MRF2023 AberdeenvCeltic
Aberdeen

Aberdeen vs Celtic

, KO: 15:00 , Hampden Park
Celtic

Celtic stand on the brink of yet another Treble but Aberdeen will be fired up to end 35 years of hurt when they take on the Hoops in the Scottish Cup Final.

The Dons haven't got their hands on this trophy since beating the Hoops on penalties back in 1990 so they will be desperate to give the long-suffering Red Army some overdue Hampden joy.

But Jimmy Thelin's side are in dismal form heading into the showpiece, losing their final four league games to finish in a disappointing fifth place.

One of those defeats was a 5-1 Pittodrie thrashing by a second-string Celtic side, with a full house of tips landing for our man Mark.

The Hoops also dished out a savage 6-0 beating in the League Cup semi-final and finished the league season 39 points ahead of the Dons. So it's easy to see why the bookies make Brendan Rodgers' men red-hot favourites.

Celtic weren't at their best last weekend as they signed off with a 1-1 draw at home to St Mirren, with James Forrest bringing up a scorer bet for Mark in the dying seconds.

But Rodgers will have his players ready for Hampden as they bid to finish off another memorable season in style.

How the bookies view it: Dons written off

With Aberdeen in such poor form, they are BoyleSports' 5/1 outsiders to lift the trophy and 7/1 to win inside 90 minutes. Celtic are 1/9 to come out on top and the odds only increase to 2/7 for them to finish the job in normal time. The draw at 90 minutes pays 4/1.

Recent head to head: Celtic bossing it

You have to go all the way back to 2018 for Aberdeen's last win over Celtic, with the Hoops unbeaten in the last 30 meetings. The Dons drew 2-2 at Parkhead at the start of this season but have since lost four in a row, with three of those defeats coming by a margin of five goals or more.

Players to watch: Daizen out to dazzle

The only Celtic forward guaranteed to start at Hampden is Daizen Maeda and the Japanese star will be out to crown a season that has seen him hoover up the Player of the Year awards. He hasn't been at his best in the last couple of games but still looks good for anytime scorer at 5/4 with BoyleSports.

Kevin Nisbet scored Aberdeen's goal when they last took on the Hoops and the Millwall loanee will want to sign off with a cup final goal. He's 3/1 at BoyleSports to take his tally for the season to 15.

Probable line-ups

Aberdeen are set to be without Ester Sokler,  Sivert Heltne Nilsen and Vicente Besuijen again but stopper Alfie Dorrington returns from suspension.

Reo Hatate's injury leaves a hole in midfield that will be filled by either Paulo Bernardo or Luke McCowan. Rodgers must also decide whether to pick in-form veteran Forrest in attack ahead of either Nicolas Kuhn or Adam Idah.

Aberdeen: Mitov, Shinnie, Knoester, Tobers, Jensen, Clarkson, Palvaversa, Gueye, Keskinen, Morris, Nisbet.

Celtic: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, McGregor, Engels, Bernardo, Forrest, Kuhn, Maeda.

Anything else catch the eye?

Thelin has been quite bold with his approach against Celtic, going to man to man in games and trying to press high. It has worked in spells but also left his side wide open at times, particularly in those three heavy defeats.

It will be interesting to see if he does the same at Hampden or tries a more pragmatic approach but we should see goals and over 3.5 strikes pays 6/5 at BoyleSports.

Aberdeen will be hoping the physicality of Pape Gueye can upset Celtic's defence, particularly at set pieces. He could be worth a punt for an effort on target once that market is priced up while the Dons star is 8/5 to be carded at BoyleSports.

Aberdeen vs Celtic Betting Tips & Predictions
Over 3.5 goals
6/5
Boylesports
Daizen Maeda anytime scorer
5/4
Boylesports
Pape Gueye to be carded
8/5
Boylesports
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