Celtic raised the Scottish Premiership flag for the 14th time in 15 years before goal from Benjamin Nygren gave the champions a 1-0 win over Dundee at Celtic Park.
The victory came 79 days after Celtic retained their title in dramatic fashion against Hearts. Manager Martin O'Neill will have been relieved to see his side hold on for a narrow win that was just about deserved on the balance of play.
Some 14 players who were at the club last season have since left, including Daizen Maeda, whose contribution had been central to the title win. Only two new players have come in, Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh, and the article notes the current squad depth is alarming. Questions remain over cover for goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo, back-up for Kieran Tierney at left back, and additional midfielders and wingers for O'Neill.
With Austrian champions LASK awaiting in the Champions League play-off, the board has little time left to strengthen the squad. Celtic were largely lethargic and predictable for much of the match, struggling to create clear chances until they broke the deadlock.
Nygren's header settles it
Nygren, who scored 21 goals last season, provided the only goal just after halftime. Callum McGregor won the ball from Sinisalo and picked out Arne Engels, who fed the move on. Hyun-jun Yang kept it moving before turning it back to Tierney, whose curling, pacy cross was met by Nygren, who nodded home from six yards.
Dundee, managed by Steven Pressley, left with nothing to show for their effort but competed until the final whistle. The Dark Blues were chasing their first win at Celtic Park since 2001 but failed to fully punish Celtic's vulnerability in the final third.
Team news and selections
With Liam Scales suspended, Auston Trusty partnered Cameron Carter-Vickers in defense, the latter's first appearance since facing Sturm Graz on October 23 under then-manager Brendan Rodgers. Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels both started despite reported interest from Everton and West Ham respectively. With limited options on the flanks, Duran played on the right and record signing Hogh operated through the middle, with O'Neill sticking to last season's 4-3-3.
Dundee, who finished eighth last season, have lost key players including Billy Koumetio, Luke Graham, Tony Yogane and Cam Congreve. Pressley, fresh from signing a new contract, started four new arrivals in Owen Goodman, Idris Odutayo, Owen Bevan and Ryan Finnigan, all of whom performed well. Dundee also had the benefit of four League Cup group games already played, and their sharpness showed early on.
Chances before the break
Celtic were slow to get going. Yang had an early effort blocked by Joe Westley, and Hogh sent a square ball from Nygren just wide of the post. Hogh was later played in by Nygren but his shot failed to trouble Goodman, and a third Nygren pass to Hogh was cut out by a timely tackle from Owen Bevan.
Yang looked Celtic's most likely source of a goal, at one point dribbling past three defenders before Ryan Astley intervened. At the other end, a slip from McGregor gave Joe Bevan a sight of goal, but Tierney blocked the shot with his body. Owen Bevan then headed just wide under pressure, with Sinisalo watching it all the way.
Celtic continued to struggle for cohesion, though Tierney's cross found Engels, whose header drifted past the far post. Referee Matthew MacDermid played advantage after Hogh was fouled, allowing Engels to release the overlapping Tierney, whose powerful strike was well saved by Goodman.
Second-half improvement
Celtic raised their tempo after the break, and the improvement paid off with Nygren's goal on 52 minutes. The champions created more chances afterward, though Trusty made a crucial recovery run to stop Joe Bevan breaking clear on the counterattack.
As Dundee pushed for an equalizer, both Yang and Tierney forced low shots on target that Goodman kept out, while McGregor also fired over after being played in by an Engels corner. O'Neill did not make his first substitution until the 78th minute, bringing on 35-year-old James Forrest for the injured Yang.
Hogh had a difficult night, firing another chance wide after a low cross from Colby Donovan. McGregor then struck the post, and Forrest curled the rebound off target. A late rising shot from Seb Tounekti gave Celtic a nervy finish to the match.
