Celtic
3–0
FT · Loss
Aberdeen
2.67xG
-1.99AFC xGD
xG0.68
Expected points 2.44–0.19
Deserved defeatThe verdict
Event data: Opta
A fair defeat.
Celtic generated more attacking volume — 27 shots and 40 box touches to Aberdeen's 9 and 12.
Result model · all chances
Expected points 0.19 – 2.44
From the full xG (0.68–2.67), penalty included.
Performance model · excl. penalty
Expected 0.19 pts
From non-penalty xG (0.68–2.67). Took 0.
Little fortune either way.Result and performance broadly matched.
The match in three battles
Chance qualitySTRONG OPPONENT EDGE
0.68 – 2.67
Expected goals · Aberdeen – Celtic
AFC xG baseline: 1.19
0.08 – 0.10
xG per shot
9 – 27
shots
Celtic created the higher-quality chances per shot.
Territory & progressionOPPONENT EDGE
1.08 – 2.55
Expected threat created · Aberdeen – Celtic
AFC xT baseline: 1.88
37% – 63%
field tilt
35 – 73
final-third entries
Celtic had the better of the territorial battle.
Defensive resistanceOPPONENT EDGE
2.67 xGA
chances conceded
1.11 worse than AFC baseline (1.56)
40 (base 26)
Celtic box touches
0.10
xG per Celtic shot
Celtic accessed Aberdeen's box too easily, but most of their shots were low quality.
ShapeAberdeen started 5-3-2 and stayed in it for the whole match — the changes were personnel, not shape, despite chasing the game. Celtic stayed in 4-1-4-1 throughout.
xG timeline
Aberdeen 0.66Celtic 2.47GoalAberdeen above · opponent below · shaded = sustained pressure
6%
14%
80%
Match odds from simulating these shots at their own xG (20,000 runs) — for fun, not a prediction: it scores what should have happened, not what did.
Each step is a shot; the line climbs by that shot's xG. Steeper, sustained climbs (shaded) mark spells of real pressure.
Shots
Aberdeen Shot Map
Goal
Saved
Blocked
Post
Off target
9 shots
Celtic Shot Map
3 goals: 3 open play
Goal
Saved
Blocked
Post
Off target
27 shots
Shot mix & shots over time
9shots · 3 on target · 0.68 xG
By situation
56%
33%
11%
Open play556%
Corner333%
Free kick / throw111%
By body part
33%
33%
33%
Right foot333%
Left foot333%
Head333%
Every shot in one bucket only. Open play covers unassisted and assisted attempts; counter is a fast break; free kicks, direct set pieces and throw-in routines are grouped because there are rarely enough of any one of them in a single match to read separately. A mix heavy on corners and free kicks with few open-play shots means the side needed a dead ball to get near the goal.
Shots over timefull match · drag to focus a period
Aberdeen 9Celtic 27
↔↔↔↔↔🟨
↔↔↔↔↔⚽🟨⚽⚽
0'HTFT
Five-minute buckets — a side takes roughly a dozen shots a match, so the two-minute bars used for passing would be almost all gaps. Use the buttons for the common windows, or drag across the chart for anything else.
In context
| Aberdeen | This match | This season 5 games | 5-year 190 games | SPFL average 66 team-games | Where that sits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shots | 9 | 9.8 | 12.1 | 14.8 | below usual · 52 of 190 lower |
| below usual · 52 of 190 lower | |||||
| Shots in the box | 5 | 6.2 | 7.9 | 10.2 | below usual · 36 of 190 lower |
| below usual · 36 of 190 lower | |||||
marker = 5-year mean
Passing & build-up
Build-Up Play
Where Aberdeen's passes were and how they progressed the ball
Pass Territory
63.4%
24.9%
11.7%
Own Half
Middle
Final 3rd
Season avg: 46.2% own half
GK Distribution
GK Long Ball %
50.0%avg 60.4%
GK Total Passes
40avg 31
Build-Up Quality
Own-Half Accuracy
94.1%avg 86.0%
Progression
Progressive Passes
35avg 49
Directness
53.2%avg 57.9%
Season avg
Above avg
Below avg
In context · full match
| Aberdeen | This match | This season 5 games | 5-year 190 games | Where that sits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passes | 365 | 376.8 | 392.4 | about normal · 78 of 190 lower |
| about normal · 78 of 190 lower | ||||
| Pass accuracy % | 83 | 75.4 | 72.2 | top 10% in 190 matches · 181 of 190 lower |
| top 10% in 190 matches · 181 of 190 lower | ||||
| Passes into the final third | 16 | 27.2 | 25.2 | below usual · 32 of 190 lower |
| below usual · 32 of 190 lower | ||||
| Long balls | 48 | 53.2 | 57.8 | below usual · 43 of 190 lower |
| below usual · 43 of 190 lower | ||||
| Long balls, % of passes | 13.2 | 14.4 | 15.6 | about normal · 58 of 190 lower |
| about normal · 58 of 190 lower | ||||
marker = 5-year mean
The match by half
| Aberdeen | Usual | Celtic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| xG | 0.66 | 1.17 | 2.47 |
| Big chances | 1 | 1.8 | 5 |
| Touches in box | 12 | 21.6 | 40 |
| Possession % | 34 | 48.1 | 66 |
Aberdeen's best work came before half time — 0.52 xG to 0.15 after.
FotMob period stats — same source as the match xG. Usual = Aberdeen’s average for this half across 38 games in 2025-26 — this season is too short to average yet. Green or red marks a figure clearly above or below our own norm, never a comparison with Celtic.
Players
Player contributions
GK
M. MüllerGK90'
9 saves
24/40
Pass
100%
Duels
9
Saves
DEF
C. CaddenDEF90'
35/46
Pass
43%
Duels
3
Tkl+Int
L. MayoDEF90'
4 tackles · 6 clearances
40/45
Pass
73%
Duels
6
Tkl+Int
M. KnoesterDEF90'
5 interceptions
35/38
Pass
67%
Duels
5
Tkl+Int
G. MolloyDEF82'
27/31
Pass
67%
Duels
2
Tkl+Int
N. Guinness-WalkerDEF90'
1 key pass · 3 dribbles won
18/19
Pass
38%
Duels
3
Tkl+Int
MID
S. ArmstrongMID90'
2 key passes
55/57
Pass
50%
Duels
2
Key P
A. AremuMID45'
18/19
Pass
100%
Duels
-
Key P
A. BriedlMID45'
1 big chance created · 1 key pass
10/13
Pass
25%
Duels
1
Key P
FWD
K. NisbetFWD45'
4/5
Pass
0%
Duels
1
Shots
A. MoulouaFWD45'
5/9
Pass
38%
Duels
1
Shots
Substitutes
C. RonanMID45'
23/26
Pass
25%
Duels
-
Key P
M. NteloFWD45'
5/6
Pass
33%
Duels
-
Shots
T. OlusanyaFWD45'
6/6
Pass
20%
Duels
-
Shots
L. SmithFWD45'
12/17
Pass
50%
Duels
2
Shots
J. MilneDEF8'
0/0
Pass
-
Duels
1
Tkl+Int
Historical Context
Games at this ground, and how this match compares to the season so far
At Celtic — every meeting on record
0-1-9(10 games)
0.63–3.00avg xG (n=7)
LLDLLLLLLL
This match vs season so far
4 comparable games — each metric says how many of them actually have that stat.
xG
0.68avg 1.20
avg of 4 games · Highest 2.66, 1 August 2026 (2-1) · Lowest 0.35, 30 August 2026 (0-1)
xGA
2.67avg 1.72
avg of 4 games · Highest 2.10, 30 August 2026 (0-1) · Lowest 1.11, 5 September 2026 (0-0)
Possession
34%avg 51%
avg of 4 games · Highest 55%, 5 September 2026 (0-0) · Lowest 44%, 30 August 2026 (0-1)
Shots
9.0avg 10.0
avg of 4 games · Highest 11.0, 1 August 2026 (2-1) · Lowest 9.0, 8 August 2026 (0-2)
Shots on target
2.0avg 2.5
avg of 4 games · Highest 3.0, 1 August 2026 (2-1) · Lowest 2.0, 30 August 2026 (0-1)
Big chances
1.0avg 1.3
avg of 4 games · Highest 2.0, 1 August 2026 (2-1) · Lowest 1.0, 8 August 2026 (0-2)
Box touches
12.0avg 22.3
avg of 4 games · Highest 25.0, 8 August 2026 (0-2) · Lowest 19.0, 30 August 2026 (0-1)
Final third entries
35.0avg 57.3
avg of 4 games · Highest 73.0, 8 August 2026 (0-2) · Lowest 42.0, 30 August 2026 (0-1)
Key passes
4.0avg 7.5
avg of 4 games · Highest 8.0, 30 August 2026 (0-1) · Lowest 7.0, 1 August 2026 (2-1)
Corners
5.0avg 5.0
avg of 4 games · Highest 6.0, 30 August 2026 (0-1) · Lowest 4.0, 1 August 2026 (2-1)
Tackles
18.0avg 18.8
avg of 4 games · Highest 23.0, 30 August 2026 (0-1) · Lowest 16.0, 5 September 2026 (0-0)
Interceptions
15.0avg 9.0
avg of 4 games · Highest 14.0, 5 September 2026 (0-0) · Lowest 2.0, 30 August 2026 (0-1)
PPDA
28.2avg 11.2
avg of 4 games · Highest 12.4, 1 August 2026 (2-1) · Lowest 9.7, 5 September 2026 (0-0)
Counter-press rate
5%avg 7%
avg of 4 games · Highest 12%, 30 August 2026 (0-1) · Lowest 5%, 8 August 2026 (0-2)
avg
Above avg
Below avg