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Aberdeen logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 2
Apr 21, 2021 at 7.45pm UK
Pittodrie Stadium
Celtic logo

Aberdeen
1 - 1
Celtic

Ferguson (18')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Griffiths (90+3')
Turnbull (85')

Preview: Aberdeen vs. Celtic - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Scottish Premiership clash between Aberdeen and Celtic, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Celtic will be looking to claim their 10th Scottish Premiership victory away from home this season when they travel to Pittodrie to face Aberdeen on Wednesday evening.

This encounter will be the first time the Dons and the Hoops will face each other in the league without Neil Lennon or Derek McInnes in charge at either club since a 4-4 draw back in February 2010.


Match preview

Celtic's Odsonne Edouard shoots at goal against Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on March 21, 2021© Reuters

For the first time since 2010, Celtic will finish a campaign without any silverware after being knocked out of the Scottish Cup in the fourth round by bitter rivals Rangers, losing 2-0 at Ibrox last weekend.

An acrobatic effort from Gers midfielder Steven Davis opened the scoring just 10 minutes in, before Joe Aribo's cross was turned into his own net by Jonjoe Kenny, meaning the Hoops needed to overturn a two-goal deficit after half time.

Odsonne Edouard had the chance to pull one back for John Kennedy's side, however his spot kick was saved by Allan McGregor. Rangers eventually held on for the victory, ending Celtic's four-year Scottish Cup reign.

Kennedy felt that the Hoops had more than enough chances to defeat their Old Firm rivals and believes that a lack of confidence in front of goal is a contributing factor to their inconsistent form in the final third.

Celtic found the net nine times in their two previous matches, as many as they had scored in the seven games prior to this. The Hoops have also failed to score in their last two league fixtures on the road and head to Pittodrie having never drawn a blank in three consecutive top-flight away games in their history.

However, Kennedy's side will fancy their chances of finding their groove when they face Aberdeen on Wednesday, a side who they have beaten in 11 of the last 13 meetings, drawing the other two.

Lewis Ferguson pictured for Aberdeen in April 2019© Reuters

Aberdeen remain on course to reach the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup for the fifth successive year after beating Livingston 5-3 on penalties last weekend.

After the match finished 1-1 in 90 minutes, Lions striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas fired the visitors into the lead, scoring his second of the game just three minutes into extra time, before Florian Kamberi equalised for the Dons two minutes later.

Penalties were eventually forced upon both teams, who could not be separated after an entertaining 2-2 draw in 120 minutes. After Jason Holt's effort from 12 yards hit the crossbar, Ross McCrorie then converted Aberdeen's fifth successful spot kick to send them into the quarter-finals.

That result saw Stephen Glass claim his first victory in charge of the club and now the 44-year-old will be hoping to win his first game in the dugout at Pittodrie when his side faces Celtic on Wednesday.

However, newly-appointed managers of Aberdeen have not had much success in their first home game at the helm; only one of Glass's last seven predecessors have won their first home match in the top flight, and that was Derek McInnes, who left the club in March.

The Dons have failed to win any of their last 13 meetings with Celtic, but securing all three points on Wednesday could move them just one point behind Hibernian in third if they were to lose against Livingston.

Aberdeen Scottish Premiership form:
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • W

Aberdeen form (all competitions):
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • W

Celtic Scottish Premiership form:
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • W

Celtic form (all competitions):
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • L


Team News

Celtic manager John Kennedy pictured on March 21, 2021© Reuters

Aberdeen remain without midfielder Greg Leigh, who is suffering with a hamstring injury, while winger Ryan Hedges is ruled out for the rest of the season with a muscle problem.

Kamberi could be handed a start ahead of Fraser Hornby after scoring at the weekend, while midfielder McCrorie could continue at right-back, keeping 17-year-old Calvin Ramsey on the bench.

For Celtic, Kennedy is unlikely to make many changes despite losing against Rangers last weekend.

Centre-back Christopher Jullien remains out with a knee injury, while winger James Forrest failed a late fitness test in the build up to the defeat at Ibrox and will be assessed again before Wednesday's match. The 29-year-old is most likely to begin on the bench if he is deemed fit to play.

Striker Edouard, who has scored just three goals in his last 10 appearances, is hoping to keep his place in the side ahead of either Leigh Griffiths or Albian Ajeti.

Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Lewis; McCrorie, Hoban, Considine, Hayes; McLennan, Ferguson, Campbell, Kennedy; McGinn; Kamberi

Celtic possible starting lineup:
Bain; Kenny, Welsh, Ajer, Laxalt; McGregor, Brown, Turnbull; Christie, Edouard, Elyounoussi


SM words green background

We say: Aberdeen 0-2 Celtic

An entertaining 3-3 draw was played out earlier this season when Aberdeen and Celtic last faced each other at Pittodrie, however with the hosts struggling to find the net, a goal fest is not expected on Wednesday.

Prior to that draw, Celtic had won the last 10 visits to the Dons and we feel they will get back to winning ways and secure another three points on their travels.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Away:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Celtic win with a probability of 50.53%. A draw had a probability of 25.9% and a win for Aberdeen had a probability of 23.55%.

The most likely scoreline for a Celtic win was 0-1 with a probability of 12.94%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 0-2 (9.81%) and 1-2 (9.27%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (12.23%), while for an Aberdeen win it was 1-0 (8.07%). The actual scoreline of 1-1 was predicted with a 12.2% likelihood.


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Game History

How you voted: Aberdeen vs Celtic

Aberdeen
23.3%
Draw
13.3%
Celtic
63.3%
30
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic1110103132831
2Aberdeen12101125121331
3RangersRangers12723179823
4Dundee UnitedDundee Utd135531914520
5Motherwell126151616019
6St Mirren145361923-418
7Dundee134362225-315
8Ross County143651222-1015
9St Johnstone144191727-1013
10Kilmarnock133371526-1112
11Hearts132381420-69
12Hibernian131571222-108


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