running but the performance was really good.
“Some of the players are just back to a bit of form that I know they can produce and that was the lovely thing about today’s performance. Overall I thought we were excellent.”
Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin: “They’re playing a formation and a system that the players are familiar with, and one that suits the squad they’ve got.
“When you come here you know you’re going to be starved of possession at times and you have to really show a bit of resilience in and around your penalty area and I think today there’s lots of areas within the goals we’ve conceded we could’ve done a lot better.”
Callum McGregor and Yang react to Celtic’s emphatic victory
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
Share
10 Jan 2026, 5:44 pm
Celtic returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion this afternoon at Celtic Park with a resounding 4-0 win over Dundee United.
Two goals in each half secured the three points for the Hoops, and Martin O’Neill could not have asked for a better way to mark his return to the Celtic Park dugout.
Celtic dominated the match throughout and when the opening goal came from Man of the Match Yang with just shy of half an hour gone, it was no more than the Hoops deserved.
Speaking to Celtic TV after the match, Celtic captain, Callum McGregor, praised the performance of the side and reflected on the return of Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney.
“That’s a Celtic team in terms of the way they play.” McGregor said. “Pressing, intensity, quick football, aggressive, scoring goals and a clean sheet.
“It was a really good afternoon so now we recover, go again and keep doing it.
“We picked up where we left off (with Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney). The six weeks that they were in were incredible.
“The team had a real bounce, playing with confidence and clarity. And today it looked like we picked up where we left off.”
Thumbs up from Martin for resounding 4-0 win
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2026/january/10/thumbs-up-from-martin-for-resounding-4-0-win/
First Team
By Joe Sullivan
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10 Jan 2026, 5:47 pm
It was, at times, a quite breathtaking performance from Celtic that delivered a magnificent 4-0 win over Dundee United on Martin O’Neill’s return to Paradise as manager once more.
Goals from Hyunjun Yang and Arne Engels in the first half were added to by further strikes from Benjamin Nygren and Daizen Maeda following the break as the Hoops turned on the style after just days on the Lennoxtown turf under the watchful eye of the Irishman.
Speaking to Celtic TV after the final whistle, the manager said: “It was great to win, there’s no feeling like it.
‘It was brilliant to win and we played some really great stuff too.’
“I’m delighted, but you still have to get the first goal in the game, and Yang comes up and he scores it, he had an excellent performance as did all the team.
“I’m sometimes a wee bit like the crowd, I get a bit impatient, as I think sometimes we can move it a wee bit quicker.
“But things like that will come, I’m delighted with them and eventually it was patience that got us the reward.”
Dundee United rue Celtic sack timing and VAR pardon as Julien Araujo accused of ‘dangerous tackle’
Alan Pattullo
By Alan Pattullo
Chief Football Writer
2Comments
Published 10th Jan 2026, 19:09 GMT
Updated 10th Jan 2026, 19:14 GMT
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Jim Goodwin gives verdict on United’s 4-0 defeat at Celtic Park
Jim Goodwin rued Dundee United being handed another bad break by being scheduled to play one of the Old Firm directly following an unpopular manager’s sacking.
The Tannadice outfit were the next team due at Ibrox after Rangers manager Russell Martin departed earlier this season. They secured a creditable 2-2 draw on that afternoon but were swept aside 4-0 at Parkhead as Celtic fans welcomed Martin O’Neill back in the first game since Wilfried Nancy was shown the door.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill and Dundee United counterpart Jim Goodwin ahead of kick-off at Celtic Park. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill and Dundee United counterpart Jim Goodwin ahead of kick-off at Celtic Park. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group
“Look, we had a similar situation when we went to Ibrox and Russell Martin had just been relieved of his duties,” he said. “We knew the atmosphere would have changed in the stadium at that point. We performed well on the day, took a point, possibly should have won the game.
“Today, we haven’t deserved to take anything from it. That’s the frustration, I suppose, from our point of view.”
He added: “When you come to Celtic at the best of times it’s always difficult, but coming into the game we knew there was a little bit of added extra to it with the change of management and the build-up to the game. I felt it would give the Celtic players a lift as well, and I think you felt that within the atmosphere in the stadium before the game.
“Celtic were back to playing a system and a formation that suits the players and one that the players are certainly more familiar with. We had to try and adapt to accommodate that. Ultimately we haven’t defended the box well enough.”
He did wonder what might have happened had new Celtic signing Julian Araujo been sent off in the first half for a high challenge on Will Ferry. The Mexican internationalist was only booked.
Referee Nick Walsh shows a yellow card to Celtic’s Julian Araujo after a tackle on Dundee United’s Will Ferry. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)
Referee Nick Walsh shows a yellow card to Celtic’s Julian Araujo after a tackle on Dundee United’s Will Ferry. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group) | SNS Group
“For me, it was kind of a dangerous tackle if I’m being honest,” he said. “He looked as if he was a little bit out of control and he’s certainly caught Will Ferry a little bit high on the ankle and Will is feeling the effects of that after the game.
“It didn’t seem that VAR spent too much time looking at it,” he added. “Those are the kind of decisions that when you come to a place like this with Celtic playing the way they were at the time, you need those types of decisions to go in your favour. Unfortunately, today that wasn’t the case.”
Martin O’Neill tells one Celtic player he has ‘got to learn’ and reveals plan for Daizen Maeda talks
Alan Pattullo
By Alan Pattullo
Chief Football Writer
1Comment
Published 10th Jan 2026, 18:35 GMT
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Comeback boss secures 4-0 victory on return to Celtic dugout
Martin O’Neill intends to sit down with Daizen Maeda in the coming days to iron out the Japanese player’s future after the forward scored in the new manager’s latest comeback match.
A 4-0 win over Dundee United meant Celtic returned to winning ways as Parkhead hailed the return of the popular Northern Irishman.
O’Neill made four changes to the team that lost 3-1 to Rangers in Wilfried Nancy’s last match in charge seven days earlier and reverted to a four-man defence much to the home crowd’s relief.
He handed Julian Araujo a full debut at right back rather than right wing-back.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill (right) and Julian Araujo during the 4-0 win over Dundee United. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill (right) and Julian Araujo during the 4-0 win over Dundee United. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group
“The young Bournemouth lad [Julian Araujo], he did really fine in the game….I hope he wasn’t getting carried away with himself with you guys [the press],” O’Neill smiled.
When informed that the Mexican internationalist, who was signed by Nancy on the eve of the Frenchman’s final game, had called him “gaffer”, O’Neill replied: “Did he? So he should!”
Araujo was, though, perhaps fortunate to survive a red card shout following a high challenge on Will Ferrie shortly after Celtic had gone 2-0 in front through Arne Engels in the first half. The United man was left writhing on the ground. Araujo was only booked by referee Nick Walsh.
“I haven’t seen the challenge again,” said O’Neill. “He’s got to learn. I get concerned when someone stays down. I think there was a feeling the lad was milking it, but he wasn’t. He was limping afterwards.”
As for Maeda, who put Celtic 4-0 up after 68 minutes when United goalkeeper Dave Richards failed to hold Sebastian Tounekti’s shot, O’Neill said he wanted to sort out the player’s future in the coming days.
At his latest unveiling on Tuesday, the manager had said it was something he was going to do sooner rather than later. Having been preoccupied with preparing for the match against United, he hoped to sit down with Maeda, who has now scored eight goals this season, between now and playing Falkirk on Wednesday.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill and Daizen Maeda during the 4-0 win over Dundee United. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill and Daizen Maeda during the 4-0 win over Dundee United. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group
“I haven’t at the minute,” he said, when asked if there had been any more discussions with a player who wanted to leave in the summer. “I will do now that we’ve got a couple of days, you know, on Monday and Tuesday. I would hope that he’d stay at the football club.
“I’m fearful of saying something to you here and finding out maybe three days later something else has happened. But no, I wouldn’t want to lose him.”
O’Neill is also preparing to step into the transfer market as Celtic prepare for a punishing schedule of four successive away matches, including Bologna in the Europa League.
“I am hopeful that we are going to get some people in,” he said. “But just when you think that something might happen, things change around.
“Listen, it’s not me filibustering,” he added. “It’s just me feeling that until they’re over the line, I can’t come up and say that it’s happened. We obviously need to do it, even just to give help to the boys at present at the minute. Because this week, the week that’s just gone, was the only week that we have had since I’ve come to the football club where we have had a free week.
“And from here on in, for I don’t know how long, we’re going midweek each time. So there’ll be no respite. If we pick up injuries to really key players here, we could be in serious trouble.”
Ex-SFA men slam ‘shocking’ Celtic VAR call over Julian Araujo ‘red card’ vs Dundee United
Patrick Sinat
Mon 12 January 2026 7:32, UK
Celtic absolutely battered Dundee United in Martin O’Neill’s second return to Parkhead this season.
O’Neill brought confidence back to Celtic Park as the Bhoys hammered United 4-0 in a big win that gives players and fans hope that there is life in this title fight yet.
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Two goals in each half from four different Celtic players sealed a comprehensive win in a performance where Dundee United were not allowed to breathe in Paradise.
What’s your thoughts on new Celtic signing Julian Araujo? Let us know in the comments.
Julian Araujo buzzing for Celtic move.
iancruickshank20
Featured comment
Joke
smuddger1952
Featured comment
Time will tell hope hes a success
monser1964
Featured comment
Horrid decision played twice in six months sent off in one of the two. Who is bringing these duds in?
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However, there was one bit of VAR controversy where Julian Araujo may have seen red after a risky tackle on Dundee United’s Will Ferry early on in the first half.
And it’s caused a bit of debate online as The Ref’s View gave their opinion on the challenge.
READ MORE: How Martin O’Neill reacted after hearing Barry Ferguson’s fear ‘as a Rangers man’ about Celtic return
Rangers FC v Livingston FC – Cinch Scottish Premiership
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Des Roache slams the SFA for Celtic Park VAR Araujo controversy
In a scary moment for the Mexican defender, Araujo appeared to go in high on Ferry as the Celtic fullback looked to win possession of the ball.
The match referee Nick Walsh and VAR both decided it was a yellow card but former referees Des Roache and Steve Conroy certainly didn’t agree with that.
Exclusive: Mark Clattenburg’s ‘red card’ verdict on Celtic’s Julian Araujo as former
Both said on The Ref’s View X account, “This is as clear a red card as ever you will see.
“Nick didn’t have a great view but what is the sole raison d’etre of VAR – to get things correct. This is nothing less than shocking from the VAR.
“However, SFA sanction these appointees.”
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Julian Araujo stats on first Celtic start
Araujo made his second appearance for Celtic but made his first start for the club as he looks to get his World Cup bid back on track.
Did the Mexican international do enough to keep his place in the Celtic starting XI? 67 Hail Hail took a look at his Fotmob stats to find out:
Minutes: 61
Rating: 7.3
Accurate passes: 72/80 (90%)
Defensive contributions: 2
Tackles: 1
Blocks: 0
Clearances: 1
Headed clearance: 1
Interceptions: 0
Recoveries: 4
Ground duels won: 3/4 (75%)
Aerial duels won: 1/1 (100%)
A fairly solid performance from Araujo who appears to be catching O’Neill’s eye after the Celtic boss threw him in for his first start in his return to the club.
…