The Scottish Cup final on Saturday sees Aberdeen face Celtic in a battle for the world’s oldest domestic trophy.
With Celtic chasing a historic ninth domestic treble and Aberdeen aiming to end a 35-year Scottish Cup drought, this match at Hampden Park promises to be an exciting clash.
The two sides met earlier this month in the league, where Celtic won 5-1 at Pittodrie with a rotated squad. That result sets the tone for this final, but cup matches often bring surprises.
H2H-wise, Celtic have dominated this fixture, winning 41 of their 50 meetings across all competitions, while Aberdeen have claimed 4 victories.
In the five games between the two sides this season, Celtic won four while scoring 19 goals to Aberdeen’s four strikes. But the 2-2 comeback in October suggests the Dons could make this final competitive.
Aberdeen midfielder Dante Polvara captured this underdog spirit before the match –
“In a weird way, it makes it a bit nicer knowing there’s no pressure on you, right? So you can really go out there and go for it. That kind of gives us the licence and belief, like, okay, everyone’s against us, and that lets you form a bit of a tighter-knit group and a real belief within.”
Aberdeen’s season has been a tale of two halves. They started with a 16-game unbeaten run but slumped with just two wins in their next 17 matches. Their Scottish Cup campaign, however, has been a bright spot, with a dramatic extra-time semi-final win over Hearts.
A huge loss to Dundee United in their last game exposed their weakness but manager Jimmy Thelin remains optimistic, stating –
“We have a clear plan of what we’re going to do. The Scottish Cup has a really big history, it’s a big thing, and you can feel it already around the club and around the country. We are really excited for this moment, everyone.”
On the other end, Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic have been relentless in the 24/25 season. They’ve already secured the Scottish Premiership title with an impressive 97 goals scored and just 22 conceded across the season.
Their recent comeback win over Hibernian and the thrashing of Aberdeen show Bhoys are peaking at the right time, even with occasional injury concerns like Reo Hatate’s recent knock.
Celtic’s squad depth has been a key strength, with Rodgers able to rotate players like Maik Nawrocki and Johnny Kenny while maintaining high performance levels.
A draw against St. Mirren last week, salvaged by James Forrest’s stoppage-time equalizer, showed this depth despite resting key players.
Betting Tips & Predictions
Given Celtic’s dominant form and historical edge, they enter the final as favorites. Their attacking output, averaging nearly three goals per game in the Premiership, suggests they’ll create plenty of chances.
Both Teams to Score – Yes (90 mins)
Four of the last six meetings between Aberdeen and Celtic saw both teams score. Celtic’s attack is prolific, but Aberdeen’s forwards like Kevin Nisbet have shown they can exploit gaps.
Over 2.5 Goals (90 mins)
The last 10 head-to-heads averaged 4.4 goals, with Celtic’s 5-1 win over Aberdeen this month and other high-scoring encounters (e.g., 3-1, 4-0) pointing to an open game.
Adam Idah to Score Anytime
Idah has been in fine form, scoring five goals in his last five games. His physical presence and finishing make him a strong candidate to find the net in the final.
Over 8.5 Corners
Both the teams average almost 12 corners per game in the Premiership. Aberdeen’s counter-attacking style often forces defensive corners and recent high-scoring games between these sides suggest a corner-heavy final.
Disclaimer – Always gamble responsibly and consider all factors before placing a bet.
