At Pittodrie Stadium on Sunday, August 10, hosts Aberdeen welcome Scottish champions Celtic in one of the most anticipated fixtures of Scottish Premiership Matchday 2. Although the visitors are still considered the team to beat and the top favourites to win their 56th league title, this is by no means a straightforward match. These two sides faced off in the most recent Scottish Cup final, played on May 24 at Hampden Park in Glasgow, which ended in a dramatic penalty shootout victory for Aberdeen. The two teams have started the 2025/26 campaign in different fashion: Aberdeen lost 2-0 to Hearts, while Celtic lived up to expectations with a 1-0 win over St. Mirren. The teams, led by Jimmy Thelin and Brendan Rodgers respectively, have very different seasonal goals, but neither will be holding back in this clash that promises to be intense and entertaining — just like many of their recent meetings. Aberdeen, who will play in the UEFA Europa League play-offs at the end of August, desperately need a win to climb the table and build confidence ahead of their European commitments. Celtic, aiming to be crowned Scottish champions for the fifth consecutive season, know they cannot afford to drop points early on. Brendan Rodgers, now in his third year back at the helm of the Glasgow club, is clearly targeting another standout season. The goals? Retain the Scottish Premiership title and make it through the Champions League play-off round to shine on the European stage.

Aberdeen's Recent Form and Key Stats

It’s been a bitter start to the season for Aberdeen, who were defeated 2-0 by Hearts in their Premiership opener. The scoreline may seem harsh, as the match was fairly balanced in terms of possession and total shots.

This defeat follows a lacklustre pre-season where the Dons lost 4-0 to semi-professional side Buckie Thistle and 3-1 to England’s Ipswich Town, winning only against Cove Rangers (from Scottish League One) with a 2-0 result.

Aberdeen struggled offensively last season, averaging just 1.3 goals per game. The departure of top scorer Kevin Nisbet, who returned to Millwall after his loan, leaves a gap in attack. Defensively, things weren't much better: 1.6 goals conceded per match and only 8 clean sheets in 38 league games.

Celtic's Recent Form and Key Stats

The Scottish champions kicked off their new campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over St. Mirren. It took until the 87th minute for Celtic to break the deadlock with a deflected shot from Luke McCowan. Despite the late winner, their dominance was clear: 76% possession and a 14–4 shot count.

Thanks to that result, Celtic extended their unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership to seven matches. Before the league started, Brendan Rodgers' side had a promising pre-season, claiming big wins over Newcastle and Sporting Lisbon, though they did suffer a heavy 5-1 defeat to Ajax.

Last season, the Celts were a goal machine, scoring 127 times across domestic and European competitions, averaging 2.2 goals per match. At the back, they were just as strong: 0.7 goals conceded per game in the league and 21 clean sheets.

Aberdeen vs Celtic Prediction and Tactical Overview

Celtic are clear favourites to win this away fixture against Aberdeen in Matchday 2 of the Scottish Premiership. According to the BetMines algorithm, the chances of a Celtic win are estimated at 54%, while the hosts’ win probability is just 25%.

The numbers are backed up by recent history: in the last ten head-to-head matches, Celtic have won eight and drawn two. The most recent draw proved costly for the Celts, as Aberdeen went on to win the Scottish Cup on penalties. It was a surprising outcome, especially considering that just ten days earlier, Celtic had smashed the Dons 5-1 in the league at Pittodrie.

Matches between Aberdeen and Celtic are usually entertaining: six of the last eight meetings have seen both teams score, and in five of the last seven, there have been at least three total goals. A particularly telling stat about Aberdeen’s struggles is that they have conceded in each of their last 20 games against Celtic.

• Aberdeen vs Celtic Prediction by BetMines: Celtic to Win (Away Win – 2) – 54% probability
  
  
• Aberdeen vs Celtic Prediction by BetMines:: Both Teams to Score – 61% probability

Probable Lineups: Aberdeen vs Celtic

ABERDEEN (4-2-3-1): Mitov; Jensen, Milne, M. Knoester, Shinnie; Nilsen, L. Clarkson; N. Milanovic, Aouchiche, T. Keskinen; K. Yengi. Manager: Jimmy Thelin

CELTIC (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Johnston, C. Vickers, L. Scales, Tierney; B. Nygren, McGregor, Hatate; Hyun-Jun, Idah, Maeda. Manager: Brendan Rodgers