Digressive Celts

Matches › 2026/27

Aberdeen v Motherwell

Wednesday 30 December 2026, 19:45 · Pittodrie Stadium · Round 21

Forecast

AberdeenMotherwell
Expected goals1.261.28
Win35%37%
Expected Points1.341.38
Clean sheet28%28%

Aberdeen 35%Draw 28%Motherwell 37%

Most likely score 1–1, 13%. Both sides score 52%.

Motherwell goalsAberdeen goals0123456+0123456+9%9%6%3%9%8%3%1%6%8%5%2%3%3%2%1%13%

From the forecast as it stood on 11 October 2026: each side's attack and defence ratings in a Dixon–Coles score model, as on the Forecasts page.

Form

Aberdeen

  1. L0–111 OctSt. Johnstone (H)xG 1.23–1.10
  2. D1–119 SepHibernian (A)xG 0.70–1.40
  3. W4–015 SepMotherwell (A)xG 0.90–0.85
  4. D0–05 SepKilmarnock (H)xG 1.08–1.11
  5. L0–32 SepCeltic (A)xG 0.68–2.67
  6. L0–130 AugRangers (H)xG 0.35–2.10

Motherwell

  1. L0–211 OctCeltic (H)xG 1.10–2.85
  2. L1–219 SepDundee FC (A)xG 1.10–1.38
  3. L0–415 SepAberdeen (H)xG 0.85–0.90
  4. L0–15 SepRangers (A)xG 0.70–4.29
  5. W3–02 SepDundee United (H)xG 2.39–0.16
  6. D3–330 AugSt. Mirren (A)xG 2.45–2.92

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

Season to date

AberdeenMotherwell
Position8th9th
Played88
Won, drawn, lost2–⁠2–⁠42–⁠2–⁠4
Points8 (1.00 per game)8 (1.00 per game)
Expected Points per game0.981.27
Goals7–⁠99–⁠13
xG per game1.04–⁠1.611.51–⁠1.87
Home: points, xG per game1.00, 1.33–⁠1.541.00, 1.40–⁠1.11
Away: points, xG per game1.00, 0.75–⁠1.691.00, 1.61–⁠2.63
ManagerStephen Robinson (17)Alfred Johansson (8)

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

Ratings

0.51.01.52.0League average 1.34AttackAberdeen1.11, 10thMotherwell1.30, 5thDefence (lower is better)Aberdeen1.47, 9thMotherwell1.32, 5th

This season

Attack0.51.01.52.0AugSepOctAberdeen attack: 1.11Motherwell attack: 1.301.301.11MotherwellAberdeenDefence (lower is better)0.51.01.52.0AugSepOctAberdeen defence: 1.47Motherwell defence: 1.321.471.32

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

AberdeenMotherwell
CreatedConcededCreatedConceded
Open play−50%−14%+6%+1%
Counter-attacks−64%+24%−12%+81%
Set pieces+30%−7%−42%average
Penalties−40%+80%+20%+80%
Headers+56%−23%−43%−1%
Left side−61%+11%−32%−13%
Centre−32%−41%−31%+19%
Right side−7%+28%+58%+22%

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.

Matchups

Aberdeen attacking

Aberdeen createdMotherwell concededLeft side−61%+22%Centre−32%+19%Right side−7%−13%Open play−50%+1%Counter-attacks−64%+81%Set pieces+30%averageHeaders+56%−1%

Motherwell attacking

Motherwell createdAberdeen concededLeft side−32%+28%Centre−31%−41%Right side+58%+11%Open play+6%−14%Counter-attacks−12%+24%Set pieces−42%−7%Headers−43%−23%

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

AberdeenMotherwell

1.04xG1.51
1.61xG against1.87
48%Possession58%
11.5Shots14.0
15.9Shots against16.4
2.9Shots on target4.4
1.5Big chances2.1
22.0Touches in the opposition box24.6
399Passes571
78%Pass accuracy88%
6.1Corners5.1
42%Field tilt59%
38.6Final-third entries50.8
12.5Box entries14.1
14.0Passes per defensive action14.8

Per league match this season before kick-off.

Game state this season

Aberdeen

StateMinutes per gamexG per 90xG against per 90
Level390.971.61
Ahead120.841.56
Behind391.171.64

Motherwell

StateMinutes per gamexG per 90xG against per 90
Level331.601.37
Ahead172.361.40
Behind401.082.49

xG by period

Aberdeen

MinutesxG per gamexG againstGoals
1–150.030.220–3
16–300.120.221–0
31–450.120.401–3
46–600.120.161–1
61–750.160.350–2
76–900.490.264–0

Motherwell

MinutesxG per gamexG againstGoals
1–150.320.181–2
16–300.280.342–1
31–450.270.242–5
46–600.140.460–3
61–750.280.262–0
76–900.220.392–2

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

Most used players by position

Aberdeen

GKRWBCBCBCBLWBCMCMCMSTSTMüller 8Cadden 7Lyons 1Mayo 6Milne 2Knoester 4Guinness… 1Guinness-WalkerOlusanya 1Molloy 4Happe 4Guinness… 7Guinness-WalkerCadden 1Ronan 5Olusanya 2Armstrong 2Aremu 7Briedl 2Marshall 3Yogane 1Yogane 3Mouloua 2Olusanya 2Nisbet 85-3-2 in 3 of 8 starts

Formations: 5-3-2 (3), 4-2-3-1 (2), 3-5-2 (1), 4-1-3-2 (1), 3-4-1-2 (1)

Motherwell

GKRBCBCBLBDMDMRWAMLWSTPaulsen 8Sparrow 8Girdwood-Rei… 4Girdwood-ReichKnight-Lebel 3O'Donnell 1Moormann 8Longelo 7Williams 1Fadinger 8Priestman 2Hodge 5Levitt 1Maswanhise 4Vogt 3Kanga 1Lowry 4Charles-Cook 3Booth 1Said 4Longelo 1Houlden 1Houlden 2Maswanhise 2Lowry 14-2-3-1 in 5 of 8 starts

Formations: 4-2-3-1 (5), 4-4-2 (2), 4-2-2-2 (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
15 September 2026Motherwell0–4AberdeenxG 0.85–0.90
15 February 2026Motherwell2–0AberdeenxG 2.46–0.62
9 November 2025Aberdeen1–1MotherwellxG 0.80–0.68
27 September 2025Motherwell2–0AberdeenxG 2.03–1.00
29 March 2025Aberdeen4–1MotherwellxG 1.58–1.21
5 January 2025Motherwell2–0AberdeenxG 1.36–0.89

20 league meetings since 2020/21: Aberdeen won 9, Motherwell won 7, and 4 were drawn. Goals 30–27 and xG 1.39–1.34 per game.

Key players

Aberdeen

PlayerStartsMinGAxG per 90xA per 90
Nisbet8632410.340.04
Mayo6471010.240.01
Olusanya5501000.110.05
Guinness-Walker8675000.010.11

Motherwell

PlayerStartsMinGAxG per 90xA per 90
Maswanhise6491120.600.05
Lowry6534210.260.23
Longelo8656000.080.24
Fadinger8689100.180.06

Up to four players a side with the most xG plus xA per 90 minutes, from those with at least 450 league minutes.