Aberdeen vs Celtic

The Scottish Premiership returned on Thursday night when Rangers took on Hibs but for fans it won't feel like the football is properly back until your own side ...

He's boosted by the return of Callum McGregor after months out with a knee injury and should have a very strong squad to choose from. It's a huge one at Pittodrie for both sides as [Jim Goodwin's](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/all-about/jim-goodwin) men look to fend off their challengers for third and start again with back-to-back games against the Old Firm.

Celtic host visit Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday afternoon, so we simulated the game to get a score prediction.

FIFA 23 predicts that a first-half flurry of goals could secure the victory for Celtic on Saturday, with the Hoops looking sharp on their return to action in the simulation. The hosts struggled to find a way back into the game during the remainder of the first half, with the two-goal deficit tilting momentum into the Hoops' favour. Aberdeen pulled a goal back in the second half when Leighton Clarkson curled a free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards, but the Hoops were able to see out the game, winning 3-1. McGregor picked out Kyogo with a long ball forward on the right, and the striker took the ball down on his chest as he broke into the box. A smart run saw Jota break into the box down the left, but after being pulled back by his marker, Celtic were awarded a penalty. After the early scare, Celtic found their rhythm, and they took the lead after 12 minutes through Kyogo Furuhashi. The Hoops will be without Josip Juranovic with the defender still in Qatar with Croatia, whilst Callum McGregor is fully fit and expected to play on Saturday. After their rivals' 3-2 win against Hibernian on Thursday night, the gap currently sits at six points ahead of [Ange Postecoglou's](https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/all-about/ange-postecoglou) side's clash with Aberdeen. Kyogo stepped up to take the spot-kick, and the Japanese striker powered his effort down the middle of the goal as the 'keeper dived to his left. [Jota](https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/all-about/jota) secured a 2-0 win for Celtic over the Dons in the first week of the 2022/23 season, with the Hoops unbeaten in their last 18 meetings against [Aberdeen](https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/all-about/aberdeen-fc) in all competitions. Aberdeen sent a big warning to Celtic in the opening five minutes when Duk prodded a cross into the net at the back post, but the striker was flagged offside and the goal was ruled out. [Scottish Premiership](https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/all-about/scottish-premiership) paused in November due to the 2022 World Cup, [Celtic](https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/all-about/celtic-fc) entered the break with a nine-point advantage over [Rangers](https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/all-about/rangers-fc) at the top of the league.

The AFC Operations Team have been working around the clock this week with club partners to ensure that the stadium and pitch is clear for today's.

35 days on from their last competitive outing, Celtic are back today with Aberdeen the opponents. With our rivals across the city having cut our lead to six ...

Greg Taylor is the strong choice at left-back. In the centre, we’re tipping the big partnership from last season – Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt – to make a return. This is the team we’re backing to do the business in the Granite City.

CELTIC return to Premiership action this lunchtime as they travel to the North East to face Aberdeen in the hope of restoring their nine-point lead at.

- The man in the middle for Aberdeen v Celtic is Steven McLean with the VAR official Kevin Clancy - assisted by Sean Carr - Aberdeen v Celtic can be viewed on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football - and live Streamed on Sky Go - Aberdeen are taking on Celtic TODAY, Saturday December 17

The Scotland international has been out of action through injury for the best part of around two-months.

We don’t want to get frustrated, a lot of teams will sit in their block and block the game up. The manager is really big on that. I want to thank them for that too.” “That’s what you always try to do (get right involved). “It was important for me to come back in and get up to speed as quickly as I could so I could help the team. You want to help the team and I play that position where you normally get a lot of the ball.

Returning captain Callum McGregor scored a fantastic late winner as Celtic eventually broke down a stubborn Aberdeen side to restore their nine-point lead ...

James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Attempt blocked. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. - Home0 - Shots "I couldn't ask much more from the lads. We got our goal late, but I thought our approach all the way through... We did that on one or two occasions in the first half but in the second half we weren't able to get up the pitch unfortunately." This approach was contradictory to that. But overall the champions had total control and could have won more comfortably on another day. Kyogo Furuhashi had the best chance of the lot, but somehow side-footed Liel Abada's cross wide from a few yards out. Getting the goal is great because it rewards the players.

Callum McGregor returned from injury to fire Celtic nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table as his late strike earned a 1-0 victory over ...

"We don't want to get frustrated against a low block, we stick to the structure. But we did well and have nothing to show for it." "We did well without McGregor but he's a fantastic footballer and we're super happy to get him back in the side. We frustrated them and hit them on the counter for large periods. I thought we were outstanding, committed and created a lot of chances. It was decided on a 25-yard strike at the end. It's easy to sit there and complain but the lads have the energy and the drive to dictate the tempo of the game. "We were disappointed at the end, to have contained Celtic until the 87th minute. It's a difficult place to come to and the goal came later than usual. There was one shot [for Aberdeen] right at the end, but we dominated the game. Kyogo Furuhashi then rounded the Dutch goalkeeper after being played in behind by McGregor, but Anthony Stewart was on the line to cut off his effort from a tight angle. For the second period, Postecoglou brought on Liel Abada for Daizen Maeda at half-time and the forward had an immediate impact.

Giorgos Giakoumakis (Kyogo 72): The Greek striker was thrown on for the last 18 minutes to see if he could fashion a late winner. James Forrest (Jota 72): ...

He forced Roos into a save with his foot not long after and was a livewire, causing the Dons defence a headache when he came on including forced Roos into a late diving save. He was kept quiet in the first half and he missed an absolute sitter on 53 minutes when it was laid on a plate for him by Abada but he screwed wide of the target. Greg Taylor: Arguably Celtic's MVP in the first half of the season, the Scotland international at least tried to link the play with Jota as much as he could in the first half but was more often than not left frustrated as he was thwarted by a stubborn Reds defensive wall despite picking up some great positions. It was much more on point after the restart and he produced the pass of the match to release Abada, who squared it for Kyogo who somehow missed from a few yards out. He was barely seen in the entire second half either as the Reds failed to mount a serious attack. [Celtic](https://www.celticway.co.uk/) goalkeeper was a virtual spectator in the first half but looked totally unconvincing when he raced from his goal and attempted to punch clear on 43 minutes.