Digressive Celts

Matches › 2026/27

Celtic 3–0 Aberdeen

Wednesday 2 September 2026, 19:45 · Celtic Park · Round 5 · Half-time 3–0 · Referee Duncan Nicolson · Attendance 58,825

Celtic Durán 14', Nygren 34', Yang 45+1'

Post-match

Result and Expected Points

CelticAberdeen
Goals30
xG2.670.68
Expected Points2.590.28

Celtic 82%Draw 13%Aberdeen 5%

Most likely score 2–0, 13%. Final score 3–0, 12%.

Aberdeen goalsCeltic goals0123456+0123456+2%2%8%7%2%3%3%8%6%2%3%3%2%1%13%10%12%10%Final score

Own goals have no xG.

xG race

01230153045607590HTSørensen on for Oxlade-Chamberlain and Baur on for Nygren, 63'Forrest on for Yang, 74'Mheuka on for Durán, 75'Tounekti on for Hassan, 76'Olusanya on for Briedl, Ntelo on for Mouloua, Smith on for Nisbet, and Ronan on for Aremu, 46'Milne on for Molloy, 82'Durán 14'Nygren 34'Yang 45+1'Celtic 2.67Aberdeen 0.6801230153045607590HTSørensen on for Oxlade-Chamberlain and Baur on for Nygren, 63'Forrest on for Yang, 74'Mheuka on for Durán, 75'Tounekti on for Hassan, 76'Olusanya on for Briedl, Ntelo on for Mouloua, Smith on for Nisbet, and Ronan on for Aremu, 46'Milne on for Molloy, 82'Durán 14'Nygren 34'Yang 45+1'2.670.68CelticAberdeen

Each side's xG added up shot by shot through the match. Stoppage time is shaded as far as the last shot or event recorded in it. Triangles along the foot mark each side's substitutions.

Match stats

CelticAberdeen

2.67 −1.07xG0.68 −0.56
3.40 −0.60xG on target0.05 −0.91
27 +3.7Shots9 −0.7
12 +2.7Shots on target2 −0.3
5 −1.7Big chances1 −0.7
40 +4Touches in the opposition box12 −11
66% +4Possession34% −15
750 +118Passes378 +28
92% +3Pass accuracy84% +10
82% +13Field tilt18% −32
73 +14Final-third entries22 −16
28 +5Box entries6 −5
13.7 0Passes per defensive action27.1 +16
15 +7.7Corners5 +0.3
15 +1Tackles13 −4
4 −6.0Interceptions11 +5.3
15 −11Clearances23 −13
2 −0.7Saves9 +5.3
10 +1.3Fouls7 −7.7
0 −0.7Offsides2 −1.0

The small figure beside each value is its difference from the side's average per league match this season before this one. Field tilt is each side's share of the open-play passes completed in the final third; entries are completed open-play passes and carries into the final third and the box; passes per defensive action (PPDA) counts the opponent's passes in its own 60% of the pitch for each tackle, interception, challenge, or foul there.

Chance locations

Celtic

Sørensen 80', 0.24 xGDurán 23', 0.19 xGHassan 18', 0.18 xGDurán 36', 0.17 xGSørensen 84', 0.17 xGDurán 18', 0.12 xGDurán 15', 0.10 xGMheuka 77', 0.08 xGDonovan 31', 0.07 xGScales 90+1', 0.07 xGScales 52', 0.06 xGMcGregor 33', 0.04 xGDurán 6', 0.03 xGOxlade-Chamberlain 43', 0.03 xGNygren 53', 0.03 xGHassan 58', 0.03 xGBaur 85', 0.03 xGForrest 89', 0.03 xGHassan 37', 0.02 xGHassan 47', 0.02 xGOxlade-Chamberlain 52', 0.02 xGMcGregor 54', 0.02 xGYang 58', 0.02 xGCarter-Vickers 85', 0.02 xGYang 45+1', 0.58 xG, goalNygren 34', 0.26 xG, goalDurán 14', 0.04 xG, goal11%0.30 xGSix-yard box: 2 shots, 0.30 xG, 0 goals58%1.54 xGCentral box: 6 shots, 1.54 xG, 2 goals13%0.34 xGWide in the box: 5 shots, 0.34 xG, 0 goals15%0.41 xGEdge of the box: 11 shots, 0.41 xG, 1 goal3%0.07 xGFurther out: 3 shots, 0.07 xG, 0 goals

Aberdeen

Mouloua 21', 0.23 xGMolloy 45+1', 0.16 xGBriedl 45+3', 0.06 xGSmith 64', 0.06 xGNisbet 21', 0.04 xGMolloy 60', 0.04 xGSmith 55', 0.03 xGRonan 73', 0.03 xGGuinness-Walker 31', 0.02 xG58%0.39 xGSix-yard box: 2 shots, 0.39 xG, 0 goals15%0.10 xGCentral box: 2 shots, 0.10 xG, 0 goals4%0.03 xGWide in the box: 1 shot, 0.03 xG, 0 goals21%0.14 xGEdge of the box: 3 shots, 0.14 xG, 0 goals1%0.01 xGFurther out: 1 shot, 0.01 xG, 0 goals

Each area's share of the side's xG from open play and set pieces, with the xG in it. The two wide areas of the box count together, as on the club pages. Shots shows each of those shots instead, sized by its xG, with goals filled in.

Chance types

CelticAberdeen

1.99 22 shots, 2 goalsOpen play0.40 5 shots, 0 goals
0.58 1 shot, 1 goalCounter-attacks0.00 0 shots, 0 goals
0.10 4 shots, 0 goalsSet pieces0.28 4 shots, 0 goals

xG by type of chance, with each side's shots and goals beside it.

Game state

Level
14 min (15%) · Celtic 0.07, Aberdeen 0.00 xG
Celtic ahead
80 min (85%) · Celtic 2.60, Aberdeen 0.68 xG

Line-ups

151206542238211311SinisaloDonovanCarter-VickersTrustyScalesMcGregorHassanNygrenOxlade-ChamberlainYangDuránYellow cardGoalGoalGoal76'63'63'74'75'Celtic 4-1-4-1Martin O'Neill27282352124173210159MüllerCaddenMayoKnoesterMolloyGuinness-WalkerArmstrongAremuBriedlNisbetMoulouaYellow card82'46'46'46'46'Aberdeen 5-3-2Stephen Robinson

Celtic substitutes

  • 63' Baur for Nygren
  • 63' Sørensen for Oxlade-Chamberlain
  • 74' Forrest for Yang
  • 75' Mheuka for Durán
  • 76' Tounekti for Hassan

Aberdeen substitutes

  • 46' Ronan for Aremu
  • 46' Smith for Nisbet
  • 46' Ntelo for Mouloua
  • 46' Olusanya for Briedl
  • 82' Milne for Molloy

Players

Celtic

PlayerPosMinGAxGxAKPxTProgDef
SinisaloGK900.000.0000.0300
DonovanRB900.070.2000.1479
Carter-Vickers CB900.020.0100.0733
TrustyCB900.000.0200.1268
ScalesLB900.130.2420.22133
McGregorDM900.070.0520.0645
HassanRM760.250.0510.0340
NygrenCM63110.280.3260.0463
Oxlade-ChamberlainCM630.040.0910.0663
YangLM7410.600.3640.44113
DuránST75110.660.2510.1420
BaurMF270.030.082−0.0441
SørensenMF270.410.020−0.0100
ForrestFW160.030.0900.1770
MheukaFW150.080.131−0.0710
TounektiFW140.000.1220.1660

Aberdeen

PlayerPosMinGAxGxAKPxTProgDef
MüllerGK900.000.0000.0231
CaddenRWB900.000.0300.0746
Mayo CB900.000.0000.03411
KnoesterCB900.000.0000.0317
MolloyCB820.200.0100.0124
Guinness-WalkerLWB900.020.0310.0435
ArmstrongCM900.000.0920.0982
AremuCM460.000.0100.0023
BriedlCM460.060.1410.0231
NisbetST460.040.000−0.0200
MoulouaST460.230.000−0.0111
RonanMF440.030.0100.0221
SmithFW440.090.0400.1445
NteloFW440.000.0200.0112
OlusanyaFW440.000.040−0.0701
MilneDF80.000.0000.0001

Starters, then substitutes in the order they came on. KP is chances created and Def defensive actions (tackles, blocks, clearances, and interceptions). xT is the expected threat added by the player's completed open-play passes and carries, and Prog counts progressive passes and carries.

Pass networks

Celtic

Trusty and Yang: 7 passesNygren and Oxlade-Chamberlain: 7 passesNygren and Yang: 7 passesNygren and Durán: 7 passesSinisalo and Scales: 8 passesSinisalo and McGregor: 8 passesScales and Nygren: 8 passesCarter-Vickers and Hassan: 9 passesMcGregor and Hassan: 9 passesMcGregor and Yang: 10 passesDonovan and Nygren: 11 passesMcGregor and Oxlade-Chamberlain: 13 passesHassan and Nygren: 14 passesTrusty and McGregor: 16 passesScales and Oxlade-Chamberlain: 16 passesScales and McGregor: 17 passesDonovan and McGregor: 19 passesCarter-Vickers and McGregor: 20 passesOxlade-Chamberlain and Yang: 22 passesDonovan and Carter-Vickers: 23 passesSinisalo and Trusty: 26 passesSinisalo and Carter-Vickers: 26 passesDonovan and Hassan: 26 passesScales and Yang: 26 passesTrusty and Carter-Vickers: 30 passesTrusty and Scales: 44 passesSinisalo: 43 completed passesDonovan: 51 completed passesTrusty: 68 completed passesCarter-Vickers: 60 completed passesScales: 61 completed passesMcGregor: 63 completed passesHassan: 25 completed passesNygren: 35 completed passesOxlade-Chamberlain: 36 completed passesYang: 41 completed passesDurán: 8 completed passes151620542238211311SinisaloDonovanTrustyCarter-VickersScalesMcGregorHassanNygrenOxlade-ChamberlainYangDuránStarters until 63' · lines join pairs with 7+ passes

Aberdeen

Müller and Mayo: 3 passesMolloy and Guinness-Walker: 3 passesMolloy and Briedl: 3 passesKnoester and Armstrong: 3 passesAremu and Armstrong: 3 passesArmstrong and Nisbet: 3 passesKnoester and Mayo: 4 passesKnoester and Aremu: 4 passesMayo and Armstrong: 4 passesBriedl and Aremu: 4 passesArmstrong and Mouloua: 4 passesMüller and Armstrong: 5 passesMolloy and Armstrong: 5 passesGuinness-Walker and Aremu: 5 passesBriedl and Armstrong: 5 passesGuinness-Walker and Armstrong: 6 passesCadden and Aremu: 7 passesMüller and Knoester: 8 passesMolloy and Knoester: 8 passesCadden and Armstrong: 9 passesCadden and Mayo: 11 passesMüller: 12 completed passesCadden: 17 completed passesMolloy: 13 completed passesKnoester: 14 completed passesMayo: 13 completed passesGuinness-Walker: 10 completed passesBriedl: 11 completed passesAremu: 18 completed passesArmstrong: 23 completed passesNisbet: 3 completed passesMouloua: 5 completed passes27282152324103217159MüllerCaddenMolloyKnoesterMayoGuinness-WalkerBriedlAremuArmstrongNisbetMoulouaStarters until 46' · lines join pairs with 3+ passes

Each starter at the average position of their passes and receptions until the side's first substitution or red card, sized by completed passes. Lines join pairs who passed to each other often, thicker for more passes.

Passing combinations

Celtic

FromToPasses
TrustyScales34
Carter-VickersDonovan24
Carter-VickersTrusty23
ScalesTrusty22
DonovanHassan21

Aberdeen

FromToPasses
MayoCadden17
KnoesterMolloy10
CaddenArmstrong10
CaddenMayo10
MüllerKnoester9

The five pairs with the most completed passes from one to the other over the whole match.

Defensive actions

Celtic

3+1.311+2.07+2.32−3.05+0.37+1.75−1.73−1.35−0.33−2.06+1.050.08+3.70−1.71−1.730.04−3.02−0.72+0.33−0.33+1.33+0.32+1.32+1.30−1.01+1.02+1.01−5.72−6.31−5.3FewerMore than the season average

Against its average of 3 matches

Aberdeen

6−0.713+3.315−3.07−3.34−0.32−3.09+2.74−1.040.04−2.09+2.03−2.33−0.33−0.36+0.74−2.02−1.01−2.71−0.71−2.31−0.30−1.710.02+0.31+0.310.01+0.70−0.70−1.30−4.7FewerMore than the season average

Against its average of 3 matches

Where each side made its tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocks, recoveries, challenges, and fouls, attacking up the page. Areas are shaded by the difference from the side's average per match this season before this one: amber for more, blue for fewer.

Threat

Celtic

0.010.010.010.030.020.010.010.040.020.070.050.020.040.070.060.140.160.100.070.100.03−0.09−0.060.200.180.25LessMore

Aberdeen

0.020.010.010.010.010.010.010.010.010.010.010.010.020.05−0.010.030.010.03−0.01−0.050.100.10LessMore

Expected threat added by completed open-play passes and carries, by where the move started, attacking up the page. Expected threat is the chance that possession in an area leads to a goal; a move adds the difference between where it ends and where it starts.

Ratings

0.51.01.52.02.5League average 1.36AttackCeltic2.18 → 2.19Aberdeen1.14 → 1.11Defence (lower is better)Celtic0.88 → 0.86Aberdeen1.50 → 1.52

The goals each side would score (attack) and concede (defence) per game against an average team, from the forecast ratings before this matchday (ring) and after it (dot); a lower defence number is better. Grey dots are the other clubs after the matchday, spread up and down only so they don't overlap. The change takes in the whole matchday.

League probabilities

ChanceBeforeWith this resultChange
Celtic
Title87%88%+1
Aberdeen
Top six21%19%−2
11th13%14%+1
Bottom11%12%+1
Rangers
Title11%10%−1

From the forecast before the match (2 September 2026): each chance then, and across the simulations in which the match ended this way. The change is in percentage points.

Pre-match

As things stood before kick-off.

Forecast

CelticAberdeen
Expected goals2.800.65
Win81%6%
Expected Points2.570.30
Clean sheet52%6%

Celtic 81%Draw 13%Aberdeen 6%

Most likely score 2–0, 12%. Both sides score 45%.

Aberdeen goalsCeltic goals0123456+0123456+3%2%9%6%2%8%3%8%2%8%5%2%5%3%1%3%2%12%12%

From the forecast as it stood on 2 September 2026: each side's attack and defence ratings in a Dixon–Coles score model, as on the Forecasts page.

League probabilities by result

ChanceNowCeltic winDrawAberdeen win
Celtic
Title87%88%84%79%
Aberdeen
Top six21%19%25%32%
11th13%14%11%10%
Bottom11%12%9%6%
Rangers
Title11%10%13%17%

Each chance before the match and across the simulations ending in each result. Other teams are listed where a chance moves by at least 3 percentage points.

Form

Celtic

  1. W2–129 AugFalkirk (H)xG 3.45–0.57
  2. W5–19 AugKilmarnock (A)xG 5.50–0.98
  3. W1–03 AugDundee FC (H)xG 2.26–0.49
  4. W3–116 MayHearts (H)xG 2.83–0.93
  5. W3–213 MayMotherwell (A)xG 1.38–1.24
  6. W3–110 MayRangers (H)xG 1.08–0.94

Aberdeen

  1. L0–130 AugRangers (H)xG 0.35–2.10
  2. L0–28 AugDundee FC (A)xG 0.72–1.83
  3. W2–11 AugHearts (H)xG 2.66–1.83
  4. L2–317 MayDundee FC (A)xG 1.12–1.99
  5. L0–212 MaySt. Mirren (H)xG 0.53–1.50
  6. W2–09 MayDundee United (H)xG 2.17–0.79

The last six league matches, newest first, with xG for and against.

Season to date

CelticAberdeen
Position1st10th
Played33
Won, drawn, lost3–⁠0–⁠01–⁠0–⁠2
Points9 (3.00 per game)3 (1.00 per game)
Expected Points per game2.780.93
Goals8–⁠22–⁠4
xG per game3.74–⁠0.681.24–⁠1.92
Home: points, xG per game3.00, 2.85–⁠0.531.50, 1.51–⁠1.97
Away: points, xG per game3.00, 5.50–⁠0.980.00, 0.72–⁠1.83
ManagerMartin O'Neill (21)Stephen Robinson (12)

League matches this season before kick-off. The manager's number is league matches in charge since 2020/21.

Ratings

0.51.01.52.02.5League average 1.36AttackCeltic2.18, 1stAberdeen1.14, 10thDefence (lower is better)Celtic0.88, 1stAberdeen1.50, 9th

This season

Attack0.51.01.52.02.5AugCeltic attack: 2.18Aberdeen attack: 1.142.181.14AberdeenCelticDefence (lower is better)0.51.01.52.02.5AugCeltic defence: 0.88Aberdeen defence: 1.501.500.88

The goals each side would score (attack) and concede (defence) per game against an average team, from the forecast ratings before this matchday, with their rank among the league's clubs; a lower defence number is better. Grey dots are the other clubs, spread up and down only so they don't overlap.

Strengths and weaknesses

CelticAberdeen
CreatedConcededCreatedConceded
Open play+166%−47%−47%−12%
Counter-attacks+47%−74%−47%+54%
Set pieces−23%−24%+39%+38%
Penalties−28%−46%−1%−1%
Headers+141%−38%+48%−12%
Left side+126%−53%−35%+1%
Centre+135%−40%−23%−1%
Right side+10%−46%−19%+44%

xG created and conceded per game against the league average this season: +24% is 24% more than an average side. Left and right are each side's own, so chances conceded on its left come from opponents attacking down their right. Green favours the side and amber doesn't. Until a side has played six matches its figures are blended with last season's, or with the league average where there is no last season to use.

Matchups

Celtic attacking

Celtic createdAberdeen concededLeft side+126%+44%Centre+135%−1%Right side+10%+1%Open play+166%−12%Counter-attacks+47%+54%Set pieces−23%+38%Headers+141%−12%

Aberdeen attacking

Aberdeen createdCeltic concededLeft side−35%−46%Centre−23%−40%Right side−19%−53%Open play−47%−47%Counter-attacks−47%−74%Set pieces+39%−24%Headers+48%−38%

Each side's xG created per game down each side of the pitch, through the centre, and from each type of chance, against what its opponent concedes there, both relative to the league average.

Season averages

CelticAberdeen

3.74xG1.24
0.68xG against1.92
62%Possession49%
23.3Shots9.7
9.0Shots against19.7
9.3Shots on target2.3
6.7Big chances1.7
36.0Touches in the opposition box23.0
632Passes350
89%Pass accuracy74%
7.3Corners4.7
70%Field tilt50%
58.7Final-third entries37.7
23.3Box entries11.0
13.2Passes per defensive action11.4

Per league match this season before kick-off.

Game state this season

Celtic

StateMinutes per gamexG per 90xG against per 90
Level194.130.53
Ahead713.630.72
Behind0––

Aberdeen

StateMinutes per gamexG per 90xG against per 90
Level381.282.29
Ahead0––
Behind521.221.66

xG by period

Celtic

MinutesxG per gamexG againstGoals
1–150.660.302–0
16–300.760.051–0
31–450.730.052–0
46–600.500.092–1
61–750.520.101–1
76–900.560.080–0

Aberdeen

MinutesxG per gamexG againstGoals
1–150.070.120–1
16–300.070.310–0
31–450.090.490–1
46–600.030.230–1
61–750.200.440–1
76–900.770.332–0

Per game this season, with stoppage time counted in its half; goals are totals for and against.

Most used players by position

Celtic

GKRBCBCBLBDMDMRWAMLWSTSinisalo 3Johnston 2Donovan 1Carter-Vickers 3Trusty 2Scales 1Tierney 3McGregor 2Baur 1Engels 2Oxlade-Chamberlain 1Durán 2Hassan 1Nygren 3Yang 3Høgh 2Durán 14-2-3-1 in every start

Aberdeen

GKRBCBCBLBDMDMRWAMLWSTMüller 3Cadden 2Lyons 1Mayo 2Guinness-Wal… 1Guinness-WalkerHappe 3Guinness-Wal… 2Guinness-WalkerCadden 1Ronan 2Armstrong 1Aremu 3Mayo 1Olusanya 1Ntelo 1Olusanya 2Briedl 1Yogane 2Nisbet 1Nisbet 2Yogane 14-2-3-1 in 2 of 3 starts

Formations: 4-2-3-1 (2), 3-4-1-2 (1)

This season's most used formation, with up to three players who started most often in each position and their league starts there. Underneath, when a side has used more than one, every formation with its starts.

Head to head

DateHomeAwayxG
4 March 2026Aberdeen1–2CelticxG 1.42–1.90
21 December 2025Celtic3–1AberdeenxG 4.72–0.91
10 August 2025Aberdeen0–2CelticxG 0.55–1.17
14 May 2025Aberdeen1–5CelticxG 1.07–3.68
25 February 2025Celtic5–1AberdeenxG 2.72–0.85
4 December 2024Aberdeen0–1CelticxG 0.88–1.62

21 league meetings since 2020/21: Celtic won 17, Aberdeen won 0, and 4 were drawn. Goals 55–16 and xG 2.39–0.88 per game.

Key players

Celtic

PlayerStartsMinGAxG per 90xA per 90
Nygren322,7901860.530.27
Forrest3821110.280.40
McCowan121,275210.200.30
Yang312,304810.310.16

Aberdeen

PlayerStartsMinGAxG per 90xA per 90
Nisbet292,5131110.360.08
Armstrong252,232250.140.19
Olusanya141,308220.220.05
Aremu12846110.020.07

Up to four players a side with the most xG plus xA per 90 minutes, from those with at least 450 league minutes. Until a side has played six matches, last season's minutes at the club count too.