Aberdeen

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It might be far too premature to talk about Jimmy Thelin's Aberdeen as title contenders, but this match will be a fascinating marker of their progress after a run of 13 league and cup wins on the spin.

The Dons have failed to beat Celtic in their last 25 attempts, the club's longest run ever without defeating the green and white half of Glasgow.

Their last three trips to Celtic Park have ended 6-0, 5-0, and 4-0. So, a competitive performance, never mind a positive result, would be progress.

Aberdeen's start has been impressive, with Thelin quickly implementing an attractive style while improving players.

But this will be the first game the Swede has faced for which his side are not the favourites, and so will be a test of his ability to adapt his tactics, something he was effective at when in charge of Elfsborg in his homeland.

Plus, some of Aberdeen's numbers - particularly how ruthless they have been in taking chances - could suggest they are over performing relative to their general play.

The club rank seventh in the Premiership for shots on target per game, but top the league when it comes to the rate of shots they get on target ending in goals.

Whereas Celtic are only slightly less efficient but while creating far more opportunities, which is why they have hit 22 goals in just seven games.

Brendan Rodgers' side have only conceded one, as well, in their flawless start.

So this is an altogether different challenge for Thelin's Aberdeen. How they respond will be intriguing, but not defining for the team or manager.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

Live commentary from Celtic Park on BBC Sportsound, Radio Scotland, Saturday, from 14:00 BST. Text updates from all Scottish Premiership matches on BBC Sport website & app.

We asked for your views on what you want to see from Aberdeen when the Scottish top flight resumes this weekend after the international break.

The Dons' perfect record under manager Jimmy Thelin is on the line at Celtic Park on Saturday.

Here's what you had to say:

Euan: This will be our first test in a game where we are not expected to dictate the play. That's a new dynamic for us. I'm really interested to watch Sivert Nilsen in this environment, he's been a key part to our build up play but will have a lot to do in this fixture I expect. Similarly with Topi Keskinen, I can see him getting a lot of joy on the counter attack.

Eric: There is no real expectation on Aberdeen in this match. We are developing as a team and this is just another step in the process. Celtic's resources are such that no other Scottish team should be able to compete or beat Celtic this season, so we only need to see a strong performance from the Dons in this match and any points would be a huge bonus.

Rob: The results so far have been excellent. We hoped Thelin coming in as manager would give the team a lift but he has rejuvenated the atmosphere and mood around the team. Celtic will be tough and while a win or draw there would be brilliant, the key will be how they respond and learn. A loss cannot affect their attitude against Rangers and Dundee United.

Ally: We are all looking forward to this game! Anyone who has even a slight interest in the Scottish game will be! Our record against Celtic doesn't make good reading. However, this is a different red animal, we have built on a great start to the season, and we are more than ready to stand up to this challenge!

Niall: The Dons should travel to Parkhead with more confidence than they have done for many years. The approach to the match should be no different, accepting the challenge will be the toughest in Thelin's tenure to date. Let's just keep it tight at the back, work hard for each other for the full 90 minutes and when they can, put in drive and intensity going forward.

Ben: If we can take something away from Celtic Park I'll obviously be buzzing, but I won't mind a loss if we do it in a respectable way. You could tell under Barry Robson we were never going to challenge, because when we played Celtic we would consistently ship five or six against them, so I hope to see Thelin change that narrative with a solid performance.

Dick: The run has been great, the manager's understanding of the game is fantastic. Would love to win a cup or finish second or third in the league with a guaranteed shot at a run in Europe again.

Eilidh: We need to go to Celtic Park and not be scared, the momentum has never been better before going down there. Celtic have a great attack which we'll need to defend very well for the full 90 minutes, but the Celtic defence can easily be broken down and that's something we need to really go for. Hope to see Duk come on and cause trouble again

Mike: Great start to the season, need to keep things in perspective though and look to kick on and finish third now, that would be a massive improvement on last season.

Gordon: More long-term control of games in the midfield especially. Too often the other team become dominant for long spells and we can't seem to reassert control. Sooner or later that's going to cost us. I'm not expecting anything from the Celtic game but hopefully not a hammering.

Daniel: I'll be interested to see if Thelin deals with Celtic's high press and if he does anything at the back to cover Slobodan Rubezic and Gavin Molloy against the attacking pace of Daizen Maeda, Nicolas Kuhn et al.

Stefan: Celtic drop very few points at home, so it's going to be difficult. We need to do the basics well and transition from back to front quickly with outlets like Kevin Nisbet, Keskinen and Duk getting us up the park. Big game for Ante Palaversa, Graeme Shinnie and Nilsen. Really looking forward to seeing how Thelin approaches this given our significant Celtic scars.

"Aberdeen changed my life," says Girona and North Macedonia striker Bojan Miovski, who does not rule out a return to Pittodrie one day. (Daily Mail), external

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

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• Celtic are unbeaten in 25 meetings with Aberdeen in all competitions (W20 D5) since a 0-1 league defeat in May 2018. It’s the Hoops’ longest ever unbeaten run against the Reds.

• Aberdeen have lost each of their last eight league visits to Celtic Park by an aggregate score of 23-2 since a goalless draw in March 2019 under Derek McInnes. Indeed, the Dons have lost 34 of their last 36 away league games against Celtic (W1 D1).

• Both Celtic and Aberdeen have won all seven of their league matches this season. The last side to win their first eight matches of a Scottish top-flight campaign were Aberdeen in 2015-16, while Celtic last achieved this in 2010-11.

• Celtic have won each of their last 13 home games in all competitions, scoring 47 goals in the process (3.6 per game). The Hoops last won more in a row at Celtic Park from August-December 2019 (15).

• The top two players for goal involvements in the Scottish Premiership this season are Celtic’s Nicolas Kühn (7 – 3 goals, 4 assists) and Aberdeen’s Jamie McGrath (6 – 2 goals, 4 assists). For Kühn, he has surpassed both his goal (2) and assist (2) tally in 14 appearances in last season’s competition, while McGrath has recorded 44% of his assists in the Scottish Premiership this term (4/9).

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Ex-Aberdeen striker Lee Miller says Jimmy Thelin has had an "incredible" impact at his former club - and he is predicting it will continue this weekend.

The Dons have won all seven of their league games this season and face their toughest test on Saturday when they travel to face Celtic.

Brendan Rodgers' side will still be favourites for the top-of-the-table clash after also enjoying a perfect winning start to their Premiership campaign.

But Miller, who played at Pittodrie between 2006 and 2010, is predicting his former side will get out of Glasgow with a draw.

"I think it will be a score draw, I'm going for 2-2," he said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I think Thelin will tweak it slightly because he's comfortable allowing other teams to have the ball.

"He's been incredible, it's really given the city a lift and you can see the fans backing the team and the manager.

"They're playing good football, but when they're not they're still winning games. That’s the sign of a really good squad."

While fellow BBC Scotland pundit Stephen McGinn feels Celtic will come out on top, the former St Mirren midfielder believes Thelin's record - and approach - in big games when he was Elfsborg manager gives Aberdeen a chance.

"They won't have a lot of the ball," he added. "In some of the big wins with Elfsborg in Sweden, they hardly had any possession.

"They beat Malmo with 19% possession, but the one that got me was they beat AIK Stockholm 6-1 with 32% possession."

Aberdeen travel to Celtic on Saturday for a top-of-the-table Premiership showdown.

With the sides enjoying perfect winning starts in the league, both teams go into the fixture level on 21 points from seven games.

A victory would be a serious statement from Jimmy Thelin and his players, but the Dons are without a win over Celtic in more than six years.

Not since May 2018 have the Pittodrie side beaten the Glasgow club, who were defeated on the final day of the 2017-18 season as the Dons became the first Scottish team to inflict a home loss on Brendan Rodgers' Celtic.

That win also secured second place in the Premiership for the fourth year in a row for Aberdeen, all thanks to Andrew Considine's second-half strike.

Slobodan Rubezic believes "nothing is impossible" as Aberdeen prepare to take on Celtic in Glasgow on Saturday after both won their opening seven Scottish Premiership games. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

And so the acid test arrives. Aberdeen head to Celtic Park with their 100% start to the season on the line but with a real opportunity to make a serious statement.

It is clearly the toughest assignment Scottish football has to offer, and if the Dons were able to snap a 25-game winless sequence against the champions in their own back yard then there will have to be a conversation about just how far this team can go this season.

Firstly, no matter how well or poorly Aberdeen are doing, Celtic are always up for this fixture - and despite the spectre of a crucial Champions League date with Atalanta in Italy just a few days later, it’s unlikely Brendan Rodgers and his players will be taking their eye off the ball.

The Dons’ last win over the green and white side of the city actually came at Parkhead and it came against a Rodgers team, albeit after they had secured the second title of his first tenure.

It also allowed Derek McInnes to seal second spot for a fourth straight season as Pittodrie manager.

That match remains one of just two that Rodgers has lost at home domestically, with the other being Hearts’ success there last December.

The 25 games without a victory is easily the worst in the history of this fixture, the previous record had been 18, while Aberdeen have only kept four clean sheets in the last 119 meetings.

And while those are live records, this is a clean slate for the club when taking on Celtic as Jimmy Thelin looks to take the excitement level in the Granite City to fever pitch.

The Swede doesn’t bare the scars of his predecessors and under Peter Leven, they ran Celtic to within a penalty of beating them at Hampden in last season’s Scottish Cup semi-final.

The Dons also have plenty pace in their squad and that will be needed at times, plus it would be no surprise to see Ante Palaversa joining Sivert Heltne Nilsen and captain Graeme Shinnie in a beefed up midfield with the intention of not allowing Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Arne Engels to dictate play.

Regardless of what happens, the progression at Pittodrie right now is there for all to see, and with home games against Dundee Utd and Rangers following this one, it could be quite the fortnight.

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Former Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis has officially announced his retirement from football.

The 36-year-old's last game took place almost two years ago when he played for the Dons in a 3-1 defeat against St Mirren back in February 2023.

Lewis signed for the Pittodrie side in 2016 and went on to play more than 250 matches for the club.

Aberdeen say the Englishman has been "a fantastic player and ambassador for our club".

With domestic football making its return this weekend, we want to know what you're looking for from your side.

It's been the perfect start for Jimmy Thelin at Aberdeen, with a trip to Celtic to come on Saturday.

Is there anything you want the team to build on if they are to maintain their stunning start?

Give us your thoughts here, external.

Nicky Devlin's Scotland debut may have been brief but it was eventful, with the defender making a vital contribution in a hard fought 0-0 draw with Portugal at Hampden.

The Aberdeen right-back replaced Anthony Ralston after 89 minutes at Hampden and soon after his introduction made a great block to keep out a shot from Rafael Leao.

"It is probably a dream come true," said the 30-year-old.

"I understand, probably for millions of people, that’s their dream, and I managed to get on tonight and make mine come true.

"So a proud moment for me and all my family. I was a bit apprehensive in terms of, you don't want to come on and concede a goal late.

"You have to focus on doing your job, do the job the way you’ve been doing it. That’s what got you to this point."

On his crucial intervention to deny the AC Milan winger, Devlin said: "I wasn't sure if I was tucked in too much and maybe that's why he had a wee bit of space.

"But you've got to just fling your body at it.

"For the last two games, the defence, the whole team, have made a lot of blocks, Craig Gordon has made a few big saves.

"So you kind of just want to do your part and hopefully I managed to do that."

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Ex-Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis has revealed Steven Gerrard wanted to take him to Rangers but he could not go back on a verbal agreement with the Dons. (Daily Record)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Amid a perfect winning start, singling out any of Jimmy Thelin's Aberdeen players feels somewhat unfair.

There have been epic contributions all over the pitch so far, from Dimitar Mitov in goal all the way up to Pape Habib Gueye in attack.

But the efforts of Jamie McGrath, deployed in a left midfield role this term, simply cannot go unnoticed.

With four Premiership assists to his name already this season, no other player has managed more.

Factor in the two goals he has also scored in the league, his goal and assist contribution of six is only bettered by Celtic's Nicolas Kuhn (seven).

The 28-year-old Irishman is also dominating the charts for chance creation - nobody has provided more chances (20) or big chances (four).

And the former St Mirren and Dundee United man's contribution isn't just about his attacking output.

Off the ball, McGrath has made 14 tackles, five interceptions and won possession on 32 occasions in what has been a stellar start to the campaign.

Aberdeen's toughest test of the season is on the horizon this Saturday with a trip to Celtic, who must make sure they nullify the Dons midfielder's threat in a top-of-the-table showdown in Glasgow.

Ex-Aberdeen striker Duncan Shearer would be tempted to play unpredictable striker Duk at Celtic this weekend. (Press & Journal)

Former defender Andy Considine is enjoying life as Aberdeen Under-16s as he builds towards his goal of becoming a manager. (Press & Journal)

Read the rest of Tuesday's gossip.

Dundee midfielder Sammy Braybrooke, 20, hopes to emulate England international James Maddison, who once worked with Dens Park boss Tony Docherty at Aberdeen. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

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Willie Miller has hailed the simplicity of the football being played by Aberdeen under manager Jimmy Thelin, and believes there is still more to come from the high-flying Dons.

Aberdeen have won all 13 of their games this season under the Swedish manager, despite the summer departure of talisman Bojan Miovski, and sit second in the Scottish Premiership, behind Celtic on goal difference.

Thelin's side go to Celtic Park after the international break, and Miller says "everything is rosy" before that top-of-the-table clash.

"I think there's still a lot of improvement to be made, but it's simple football," Miller told Sportsound. "Thelin has a really good shape, it's forward-thinking football.

"If you're sitting in the stands, you want to see attractive football, you want to see your team putting the opposition under pressure and Thelin has got all that.

"You're looking at Miovski leaving, and you're thinking 'what's going to happen?' - that's their talisman. They haven't missed him at all, they've found goals all over the pitch.

"Everything is rosy in the north east, and I haven't been able to say that for a long time. It will be a real test next week, I'm looking forward to how Aberdeen stand up to it."

Miller also highlighted the roles of several high-performing defenders in Aberdeen's winning run.

"The two full-backs - Nicky Devlin and Jack MacKenzie - who have been drafted into the Scotland squad, they deserve it," Miller said. "They have both been playing at a very high level.

"Out of possession, they aren't giving away many goals. Gavin Molloy has been really impressive, very thoughtful. He was bought as a project, they weren't expecting him to be in the starting XI, so that's a real bonus."

Preston North End, Sheffield United and Stoke City are tracking Aberdeen left-back Jack MacKenzie, 24. (Sun), external

Ex-Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis has urged Dons fans to dream big after they won their opening 13 games this season. (Record), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

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Nicky Devlin is "absolutely delighted" to sign a new contract with Aberdeen until 2027.

The right-back, who is currently in Croatia with the Scotland national team for the first time, has become a key player for the Dons, particularly this season under new manager Jimmy Thelin.

"I've loved my time at Aberdeen and I am absolutely delighted to be extending my time here," the 30-year-old told Aberdeen's website.

"We are really starting to build something positive at the club and I’m looking forward to being part of that."

Devlin joined from Livingston at the beginning of last season and signed a two-year deal then, but manager Thelin was determined to ensure the services of the "dependable" full-back for longer.

"Nicky is a dependable member of the squad, always the professional, and a leader in the dressing room," the Swede said.

"He is the type of player we want here and we're delighted he will remain with us at Pittodrie for the next few years.

"His performances this season have quite righty earned him a call-up to the national squad and we are all so pleased to see him recognised at this level.

"Senior players such as Nicky are so important to helping establish the correct environment at a club, his appetite and desire to success are clear to see and he will remain an integral part of what are building here."

BBC Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering your questions.

Alan asked: Tom, the gap between the financial power of the Old Firm and the rest of Scottish football is huge and getting wider. Can you suggest one pragmatic change that would make for a more level playing field and allow a more even competition?

Tom answered: Hi Alan. To be honest with you, I can't. And I've tried. Aberdeen's turnover is about £16m, Rangers is around £84m and Celtic have a turnover of circa £125m. I can’t think of a measure that would be fair to all clubs while making a significant difference on the financial side.

If you redistributed the TV and prize money around the other 10 clubs, instead of all 12, then it still wouldn't scratch the surface. Not that that redistribution would ever happen. The gulf is just impossibly wide.

Champions League riches and a thriving player trading model are the twin earners that have taken Celtic out of sight of everybody else. The sale of Matt O'Riley brought in more cash to Celtic than Aberdeen's turnover for an entire season. That's the savage reality.

Aberdeen need group-stage European football season after season after season. Use that money wisely to buy imaginatively and sell on players for big money, as the club has already done very effectively on a number of occasions.

That's all you can do. A huge task in itself, of course, but Jimmy Thelin is a seriously impressive character. The Aberdeen story fascinates me.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are tracking new Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin, while former West Ham United boss David Moyes is also a potential replacement, should Gary O'Neil fail to secure better results during the forthcoming more favourable run of fixtures for the Premier League club. (The Sun), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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BBC Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering your questions.

Ross asked: How would you compare Aberdeen's squad depth to the rest of the league, including the Old Firm? As a fan, I cannot remember a stronger squad where substitutions are of such high quality and in form.

Tom answered: The squad is the best outside of the Old Firm, I think. Hearts have a good squad that will rouse itself sooner or later, but when you look closely at what Aberdeen have, they've got a lot of guys you can hang your hat on.

Sunday was the perfect example. They needed something off the bench and they got it in those pivotal seconds with Duk and Ante Palaversa. Kevin Nisbet scored a winner when coming on in previous weeks. Vicente Besuijen scored when coming on as well.

This is just the league I'm talking about. They're getting a really good return from their bench, which is utterly crucial. Obviously, that signals good depth.

Also, what I like is that they lost their main goalscorer in Bojan Miovski, then they lost Pape Gueye, who was flying. Two goalscorers down would destroy a lot of clubs, but they had Nisbet, who's really good and will only get better at Aberdeen.

Duk coming back is potentially significant. He offers something completely different if his head stays screwed on. They have a very, very settled team and squad. Avoid injuries to the defence and they're a banker bet for third at the end of the season.

I don't think the squad is deep enough as it is to challenge for second, but you never know, January might change that.

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Jimmy Thelin can lead his team to Celtic with "fantastic confidence" after making a "remarkable" start to his Aberdeen tenure, says Dons legend Alex McLeish.

Following the international break, Swede Thelin will take his side to Glasgow for a top-of-the-table showdown with the reigning Premiership champions.

Both clubs have won each of their seven league games this term, with Thelin on a 13-game winning run overall since his appointment.

But McLeish, who was an integral part of the last Dons side to win the title under Alex Ferguson in 1985, says his former team will face "the acid test" at Parkhead.

"Celtic are formidable in the Scottish league," the former defender told BBC Scotland. "But Aberdeen must be going there with fantastic confidence.

"The way they're playing, the way Jimmy has set them up, you know they're playing with great verve and swagger. Can they take that to the Old Firm? That's the question.

"Way back in the day, I always remember Sir Alex when we went to Glasgow, he wanted to quicken things up a bit, tempo, tempo, tempo, because they expect teams to come and waste time down there.

"Hopefully Aberdeen are well organised, they've got to make themselves hard to beat in these games but also look like a goal threat as well."

On the job Thelin has done so far as Aberdeen boss, McLeish added: "It's remarkable, fantastic. You have to hand it to him, nobody knew Jimmy.

"The Aberdeen directors, the chairman, they look as if they've done their homework extremely well and right now everything is inspirational and fantastic."

What would you like to ask Tom English about Aberdeen?

Our chief sportswriter is in the hotseat ready to answer your questions and offer his insight and opinion on your club.

Who has been the top performer so far? Is the manager exceeding expectations?

Put your questions to Tom here, external.