Celts & Dons Cup Semi Clash

Celts & Dons Semi Cup Clash
~~~~~~~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~~~~~~~


Alistair Johnston & Paulo Bernardo contend with Aberdeen's Shayden Morris in the recent 2-2 draw


Hampden Park, Glasgow
Saturday, 2 November 2024
17.30 GMT

Celtic and Aberdeen goe head to head for the second time in a fortnight, when they meet at Hampden Park tomorrow, as both eye a place in next month's League Cup Final.

The Bhoys and the Dons both continue to be in remarkable form coming into this game, with both having beaten every other domestic opposition that they have come up against this season. Even when they played each other in the league, neither team managed to come out on top.

Despite the fact that Celtic remain undefeated by the Reds since 2018, these two sides have played out three consecutive draws in 2024, with just the lottery of penalties following the Scottish Cup Semi-Final being the only thing that has been able to seperate them in recent encounters.

Indeed, when these sides last met just a couple of weeks ago, Celtic appeared to be cruising, with a 2-0 lead at halftime, before Thelin implemented some changes which sparked the visitors from the Granite City to fight their way back to level at 2-2, maintaining the undefeated status of both sides in the process.

However, this is a Cup Semi-Final, and of the two best teams in Scotland currently, only one can progress. Something has got to give, and tomorrow we will find out what that is, short of going to penalties once again.


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The Bhoys will need to improve on their performance in the 2-0 win over Dundee on Wednesday. There were some of the troubling hallmarks of last season's wobbles, where the Celts dominated possession but struggled to find much in the way of penetration or end product, until the manager began to ring the changes in the second half.

That said, Brendan Rodgers was able to rotate his squad in order to rest some of his players ahead of this key game and the return to Champions League action this coming week.

While that game was playing out in Glasgow, the Dons were outplaying Sevco up at Pittodrie, where they emerged with a 2-1 victory. In truth, it could've and probably should've been even more, the Reds having also hit the woodwork and missed a golden opportunity from the penality spot.

With nothing but goal difference between them on the league ladder and only the lottery of penalties that seperated them in last season's Scottish Cup Semi-Final, these two sides have proven over the 3 previous meetings in 2024 that they can and will go toe to toe.

That said, there are certain advantages that Celtic have in their favour, such as Brendan Rodgers has never lost a game at Hampden, or the historical record in head to head meetings at the National Stadium, or that Rodgers has been able to rest some of his key players ahead of this game in comparison to the Dons.

All of that that not withstanding, this is a one off Cup game where anything can happen. Add all of that up and it makes tomorrow's Semi-Final absolutely unmissable box office.


Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin and Head Bhoy Brendan Rodgers will be going head to head once again​

By the Numbers​

• Celtic are undefeated by Aberdeen since May 2018, having won 20 of the last 26 meetings overall.

• The Hoops also have an outstanding record at Hampden Park, winning 26 of their past 28 visits to the National Stadium since 2015.

• That includes being undefeated in all 12 Semi Finals or Finals where Brendan Rodgers has been the Celtic manager.

• The Dons remain undefeated under manager Jimmy Thelin, including having won 15 of their 16 games (10LG, 6LC).

• Indeed, the only thing the Reds have lost since March was the penalty shootout following the 3-3 Scottish Cup Semi-Final between these sides in April.

• Aberdeen pose a threat across the entire park and have already had 15 different goal scorers.

Team News

Celtic have been boosted by the news that Adam Idah could be available for the weekend, along with Callum McGregor and Nicholas Kuhn. Luke McCowan is Cup-tied however, while Odin Thiago Holm continues to be sidelined with a calf problem.

There are expected a few changes from the side that took to the pitch against Dundee, with the likes of Alistair Johnston, Liam Scales and Daizen Maeda also anticipated to feature in the starting XI.

As for the Dons, midfielder Dante Polvara is back training and nearing a return after a hamstring problem, although it may be too soon for this game, while Kevin Nisbet, who narrowly failed his fitness test ahead of the midweek victory over Sevco, could be in contention if the few extra days could have helped with his recovery.

Striker Papa Habib Gueye remains sidelined until the new year.​

Referee: Kevin Clancy

This will be the third time this season that Clancy has been appointed to a game involving Celtic; the previous being the 3-1 win against Hibs earlier in this Cup tournament and more recently, the 2-1 league win v Ross County.

Celtic's Overall Record
M:57 W:42 D:8 L:7

VAR: Andrew Dallas

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~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~

Overall
P: 308 W: 188 D: 69 L: 51​

Last 5 Meetings
D D D W W

~~~~ 2024/25 Form ~~~~

All Comps
W W D D W ~ W W D W W​