Aberdeen will aim to extend their remarkable unbeaten start to the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season when they face Dundee at Pittodrie Stadium on Saturday evening.
The hosts are second in the table with 28 points from a possible 30, only behind Celtic on goal difference, while the visitors are sixth in the standings with 12 points from 11 outings.
Match preview
© Imago
After a challenging 2023-24 campaign that saw Aberdeen finish ninth in the pre-split table, albeit climbing to seventh in the post-split standings, and endure three different managers in Barry Robson, Neil Warnock, and Peter Leven, they have made a stellar start to the 2024-25 season.
Jimmy Thelin was hired ahead of the new campaign, and the Swede had guided the Dons to 15 wins and one draw in their first 16 fixtures across all competitions, with their only dropped points in that time coming in a 2-2 draw against Celtic.
However, Thelin finally suffered his first defeat as Aberdeen manager in their last outing, with his side being surprisingly humiliated 6-0 by Celtic in the Scottish League Cup semifinal.
Aberdeen will look to bounce back from that disappointing result when they host Dundee in the league on Saturday evening, and Thelin's side will need to be vastly improved if they are to maintain their unbeaten start to the Scottish Premiership season.
The Dons will undoubtedly take confidence from that opening to the league, while they have also been dominant in this fixture in past years, winning 11 and drawing three of the last 14 meetings between these two at Pittodrie Stadium.
The visitors have also faced difficulties in recent weeks, recording just two wins in their last 10 matches across all competitions, including two draws and six losses in that time.
That start stands in stark contrast to the brilliant opening run by Tony Docherty's side, as the Dark Blues won six of their first seven matches and remained unbeaten until their 10th game across all competitions, when they lost to Ross County.
Dundee did record a much-needed victory against Kilmarnock in their last game, winning 3-2 thanks to a 94th-minute winner from Ziyad Larkeche, a result that will certainly boost their confidence coming into this one.
Team News
The hosts will be without Dante Polvara for this match, with the midfielder still yet to make an appearance this season due to a hamstring injury that he sustained in July.
Aberdeen will also be without the services of Pape Habib Gueye, who scored six in eight games at the beginning of the campaign, due to a muscle injury that is anticipated to keep him on the sidelines until January.
Despite the recent shock defeat to Celtic, Thelin may opt to stick with a similar lineup that has maintained an unbeaten league record this season, giving the players an opportunity to redeem themselves in this match.
As for the visitors, Joe Shaughnessy has been out of action since the middle of April due to a severe knee injury, but the defender is set to return later this month.
After recording a dramatic win against Kilmarnock last time out, courtesy of a late winner from Larkeche, Docherty could decide to field the same side for this one.
Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Mitov; Devlin, Mackenzie, Molloy, Rubezic; Nilsen, Shinnie; Keskinen, Duk, McGrath; Sokler
Dundee possible starting lineup:
McCracken; Astley, Portales, Robertson; Ingram, Cameron, Sylla, Larkeche; Palmer-Houlden, Adewumi; Murray
We say: Aberdeen 3-1 Dundee
Aberdeen will be aiming to record a statement victory following their heavy defeat to Celtic last time out, and with Dundee looking shaky in recent matches, we believe the hosts will comfortably win this one.
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Ellis Stevens
