Match Pictures | Matches: 2024 – 2025
Trivia
- KO: 19:45, Wednesday, Sky Sports, League Match 37 (penultimate league match)
- Final away league match for Celtic. Trophy presentation to be done this coming Saturday.
- Full SP league fixture this evening. Hibs complete mission impossible to finish third in the league after having been stuck at the bottom of the table for long spells at the start of the season.
- Notable changes with Yang, Kenny, Schlupp, Forrest, Nawrocki, Ralston, Trusty, Schmeichel playing! Lots of non regulars or returning from injury players. Just the 8 changes then. Aberdeen had also 4-5 reserve players playing too.
- Daizen Maeda injury scare, CCV also missing but Alistair Johnston returns.
- Kenny gets his first start and scores his debut goal, whilst Nawrocki grabs a goal too!
- Celtic were forced to finish the match with 10 men after Reo Hatate was left feeling the effects of a questionable tackle from Aberdeen’s Pape Gueye, who appeared to follow through with a heavy challenge on Hatate on the halfway line. Surprised not carded and setnt off.
- St Johnstone relegated after 16 seasons in the top tier.
- Sides will face each other again in two weeks time in the Scottish Cup final with Celtic aiming for a domestic treble.
- Hearts supporters are being encouraged to approve a near £10m investment by betting entrepreneur Tony Bloom amid plans to “disrupt Scottish football”.
- Celtic’s long-awaited new training facility – which was expected to open in January – is now only three weeks away from being completed.
- Former Celtic chairman and SFA president Jack McGinn has died aged 92. RIP Black armbands worn tonight in his honour.
- Celtic FC Women lost 1-0 to theRangers on Sunday and are now in serious danger of ending the season next Sunday in fifth place in the SWPL.
- Former Manchester United and Trinidad & Tobago striker Dwight Yorke was offered a contract by Celtic in 2004, but no move materialised.
- Swansea City have contacted Celtic in a bid to land Darren O’Dea, currently Celtic’s professional player pathway manager, as assistant to new manager Alan Sheehan.
Summary
FT: Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic
Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Pittodrie
Celtic cruised to this win with ease.
Not bad for what was effectively a second string Hoops side.
While it reinforces Celtic’s superiority and squad depth, it will also have the Aberdeen fans perhaps fearing what will happen when the sides meet at Hampden in the Scottish Cup final later this month.
The only positive for Aberdeen is that St Mirren’s draw with Hibs means they are now assured of European football next season.
“I mentioned before the Hibs game that we’d be rotating the squad to get minutes into the legs of some players, so we’re in a strong position for the cup final. “Our job in the league was done. I trust the players to come in and play and on top of that, I’m looking forward to seeing Johnny Kenny play. “It’s always a challenging game at Pittodrie, so that’s what we’re prepared for.”
Brendan Rodgers pre match
Brendan “A great performance. Collectively as a team we were excellent. A joy to watch. Johnny is an outstanding finisher. Left or right foot. He’s such a great kid. Scoring his first goal for Celtic. A dream for him”
fatboab of KDS- “Today Sensational to be honest. Other than the few minutes after the stoppage it was hard to tell the first team from this B side. Nawrocki, Yang and Forrest absolutely bossed it. Just great to see squad players stepping up, and young McArdle certainly caught the eye with a superb cameo. Thuggish behavior as always from that shower needlessly sees Hatate with a sore one, but no yellow card ref? Overall, very enjoyable but James Forrest might come to rue that chance in the first half.”
AG67: Aberdeen were chasing third place and Celtic gave a run out to squad players. Celtic played a lot of impressive football and could have just as easily scored ten, Aberdeen kicked anything in hoops that moved. Tackle on McCowan was a red,
Rodgers isn’t one for touch line histrionics and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so angry after that tackle on Hatate. Doesn’t look good but hopefully he will make the squad for the Final. At least BR got a preview of Aberdeen’s game plan for the Final, but he probably had a good idea anyway.
Nawrocki, Kenny and McArdle all did well, Forrest didn’t get the goal but was a constant threat.
Inside The SPFL @AgentScotland · By the way, what a talent the boy McArdle is, you see as his confidence grows his wee touches and vision, obviously a long way to go, but you can see the clear talent he possesses.
Teams
Celtic
Manager: Brendan Rodgers
Formation: 4 – 4 – 1 – 1
12 V. Sinisalo
15 J. Schlupp
06 A. Trusty
17 M. Nawrocki
56 A. Ralston, subbed for A. Johnston at 61mins
13 Yang Hyun-Jun, subbed for N. Kühn at 71mins
28 Paulo Bernardo
42 C. McGregor (c), Captain, subbed for R. Hatate at 61mins
49 J. Forrest
14 L. McCowan, subbed for S. McArdle at 81mins
24 J. Kenny, subbed for A. Idah at 70mins
Subs:
27 A. Engels
41 R. Hatate
09 A. Idah
02 A. Johnston
10 N. Kühn
62 S. McArdle
05 L. Scales
01 K. Schmeichel
03 G. Taylor
Goals:
M. Nawrocki (31′)
Yang Hyun-Jun (45’+8)
L. McCowan (48′)
J. Kenny (54′)
A. Idah (90’+4)
Assists:
L. McCowan (31′, 54′), J. Forrest (48′)
Aberdeen
Manager: Jimmy Thelin
Formation: 4 – 2 – 3 – 1
01 D. Mitov
04 G. Shinnie (c), Captain, subbed for J. MacKenzie at 58mins
05 M. Knoester, subbed for J. Milne at 57mins
26 A. Dorrington Red Card 78′ – Two Yellow Cards at 78mins
28 A. Jensen
10 L. Clarkson
18 A. Palaversa
81 T. Keskinen, subbed for N. Devlin at 80mins
14 P. Guèye 57′, Yellow Card at 57mins
20 S. Morris, subbed for J. McGrath at 70mins
09 K. Nisbet, subbed for Oday Dabbagh at 70mins
Subs:
30 F. Boyd
11 Oday Dabbagh
02 N. Devlin
31 R. Doohan
03 J. MacKenzie 75′, Yellow Card at 75mins
07 J. McGrath
22 J. Milne
16 J. Okkels
08 D. Polvara
Goals:
K. Nisbet (42′)
Assists:
P. Guèye (42′)
Referee Steven McLean
Video Assistant Referee John Beaton
Assistant Referee 1 Jonathan Bell
Assistant Referee 2 Alastair Taylor
Fourth Official Dan McFarlane
Assistant VAR Official Graeme Leslie
Venue:Pittodrie Stadium
Attendance:17,089
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Stats
Overall possession
Aberdeen 30.9% Celtic 69.1%
Shots
Aberdeen 12 Celtic 25
Shots on target
Aberdeen 4 Celtic 14
Total touches inside the box
Aberdeen 20 Celtic 50
Goalkeeper saves
Aberdeen 7 Celtic 3
Fouls
Aberdeen 12 Celtic 2
Corners
Aberdeen 6 Celtic 6
Advanced match stats
Shots
Aberdeen 12 Celtic 25
Shots on target
Aberdeen 4 Celtic 14
Shots off target
Aberdeen 3 Celtic 7
Blocked shots
Aberdeen 5 Celtic 4
Attempts out of box
Aberdeen 4 Celtic 5
Total offside
Aberdeen 1 Celtic 2
Total tackles
Aberdeen 13 Celtic 20
Won tackles
Aberdeen 11 Celtic 12
Fouls
Aberdeen 12 Celtic 2
Total yellow cards
Aberdeen 2 Celtic 0
Total clearances
Aberdeen 32 Celtic 26
Headed clearances
Aberdeen 9 Celtic 11
Duels won
Aberdeen 37 Celtic 48
Clearances off the line
Aberdeen 2 Celtic 0
Errors leading to shots
Aberdeen 1 Celtic 1
Total passes
Aberdeen 315 Celtic 744
Accurate passes
Aberdeen 246 Celtic 671
Backward passes
Aberdeen 47 Celtic 103
Forward passes
Aberdeen 98 Celtic 197
Total long balls
Aberdeen 58 Celtic 34
Successful final third passes
Aberdeen 45 Celtic 157
Total crosses
Aberdeen 20 Celtic 20
Touches
Aberdeen 508 Celtic 945
Touches in the box
Aberdeen 20 Celtic 50
Dispossessed
Aberdeen 11 Celtic 9
Goalkeeper saves
Aberdeen 7 Celtic 3
Diving saves
Aberdeen 3 Celtic 1
Saved shots from inside the box
Aberdeen 8 Celtic 3
Saved shots from outside the box
Aberdeen 1 Celtic 0
Keeper throws
Aberdeen 10 Celtic 6
Goal kicks
Aberdeen 8 Celtic 5
Punches
Aberdeen 0 Celtic 1
Aberdeen are winless in their last 29 meetings with Celtic in all competitions (D6 L23) since a 1-0 league win in May 2018.
Celtic are unbeaten in their last 16 visits to Aberdeen (all in the league), winning 13 and drawing three since a 1-2 defeat in February 2016.
Aberdeen have won their final home league game in four of the last six seasons (D1 L1 – including curtailed 2019-20 season), including both of their last two. They last achieved this three seasons in a row from 2006-07 to 2008-09.
Celtic have only won their final away league game in one of the last six seasons (D3 L2 – including curtailed 2019-20 season), although that was a 5-0 victory at Kilmarnock last term.
In his managerial career, Celtic’s Brendan Rodgers has enjoyed 13 league wins against Aberdeen – his joint-most against a single opponent, along with Dundee and Hearts.
Articles
Five-star Celts sink Aberdeen at Pittodrie
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/may/14/five-star-celts-sink-aberdeen-at-pittodrie/
First Team
By Matthew Campbell
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14 May 2025, 10:08 pm
Scottish Premiership
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
ABERDEEN…1
(Nisbet 42)
CELTIC…5
(Nawrocki 31, Yang 45 +8, McCowan 48, Kenny 54, Idah 90 +4 )
So much has been made about Celtic’s consistency throughout the season, and the travelling Celtic support at Pittodrie were treated to a perfect example of that consistency as the Champions turned on the style and thrashed Aberdeen 5-1 at Pittodrie.
With just under five minutes gone, the Celts worked their first chance of the match, with Luke McCowan releasing Anthony Ralston on the right wing with a clever back-heel. Ralston’s deep cross to the back post found Yang, but the winger’s headed effort drifted over the bar.
Ten minutes later, Paulo Bernardo had a good opportunity to give the Hoops an early lead after Yang evaded two Aberdeen defenders and cut the ball back to the Portuguese midfielder in the penalty area, but his shot was straight at the home side’s keeper, Mitov, who parried it away.
Despite numerous changes to the starting XI, Brendan Rodgers’ men were in control of the game, as they so often have been this season, and were cutting Aberdeen open at will throughout the first 30 minutes of the match.
And the opening goal which Celtic deserved came in the 31st minute when Luke McCowan whipped a cross in to the box from a corner, which Maik Nawrocki headed into the bottom corner to claim his first Celtic goal and to put the Hoops 1-0 ahead.
There was a break in play only a few moments after Nawrocki’s opener, with an Aberdeen supporter requiring urgent medical attention in the crowd. Both Celtic and Aberdeen’s first-team medical staff attended the incident before the supporter could be safely taken from the stadium to receive further treatment.
And just after the restart, Aberdeen grabbed an equaliser through Kevin Nisbet, who got on to the end of a looping ball from Gueye and sent a header beyond Sinisalo to make it 1-1.
The home side, buoyed by their equaliser, began to grow in to the game as the half neared its conclusion, but the Champions showed their resilience, keeping Aberdeen at bay and keeping the match level.
And in the eighth minute of added on time at the end of the half, that resilience turned to quality once again, as James Forrest waltzed into the box from the right wing and sent a ball across the face of goal which reached Yang, who fired a shot in to the back of the net to restore Celtic’s lead just before the break.
31%
Possession
69%
12
Shots
25
4
Shots On Target
14
6
Corners
6
12
Fouls
2
2
1
Cards
0
0
Three minutes in to the second half, Celtic’s lead was extended to 3-1 after another fine bit of play from James Forrest created a chance for Luke McCowan, who fired a shot into the top corner with an emphatic finish
The second half could not have started better for Celtic, and with 53 minutes on the clock it was 4-1 and the game was put beyond Aberdeen.
This time, McCowan turned provider, tearing away down the left wing before sending a cross into the box which was met by Johnny Kenny who, making his first start for Celtic, claimed his first goal for the Hoops with an excellent header into the bottom corner of the net.
For all that Celtic’s attacking play will rightly take the headlines from tonight’s match, the Hoops also defended as though the title was still up for grabs, with players putting their bodies on the line at pivotal moments to keep Aberdeen out and to protect the lead, whilst between the sticks, Sinisalo made some good stops as the last line of defence.
Things went from bad to worse for the home side in the 78th minute when Alfie Dorrington was shown a second yellow card and sent off for a cynical foul on Adam Idah, who was charging through towards goal at the time.
As the match entered the final 10 minutes, the chances continued to come for the Celts, with both Adam Idah and Jeffrey Schlupp unlucky not to score with efforts from inside the box.
Celtic were forced to finish the match with 10 men after Reo Hatate was left feeling the effects of a poor tackle from Aberdeen’s Pape Gueye, who appeared to follow through with a heavy challenge on the Japanese midfielder on the halfway line.
The goalscoring wasn’t finished, however, with Adam Idah slotting home a finish from six yards out in the fourth minute of injury time to make it 5-1 to Celtic.
The Champions will now look ahead to their match against St Mirren at Celtic Park on Saturday and what is sure to be another special occasion as the Celts lift their fourth consecutive Scottish Premiership title at a packed out Paradise.
Aberdeen: Mitov, Jensen, Dorrington, Knoester (Milne 57′), Shinnie (MacKenzie 58′), Palaversa, Clarkson, Morris (McGrath 70′), Guèye, Keskinen (Devlin 80′), Nisbet (Oday Dabbagh 70′)
Subs: Devlin, MacKenzie, McGrath, Polvara, Oday Dabbagh, Okkels, Milne, Boyd, Doohan
Celtic: Sinisalo, Ralston (Johnston 61′), Nawrocki, Trusty, Schlupp, Forrest, McGregor (Hatate 61′), Paulo Bernardo, Hyunjun Yang (Kühn 71′), McCowan (McArdle 81′), Kenny (Idah 70′)
Subs: Schmeichel, Johnston, Taylor, Scales, Idah, Kühn, Engels, Hatate ( 89′), McArdle
Manager praises a special performance from his team
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/may/14/manager-praises-a-special-performance-from-his-team/
First Team
By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor
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14 May 2025, 10:59 pm
Brendan Rodgers was delighted with what he called ‘a real special team performance’ as Celtic comprehensively defeated Aberdeen 5-1 at Pittodrie.
It was a dominant display from the Champions, with Maik Nawrocki, Yang, Luke McCowan, Johnny Kenny and Adam Idah all on target for the Hoops against the side they will face in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden in 10 days’ time.
Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, the Celtic manager said: “Collectively, we were so good in the game, there were so many good attacking connections and moments.
‘We scored five, and got into so many good areas, and to come here and be that convincing, it was an outstanding performance.’
“It was a great header and Maik is a threat in the box. We see it every day in his training and I thought he and Auston were very good and they defended strong.
“And we’re also pleased for Johnny because he works so hard, he is a natural goalscorer and when you see his movement for the goal, it’s so good and everyone was delighted for him.
“But overall, we had so many good phases of play in the game, we worked ever so hard, we were able to get players minutes in their legs and the whole connection of the team was outstanding.”
While James Forrest still awaits his first goal of the campaign, which would mean he’s scored in 16 consecutive seasons, the Celtic winger still produced a Man of the Match performance at Pittodrie.
That comes as no surprise to his manager, who has seen at close-hand the qualities the 33-year-old possesses.
“Even if the goal doesn’t come, his performance level has been instrumental in my second time back here,” said Brendan Rodgers.
“This time last season he was catalyst, along with Adam Idah, for us winning the title and he’s still got a big contribution for this squad.
‘He leads by example, all the players really respect him and look up to him, especially when he performs like he did tonight.’
There were even some ‘James Forrest’ chants during the game from the travelling support, while they acclaimed the winger after the match.
And the Celtic manager praised the supporters for their backing of the team.
“A big thank-you to the supporters, to come all the way up here for an eight o’clock kick-off and they’ll get back in the early hours of the morning, some will travel even longer to various places, but they deserve it,” he said.
“They’ve sacrificed as much as we have as a team and they get their reward tonight with a brilliant performance and result, and then we can all celebrate, hopefully with a win, on Saturday and pick up the trophy.”
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cx2jmy044lnt#Report
George O’Neill
BBC Sport Scotland
Celtic laid down a marker before the Scottish Cup final with a dominant Scottish Premiership victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie, but manager Brendan Rodgers insists it will have “no relevance” at Hampden.
Both sides made sweeping changes to their starting teams and it showed in a slightly lacklustre opening period, before a flurry of goals preceded half-time.
Maik Nawrocki and Hyun-Jun Yang both found the net for the champions, either side of Kevin Nisbet’s flicked header for Aberdeen.
Luke McCowan, Johnny Kenny and Adam Idah added to the scoreline for Brendan Rodgers’ side after the break.
And the visitors could have scored more against a ragged Aberdeen, who were reduced to 10 men late on when Alfie Dorrington received a second yellow card.
“Tonight has no relevance to the cup final, it’s a different occasion and a different game,” Rodgers said of the rematch on May 24 – live on BBC Scotland.
“Of course when you come to Pittodrie and win 5-1 and demonstrate that quality and intensity, it’s a really good sign.”
Despite the heavy defeat, Aberdeen are now guaranteed European football next season after Dundee United lost to Rangers and St Mirren drew with Hibernian.
They will visit United on the final day knowing that they will finish fourth if they avoid defeat.
For Celtic, this was exactly what Rodgers would have wanted in the build-up to the cup final – a comfortable victory and minutes in the legs of some fringe players.
Former Celtic chair & SFA president McGinn dies at 92
Published
6 hours ago
Rodgers spoke candidly before kick-off about how his full focus is now on securing a domestic treble and the eight changes he made to his side reflected that.
Two of them combined for the opening goal as Nawrocki powered home a header from McCowan’s well directed corner.
Aberdeen had their moments in attack and Nisbet equalised with a clever header of his own, but the hosts were unable to stay on level terms until half-time.
Yang swept home from close range after good work from James Forrest down Celtic’s right and the result was never in doubt from that point onwards.
McCowan – who was superb in midfield – left Mats Knoester on his backside and fired into the roof of the net to make it three, before he turned provider soon after.
The former Dundee man drifted into space on the left and picked out Kenny with a pinpoint cross, who powered a header into the net for his first Celtic goal.
Dorrington’s dismissal compounded Aberdeen’s problems and they shipped a fifth in second-half stoppage time as Idah tapped home after Nicolas Kuhn’s shot was blocked.
Defensive concerns for porous Dons
Jimmy Thelin shrugged off questions surrounding Aberdeen’s mentality following their collapse at Ibrox on Sunday, but they shipped goals with alarming ease once more against Celtic.
Nawrocki was being marked by Topi Keskinen for the opener, a complete mismatch by anyone’s reckoning, and Forrest was allowed to drift into the box far too easily for the second.
McCowan was left in acres of space for the third and Idah had the simplest of tasks to tap in the fifth and final goal.
There was a lack of shape, a lack of bite and a lack of bodies thrown on the line.
Aberdeen have now shipped 19 goals in five matches against Celtic this season. That trend simply cannot continue if they are to compete at Hampden.
Celtic’s fringe players come to the fore
The way Celtic dismantled Aberdeen with what was a new-look side highlighted the strength in depth Rodgers has at his disposal.
Nawrocki was solid in defence and took his goal like a seasoned striker, McCowan scored and contributed two assists in a magnificent all-round display, and wing duo Yang and Forrest were a constant threat with their direct running.
Forrest was unfortunate not to find the net himself as he seeks to score in Celtic colours for the 16th season running.
Kenny’s finish was superb and he put himself in goal-scoring positions throughout, having more shots than any player on either side.
It leaves Rodgers with several healthy selection headaches before the cup final, although the Celtic manager will be sweating over the fitness of Reo Hatate, who went off injured after a heavy challenge from Pape Gueye.
What they said
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: “We know that we can lose games sometimes, but at home, five goals against you is difficult to accept.
“We didn’t really have the quality to hurt them and we couldn’t stop their chances.
“When we go to the final, anything can happen. We have to recover quick now.”
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: “We were outstanding in the game. The attacking connection in the team was so good, we scored really good goals.
“So many good performances individually and collectively a really high level.
“It’s a huge testament to the players because some of them haven’t played for a number of games. To come in and play with that rhythm and tempo was highly impressive.”