Scottish Premier League - Match Prediction: Aberdeen VS Celtic FC

Match Time:4/22/2021 02:45 Thursday  (GMT+8)

Scottish Premier League --  Aberdeen   VS   Celtic FC

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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

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.

 

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: LWLDLW

Aberdeen form (all competitions): LDLWWW

 

Celtic Scottish Premiership form: WLWDDW

Celtic form (all competitions): WDDWWL

 

Team News

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

 

Aberdeen vs Celtic

Aberdeen 0-2 Celtic

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