Celtic vs Aberdeen prediction, H2H and probable lineups - 21 December 2025
One of the fixtures of Scottish Premiership matchday 18 will take place this Sunday at Celtic Park in Glasgow, where the local side Celtic hosts Aberdeen. I’m offering a bet on the outcome of this clash, with a solid chance for success.
Match preview
Celtic approach this game sitting second in the league table—a rather unusual position for such a legendary Scottish club. The Hoops have 32 points and trail league leaders Hearts by six points, though they still have a game in hand. For the reigning Scottish champions, this return is certainly below preseason expectations.
The club recently underwent a managerial change: Wilfried Nancy, previously coaching exclusively in MLS, replaced interim boss Martin O’Neill. So far, the decision hasn’t paid off. Under the French manager, Celtic have played four games and lost all of them: to Hearts in the league (1-2), to Italian side Roma in the Europa League (0-3), to St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup final (1-3), and to Dundee in the domestic championship (1-2).
Aberdeen come into this encounter following a tough trip to the Czech Republic, where they were comprehensively beaten 0-3 by Sparta Prague in the Conference League. That match, however, had no bearing on the group standings—Aberdeen finished second-last in their group, ahead of only Austria’s Rapid.
In the Scottish Premiership, Aberdeen’s fortunes have been much brighter. They’re unbeaten in seven consecutive matches, with their last loss dating back to October 26, when they fell 1-2 to Hibernian. In the previous round, Aberdeen secured a 2-1 win over Kilmarnock, scoring both goals in the dying minutes, with the match-winner coming from the penalty spot.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Over 2 goals have been scored in six of Celtic’s last seven matches.
- Both teams have found the net in five of Celtic’s last seven outings.
- Aberdeen have conceded in each of their last five matches.
- Four of Aberdeen’s last five games have seen more than two goals scored.
- Celtic have a clear advantage in their last ten head-to-head meetings: seven wins for the Hoops, only one for Aberdeen, and two draws.
Probable lineups
- Celtic: Schmeichel - Ralston, Trusty, Tierney - Hyun-Jun, McGregor, Bernardo, McCowan - Hatate, Maeda, Kenny
- Aberdeen: Mitov - Devlin, Milne, Knoester - Jensen, Armstrong, Polvara, Keskinen - Aouchiche, Karlsson, Nisbet
Prediction
The optimal bet for this match, in my opinion, is “both teams to score – yes.” Celtic are currently playing an open, attacking brand of football: they regularly get on the scoresheet but often make mistakes at the back, allowing opponents to create chances and score. All this increases the likelihood of goals at both ends, so my prediction is that both teams will find the net.
