Celtic vs Aberdeen

21 December 2025 · Scottish Premiership · 2025/26 · Referee David Dickinson

Full time 3 – 1

Half-time: 1–0

  • B. Nygren 39’
  • K. Tierney 88’
  • J. Forrest 90+2’
  • K. Bilalovic 74’

Match summary

Celtic beat Aberdeen 3-1. Celtic led 1-0 at half-time.

In the first half, B. Nygren put Celtic ahead in the 39th minute. In the second half, K. Bilalovic equalised in the 74th minute, K. Tierney put Celtic back in front with a header in the 88th minute, and J. Forrest made it 3-1 in stoppage time.

The chances backed that up: Celtic created 4.87 expected goals (xG) from 31 shots to Aberdeen's 0.91 from 10.

Match stats

73% Possession 27%
31 Shots 10
10 Shots on target 2
8 Corners 4
701 Passes 266
91.3% Pass accuracy 70.3%
13 Tackles 9
12 Fouls 13
1 Yellow cards 2
0 Red cards 1
3 Offsides 1

Key events

Celtic Aberdeen
18’
S. Armstrong
B. NygrenShot on target
32’
B. NygrenRight foot shot1-0 (Celtic)
39’
42’
T. KeskinenShot on target
45’
D. Lobban
A. Engels
45’
L. McCowanShot on target
45’
C. McGregorShot on target
47’
A. TrustyShot on target
47’
L. McCowanShot on target
49’
A. RalstonShot on target
50’
53’
G. ShinnieJ. Karlsson
54’
E. GyamfiT. Keskinen
68’
K. M. KjartanssonA. Aouchiche
68’
K. BilalovicM. Lazetić
J. ForrestY. Hyun-Jun
69’
L. ScalesL. McCowan
69’
S. YamadaJ. Kenny
70’
J. ForrestShot on target
73’
74’
K. BilalovicRight foot shot1-1 (Aberdeen)
C. DonovanA. Ralston
82’
84’
A. Jensen
K. TierneyHeader2-1 (Celtic)
88’
89’
K. NisbetA. Jensen
J. ForrestRight foot shot3-1 (Celtic)
90’

How the chances added up

Running total of expected goals (xG) for each side through the match. xG rates each chance by how often similar shots are scored. A goal is marked where it was scored.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0’ 15’ 30’ 45’ 60’ 75’ 90’ HT 4.87 0.91 39’ B. Nygren (Celtic), 1-0 39’ 74’ K. Bilalovic (Aberdeen), 1-1 74’ 88’ K. Tierney (Celtic), 2-1 88’ 90+2’ J. Forrest (Celtic), 3-1 90+2’ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0’ 15’ 30’ 45’ 60’ 75’ 90’ HT 4.87 0.91 39’ B. Nygren (Celtic), 1-0 Nygren 39’ 74’ K. Bilalovic (Aberdeen), 1-1 Bilalovic 74’ 88’ K. Tierney (Celtic), 2-1 Tierney 88’ 90+2’ J. Forrest (Celtic), 3-1 Forrest 90+2’
Celtic 4.87 xGAberdeen 0.91 xG Goal

Tap a goal for the scorer and score.

Shot map

Every shot and where it was taken from.

 Aberdeen attacking Celtic attacking 
39’ B. Nygren (Celtic), open play, 0.55 xG, goal 6’ J. Kenny (Celtic), open play, 0.52 xG, off target 88’ K. Tierney (Celtic), open play, 0.50 xG, goal 74’ K. Bilalovic (Aberdeen), open play, 0.42 xG, goal 90+2’ J. Forrest (Celtic), open play, 0.38 xG, goal 63’ A. Engels (Celtic), open play, 0.28 xG, hit the woodwork 46’ J. Kenny (Celtic), from a corner, 0.24 xG, off target 47’ C. McGregor (Celtic), open play, 0.23 xG, saved 27’ D. Maeda (Celtic), from a corner, 0.22 xG, off target 48’ M. Lazetić (Aberdeen), set piece, 0.22 xG, blocked 89’ D. Maeda (Celtic), open play, 0.21 xG, off target 32’ B. Nygren (Celtic), open play, 0.20 xG, saved 35’ J. Kenny (Celtic), open play, 0.19 xG, off target 48’ J. Kenny (Celtic), from a corner, 0.17 xG, off target 45’ L. McCowan (Celtic), open play, 0.14 xG, saved 73’ J. Forrest (Celtic), open play, 0.12 xG, saved 90+4’ S. Yamada (Celtic), open play, 0.12 xG, blocked 59’ Y. Hyun-Jun (Celtic), open play, 0.11 xG, off target 29’ B. Nygren (Celtic), open play, 0.09 xG, off target 47’ A. Trusty (Celtic), from a corner, 0.08 xG, saved 8’ A. Engels (Celtic), open play, 0.06 xG, off target 81’ K. Bilalovic (Aberdeen), open play, 0.06 xG, blocked 5’ B. Nygren (Celtic), open play, 0.05 xG, off target 61’ C. McGregor (Celtic), set piece, 0.05 xG, blocked 62’ L. McCowan (Celtic), set piece, 0.05 xG, off target 71’ B. Nygren (Celtic), open play, 0.05 xG, off target 20’ T. Keskinen (Aberdeen), open play, 0.05 xG, blocked 43’ J. Karlsson (Aberdeen), from a corner, 0.04 xG, off target 63’ J. Kenny (Celtic), open play, 0.04 xG, blocked 18’ A. Aouchiche (Aberdeen), open play, 0.04 xG, blocked 30’ L. McCowan (Celtic), open play, 0.04 xG, blocked 31’ C. McGregor (Celtic), open play, 0.04 xG, blocked 77’ A. Trusty (Celtic), open play, 0.04 xG, off target 15’ Y. Hyun-Jun (Celtic), open play, 0.03 xG, blocked 41’ A. Aouchiche (Aberdeen), open play, 0.03 xG, blocked 49’ L. McCowan (Celtic), open play, 0.03 xG, saved 42’ T. Keskinen (Aberdeen), from a corner, 0.02 xG, saved 4’ A. Jensen (Aberdeen), from a corner, 0.02 xG, blocked 80’ A. Ralston (Celtic), open play, 0.02 xG, off target 43’ J. Karlsson (Aberdeen), from a corner, 0.02 xG, blocked 50’ A. Ralston (Celtic), open play, 0.01 xG, saved 39’ B. Nygren (Celtic), open play, 0.55 xG, goal 6’ J. Kenny (Celtic), open play, 0.52 xG, off target 88’ K. Tierney (Celtic), open play, 0.50 xG, goal 74’ K. Bilalovic (Aberdeen), open play, 0.42 xG, goal 90+2’ J. Forrest (Celtic), open play, 0.38 xG, goal 63’ A. Engels (Celtic), open play, 0.28 xG, hit the woodwork 46’ J. Kenny (Celtic), from a corner, 0.24 xG, off target 47’ C. McGregor (Celtic), open play, 0.23 xG, saved 27’ D. Maeda (Celtic), from a corner, 0.22 xG, off target 48’ M. Lazetić (Aberdeen), set piece, 0.22 xG, blocked 89’ D. Maeda (Celtic), open play, 0.21 xG, off target 32’ B. Nygren (Celtic), open play, 0.20 xG, saved 35’ J. Kenny (Celtic), open play, 0.19 xG, off target 48’ J. Kenny (Celtic), from a corner, 0.17 xG, off target 45’ L. McCowan (Celtic), open play, 0.14 xG, saved 73’ J. Forrest (Celtic), open play, 0.12 xG, saved 90+4’ S. Yamada (Celtic), open play, 0.12 xG, blocked 59’ Y. Hyun-Jun (Celtic), open play, 0.11 xG, off target 29’ B. Nygren (Celtic), open play, 0.09 xG, off target 47’ A. Trusty (Celtic), from a corner, 0.08 xG, saved 8’ A. Engels (Celtic), open play, 0.06 xG, off target 81’ K. Bilalovic (Aberdeen), open play, 0.06 xG, blocked 5’ B. Nygren (Celtic), open play, 0.05 xG, off target 61’ C. McGregor (Celtic), set piece, 0.05 xG, blocked 62’ L. McCowan (Celtic), set piece, 0.05 xG, off target 71’ B. Nygren (Celtic), open play, 0.05 xG, off target 20’ T. Keskinen (Aberdeen), open play, 0.05 xG, blocked 43’ J. Karlsson (Aberdeen), from a corner, 0.04 xG, off target 63’ J. Kenny (Celtic), open play, 0.04 xG, blocked 18’ A. Aouchiche (Aberdeen), open play, 0.04 xG, blocked 30’ L. McCowan (Celtic), open play, 0.04 xG, blocked 31’ C. McGregor (Celtic), open play, 0.04 xG, blocked 77’ A. Trusty (Celtic), open play, 0.04 xG, off target 49’ L. McCowan (Celtic), open play, 0.03 xG, saved 15’ Y. Hyun-Jun (Celtic), open play, 0.03 xG, blocked 41’ A. Aouchiche (Aberdeen), open play, 0.03 xG, blocked 42’ T. Keskinen (Aberdeen), from a corner, 0.02 xG, saved 4’ A. Jensen (Aberdeen), from a corner, 0.02 xG, blocked 80’ A. Ralston (Celtic), open play, 0.02 xG, off target 43’ J. Karlsson (Aberdeen), from a corner, 0.02 xG, blocked 50’ A. Ralston (Celtic), open play, 0.01 xG, saved
Size shows xG Goal On target Off target or blocked

Hover or tap a shot for the player, minute and xG.

Lineups

Celtic 3-4-2-1 Starting XI
Schmeichel
Ralston 82’
Trusty
Tierney
Hyun-Jun 69’
Engels
McGregor
McCowan 69’
Nygren
Maeda
Kenny 70’
Aberdeen 5-4-1 Starting XI
Mitov
Lobban
Devlin
Milne
Knoester
Jensen
Keskinen 54’
Aouchiche 68’
Armstrong
Karlsson 53’
Lazetić 68’

Player stats

Goalkeeper1 player
K. Schmeichel
90′ 1 1 21 – – – – –
Defenders5 players
A. Ralston
82′ 2 – – 5 1 94 – – – –
A. Trusty
90′ 3 2 – 4 1 99 1 – – –
K. Tierney
90′ – 2 – 2 – 84 1 1 – –
L. Scales Came on as a substitute
21′ – – – 3 3 39 – – – –
C. Donovan Came on as a substitute
8′ – – – 1 – 14 – – 1 –
Midfielders5 players
Y. Hyun-Jun
70′ – – 26 1 – 1 – 5 2 2 –
A. Engels
90′ – – 62 6 – – 2 3 1 1 –
C. McGregor
90′ – 1 96 4 – 2 1 2 – – –
L. McCowan
69′ – – 62 1 – 1 – 2 1 – –
J. Forrest Came on as a substitute
20′ 1 – 18 1 – – – 2 – – –
Forwards4 players
B. Nygren
90′ 1 – 5 2 0.94 – 2 6 3 45 –
D. Maeda
90′ – – 2 0.43 – – –
J. Kenny
70′ – – 5 – 1.18 – 2 4 – 11 –
S. Yamada Came on as a substitute
20′ – – 1 – 0.12 – – 2 1 2 –
Came on Taken off Sent off Red is the most in that position for the team

Every player who took the pitch, starters first and then substitutes. A dash means none. xG and xA are expected goals and assists. A blank cell means that figure is not available for that player.

Before kick-off

Celtic win 70% Avg odds 1.34
Draw 17% Avg odds 5.34
Aberdeen win 13% Avg odds 7.31

Chances implied by the average closing odds, with the bookmaker margin removed.

Form going into the game

Celtic WWWLL
Aberdeen WWDWW

Last five league games before this one, oldest first. Select one to open it.

Previous and next meeting

 Previous meeting: Aberdeen 0-2 Celtic, 10 Aug 25 Next meeting: Aberdeen 1-2 Celtic, 04 Mar 26  All Celtic vs Aberdeen meetings

Shots, expected goals, timeline, lineups, team and player statistics from Bzzoiro Sports Data (sports.bzzoiro.com). Results and odds from football-data.co.uk.