Celtic delivered a masterclass at Celtic Park on February 5, 2025, defeating Dundee 6-0 to establish their 13-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
The match began with Celtic quickly asserting control, with Arne Engels scoring from the penalty spot after VAR confirmed a foul by Dundee's Mohamed Sylla on Auston Trusty.
Adam Idah then doubled their lead just before halftime, capitalizing on Jota's effort rebounding to him. The home side continued their offensive onslaught after halftime, with Daizen Maeda scoring twice within minutes. His first came from Jota’s cross, followed by a sublime chip over Dundee's goalkeeper Trevor Carson for his second.
Arne Engels found the net again with a spectacular long-range effort, making it five for Celtic. Substitute Nicolas Kuhn capped off the scoring with another impressive shot from outside the box, solidifying the Hoops’ resounding victory.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers praised his players, stating, "The players were brilliant. The attitude and energy in the game was impressive." He highlighted the way they executed their game plan, glad to see them respond positively after their previous match.
Rodgers expressed satisfaction with the team's hunger, noting, "It's finished and we have a tight group of players... You can see from tonight, they are really hungry and we have plenty of goals in the team.”
Arne Engels echoed the sentiments of his boss, stating, "It was an amazing night. Creating chances and defending. Even the last minute, we all went forward to get a goal!" His performance, including two goals, was instrumental to the match's outcome.
Meanwhile, Dundee's manager Tony Docherty was left to reflect on yet another heavy defeat, having lost similarly to Hearts shortly before this match. He remarked, "We were too easy to score against. You get punished. We are conceding too many soft goals," pointing to decision-making issues within his squad.
Docherty raised concerns over the legitimacy of the early penalty awarded against his team, saying, "I watched the penalty back, and I don't think it was. Our decision-making was poor, and we are not giving ourselves the chance to win."
Despite the disappointment for Dundee, Celtic’s performance demonstrated their capabilities as they push toward securing another league title this season. They have scored 12 goals over their last two matches and continue to show their attacking prowess.
This match served as both a statement of intent by the Hoops and another wake-up call for Dundee, who must regroup quickly as they prepare for their next Scottish Cup fixture against Airdrieonians.
The outcome leaves Celtic firmly on top of the table with significant momentum leading to their next challenges, whilst Dundee will seek to halt their downward spiral quickly.