Aberdeen vs Celtic

Scottish football's most prestigious cup fixture is set to command the spotlight on Saturday afternoon, as Aberdeen face defending champions Celtic at the iconic Hampden Park in Glasgow in what promises to be a dramatic and emotionally charged Scottish FA Cup final. With Celtic chasing yet another piece of silverware in their dominant domestic era and Aberdeen seeking redemption and resurgence, the stage is perfectly set for a memorable showdown.

For Aberdeen, this marks a return to the showpiece occasion for the first time since their narrow 2-1 defeat to Celtic in the 2016-17 final—a match that ended in heartbreak thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Tom Rogic. That loss still lingers in the memories of the club’s supporters, and Saturday’s rematch provides both a chance for revenge and an opportunity to end a decade-long wait for major silverware.

The Dons arrive at Hampden with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. Their league campaign ended in disappointment last weekend with a 2-1 loss to Dundee United on the final day of the Scottish Premiership season—a fourth straight defeat that saw them tumble to fifth in the standings. That result not only dented morale but also altered their European prospects, shifting them from automatic Europa League qualification to a place in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers. To make matters worse, tempers boiled over after the match, with full-back Jack MacKenzie struck by a chair thrown from the stands by a disgruntled Aberdeen supporter in a shocking post-match incident.

Manager Jimmy Thelin, who has had a challenging introduction to life at Pittodrie, will be desperate to end the season on a high note by lifting the club’s first major trophy since their Scottish League Cup triumph in 2013–14. A win on Saturday would not only secure that long-awaited silverware but also reinstate them in the Europa League next season—restoring some pride to what has otherwise been a turbulent campaign.

Despite their inconsistency in league play, Aberdeen’s journey through the Scottish FA Cup this season has been refreshingly steady. They began their campaign with a professional 3-0 win over Elgin City in the fourth round, followed by an identical 3-0 scoreline against Dunfermline Athletic in the fifth round. In the quarter-finals, they brushed aside Queen’s Park with a convincing 4-1 victory, showcasing some of their most fluid attacking football of the season. Their semi-final meeting with Hearts proved a sterner test, with the Dons eventually emerging victorious in a dramatic 2-1 win after extra time—an encounter that tested their resilience and belief.

This commendable cup run has injected a measure of optimism into the club’s fanbase, but their record against Celtic this season gives serious cause for concern. In five meetings with the Hoops across all competitions, Aberdeen have failed to register a single win, suffering four defeats and managing only one draw—a 2-2 stalemate in their first encounter of the season. Even more worryingly, the aggregate score across those matches reads 17-2 in favour of Celtic, highlighting the chasm between the two sides over the course of the campaign.

Celtic, meanwhile, enter Saturday’s final brimming with confidence, backed by a stellar domestic season that has already yielded two trophies. Under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers, who returned to the club for a second spell last summer, the Hoops secured the Scottish Premiership title with 92 points from 38 games—racking up 29 wins, five draws and only four defeats. While that points total is slightly lower than in previous campaigns, the title triumph remains a testament to the consistency and quality that has defined Rodgers’ reign.

In addition to the league crown, Celtic lifted the Scottish League Cup earlier in the season, defeating Rangers in a tense final. Now, with the FA Cup final on the horizon, they are on the brink of completing yet another domestic treble—their sixth in the past nine seasons—further cementing their dominance in the modern era of Scottish football. Such an achievement would not only reinforce their legacy but also enhance Rodgers’ own remarkable record in this competition.

Indeed, the Northern Irishman boasts an unblemished history in the Scottish FA Cup. Across both his stints at Celtic Park, Rodgers has never lost a match in the tournament. That formidable record, combined with the club’s historic pedigree—Celtic have lifted the Scottish FA Cup a record 42 times, including triumphs in the last two seasons—gives them an aura of invincibility heading into the final.

Their route to this year’s showpiece has been emphatic. They began with a 2-1 win over Kilmarnock in the fourth round, followed by a 5-0 demolition of Raith Rovers in the fifth. In the quarter-finals, they faced a tricky Hibernian side but emerged with a composed 2-0 victory. Their semi-final performance was arguably the most commanding of all, as they dismantled St Johnstone 5-0 with a ruthless display of attacking efficiency.

Celtic’s forward line has been firing on all cylinders throughout the cup, with goals coming from across the squad. Kyogo Furuhashi, who has continued to build on his prolific record since arriving in Glasgow, has been at the heart of their attacking thrust, supported ably by the likes of Matt O’Riley, Luis Palma and Daizen Maeda. The midfield, orchestrated by Callum McGregor, has combined tenacity with creativity, while the backline, marshalled by Cameron Carter-Vickers and Joe Hart in goal, has remained largely resolute despite a few late-season lapses.

That said, Celtic’s run-in to the final has not been entirely without hiccups. Three of their four league defeats came in their last seven regular-season fixtures, raising concerns about potential fatigue or complacency. However, since then, they’ve responded with seven unbeaten matches—winning five and drawing two—and have rediscovered their rhythm just in time for the Hampden clash.

Brendan Rodgers will be acutely aware that finals often defy form and expectation, but he will also know that his side’s record against Aberdeen—particularly the back-to-back 5-1 thrashings handed to the Dons in recent months—offers a psychological edge. Furthermore, his tactical nous and experience in high-stakes matches could prove decisive should the final enter tense or scrappy phases.

Aberdeen, by contrast, must summon every ounce of resilience and self-belief if they are to cause what would be a significant upset. Their defence will have to withstand considerable pressure, while any attacking opportunities must be taken with ruthless precision. Graeme Shinnie, the club’s experienced midfielder and captain, will be key in rallying his teammates and providing the sort of leadership that can inspire underdogs to punch above their weight. Forward Bojan Miovski, who has been a rare bright spark in a frustrating league campaign, will need to be clinical if given a sniff at goal.

One advantage Aberdeen might cling to is the classic unpredictability of cup finals. Football history is littered with examples of supposedly inferior teams rising to the occasion, and the pressure that comes with expectation can sometimes weigh heavily on the favourites. If Aberdeen can frustrate Celtic early, unsettle their rhythm, and perhaps nick a goal, they may create the type of chaos that often leads to upsets in knockout football.

Beyond the tactical and form-based considerations, this final also carries a symbolic weight for both clubs. For Aberdeen, it represents an opportunity to remind the Scottish football world of their relevance and ambition, to prove that they can still compete for top honours despite the financial and structural dominance of Glasgow’s big two. For Celtic, the stakes are about continuing their legacy, extending a dynasty that has been built on relentless domestic excellence.

The occasion at Hampden Park will no doubt draw tens of thousands of passionate supporters from both ends of the country, with the famous old stadium primed to host what could be a historic moment for either side. The noise, the colour, and the tension that accompany a Scottish FA Cup final will all be there, and the 90—or possibly 120—minutes that follow could swing on the smallest of margins: a moment of brilliance, a defensive lapse, or a contentious decision.

In the end, while Celtic carry the weight of expectation and are widely seen as favourites to lift the cup for the third consecutive year, the magic of the Scottish Cup lies in its unpredictability. Aberdeen may have the odds stacked against them, but in football, belief and determination have a way of rewriting the script.

As the two sides prepare for the grand finale, Scottish football fans can look forward to an enthralling contest steeped in history, rivalry, and the unrelenting pursuit of glory. Whether Celtic complete another treble or Aberdeen stage a famous upset, Saturday’s clash at Hampden promises to be a fitting end to the domestic season.