Celtic failed to score in the Scottish Premiership for the first time this season as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Dundee United at Tannadice Park.
Despite dominating from the first whistle, the hosts held their ground, pouncing on chances late on to claim a point.
Celtic started on the front foot, as Daizen Maeda’s outstretched effort landed harmlessly on the gloves of Jack Walton shortly after Rio fizzed one wide of the far post on the arm.
Although the visitors were unable to capitalize on their dominance in the first half, United smothered their threats.
United could have caught them out shortly after the restart, but Kasper Schmeichel easily held out Miller Thomson’s tame effort, the hosts’ first of the game.
Celtic kept United in their own half for most of the second period, with Maeda tipping Maeda’s looping header over the bar before Walton superbly smothered Kyogo Furuhashi’s effort, but the Hoops could find no way through.
We were forced to draw at Tanadis.#DUTDCEL | #celticfc pic.twitter.com/qDSKmZ4Evp
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) December 22, 2024
Data Debrief: A blank drawing
Just twice before this season Celtic had failed to hit the back of the net, both in the Champions League and United did well to stifle a side who had already netted 44 times in the top flight.
Brendan Rodgers’ side remain unbeaten at the top of the table, with a nine-point cushion over second-placed Rangers, and he will be hoping that the absurdity they have shown this time around is just a blip.
Celtic had 17 shots overall but only tested Walton three times, as they created just 0.87 expected goal chances, although they extended their unbeaten run at United to 12 games in all competitions.
