Celtic take on Aberdeen in the mid-day kick-off at Pittodrie looking for another Beautiful Sunday in the sun drenched North East. This is the first away match of the season for Brendan Rodgers’ side who will be looking to add another three points after the 4-2 opening day win over Ross County last Saturday.
The Celtic Stats and Trivia account on social media this morning points out that since Brendan Rodgers came in to Celtic the first time around, the club have only lost ONE game against Aberdeen (last game of the 2017/18 season after the league was already won).
In that time, Celtic have won 27 times (5/5 in cups) and drawn 3, scoring 69 goals and conceding just 13. That is some record and hopefully it will be added to today.
Since BR came in to Celtic the first time around, the club have only lost 1 game against Aberdeen (Last game of the 17/18 season after the league was already won).
In that time, Celtic have won 27 times (5/5 in cups) and drawn 3, scoring 69 goals and conceding just 13.
— Celtic Stats & Trivia (@CelticFCTrivia) August 13, 2023
Team News
The injury list is mounting up already and today Celtic will be without Alistair Johnston, Yuki Kobayashi, Mikey Johnston, Hyeongyu Oh and Marco Tilio. However there’s more than enough in the squad to put out an impressive starting eleven with a strong bench to match.
The big question supporters will be asking will centre on the midfield pairing to play alongside the Celtic captain Callum McGregor and after scoring three of he four goals last weekend it’s hard to see past David Turnbull and Matt O’Riley getting the nod. They are the men in possession of the starting spots and certainly impressed against Ross County.
There is however the curveball that a top manager like Brendan Rodgers might play and put Reo Hatate into the side to let him go and make his own statement of intent for this season.
Joe Hart will have the gloves, the back four is likely to be unchanged from last weekend as is the midfield three with Liel Abada, Kyogo and Daizen Maeda the three up top.
Predicted Team
Hart, Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Nawrocki, Taylor; McGregor (c), O’Riley, Turnbull, Abada, Kyogo and Maeda.
Subs: Siegrist, Scales, Bernabei, Welsh, Holm, Tomoki, Hatate, Forrest, Hakšabanović
Team’s Up at 10.45am so we’ll know soon enough.
Match Officials
Kevin Clancy will referee today’s Aberdeen v Celtic Scottish Premiership match at Pittodrie and he will be assisted by David McGeachie and Alan Mulvanny. Graham Grainger will be today’s Fourth Official and Andrew Dallas will be heading up the VAR operation, assisted by Andrew McWilliam
Kick-off Time
It has been an early start for Celtic’s away support this morning, but it’s lovely outside and they’ll be there in large numbers today for the kick-off at 12 noon.
Where to Watch
The match is live on Sky Sports and also on Celtic TV for subscribers based outside of Britain and Ireland.
🟢 First #CelticFC Away Day of the Season! ⚪
🆚 Aberdeen
🏆 #cinchPrem
⌚ 12:00pm
🏟️ Pittodrie
💻 Live on @CelticTV (exc. UK & IRE)
📺 Live on @ScotlandSky#ABECEL | #COYBIG🍀 pic.twitter.com/bVwdcqpxB1— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 13, 2023
Score Prediction
Aberdeen 1-3 Celtic
Aberdeen manager Barry Robson will have his team fired up for this game so it could be quite a match! However Celtic’s firepower from the front six should be too strong and expect maybe Celtic to come on on top by a few goals, while failing again to keep a clean sheet.
🏟️ A packed Pittodrie on Sunday
🆚 Facing Brendan Rodgers
⏪ 10 years since he joined as a player
👀 His Celtic debut against Aberdeen
🍀 The plan to win this weekendHear from Aberdeen boss Barry Robson ahead of Sunday’s match against Celtic, live on Sky Sports 📺 pic.twitter.com/UMWKosa5wg
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 11, 2023
The current Aberdeen Manager, Barry Robson made a scoring debut for us 🍀
Coming off the subs bench, he curled in a free-kick in our 5-1 victory at Pittodrie back on 10th February 2008 ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/VcTmIS55g0
— Celtic Curio (@Celticcurio) August 13, 2023
