Benjamin Nygren was quickly back on the goal trail as Celtic began the defence of their Premiership title with a 1-0 home win over Dundee. Before the game, Celtic fans cheered as the captain, Callum McGregor, unfurled the flag which confirmed again a 14th title win in 15 seasons.
It was all a bit flat in a first half with Martin O’Neill’s side struggling to get into their stride as the visitors posed problems. However, the Sweden midfielder Nygren, so prolific last season with 21 goals, struck with a close-range header in the 52nd minute and the goal proved enough to keep the three points in Glasgow as a new season got up and running for the champions.
Celtic supporters continue to call for new recruits to the squad but Camilo Durán, the Colombian striker signed from Qarabag reportedly for £5.5m, and Kasper Høgh, the Denmark forward who cost a club-record £11m plus add-ons from Bodø/Glimt, made their debuts.
Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels, both attracting transfer interest, also started for the champions while the Dundee keeper Owen Goodman came in for his debut.
Høgh fired wide in the ninth minute after being set up by Nygren, then the Dane redirected an effort from Nygren past a post. Moments later at the other end, as the ball bounced around Celtic’s penalty area, Dundee’s Charlie Reilly hit the side netting with a shot from 12 yards.
Steven Pressley’s well-drilled outfit were finding joy with the high ball, either crosses or throw-ins and in the 33rd minute defender Owen Bevan got his head to the ball in the box but the Celtic keeper Viljami Sinisalo gathered comfortably.
Five minutes later, Engels missed the best chance of the match to that point, unmarked in the visitors’ box, he headed a cross from Kieran Tierney past a post, before the Celtic left-back drew a fine save from Goodman with a close-range drive.
The home side faltered at the start of the second half but when Tierney curled in a cross from the left, Nygren headed past Goodman from inside the box and the growing anxiety subsided.
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Martin O’Neill’s side were drawn out first against the Austrian champions. The Linz-based club won the Austrian Bundesliga for the second time last season, finishing two points ahead of the defending champions Sturm Graz.
The Hoops avoided a potential rematch with Kairat Almaty, who knocked Celtic out on penalties at the same stage last season following a goalless 210 minutes of action.
The first leg will take place on 18/19 August, with the second leg the following week. PA Media
O’Neill’s side probed with more purpose, the fans got more excited and the noise levels increased while Dundee’s attacks were more sporadic and less convincing, although the pace of Joe Bevan was cause for concern for the Parkhead defence. In the 67th minute Goodman threw himself down to his right to save a long-distance drive from forward Yang Hyun-jun.
Celtic remained in control but as the second goal refused to arrive and the clock ticked on, some nerves returned. In the 82nd minute, Sinisalo pulled off a terrific save from the Dundee substitute Ashley Hay’s glancing header.
Høgh missed another chance when he slid a shot past a post from six yards before McGregor cracked the upright with an effort from inside Dundee’s penalty area; James Forrest bent the rebound wide of the target.
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