CELTIC 3 ABERDEEN 0 SPFL Premiership Wednesday September 2 2026 Celtic Park Ref: Duncan Nicholson Attendance: 43,518 (456 away)

Three first half goals did the damage for Celtic as the Dons slipped to defeat in the driving rain in Glasgow. There were five changes for the Dons after the narrow defeat to Rangers on Sunday. Mats Knoester returned to the side from injury, Ayoub Mouloua got his first start, and they were joined by Stuart Armstrong, Alexander Briedl and Gavin Molloy. Toyosi Olusanya, Tony Yogane, Connor Ronan and Mitchy Ntelo were on the bench, with Dan Happe missing out. After a 2-1 home win over Falkirk on Saturday, Celtic made two changes, Auston Trusty and Callum McGregor replacing Kieran Tierney and Mika Baur. Celtic had plenty of early possession, but Aberdeen’s change to three at the back saw the Dons make a solid start, conceding a number of corners but handling them well. It took Celtic 14 minutes to have a shot at goal, but they made it count when they did. Duran was the man, receiving the ball from Nygren 20 yards out, manufacturing half a yard of space, and then crashing in an unstoppable drive, off the bar and in. It was nearly two on 18, Hassan coming in at the back post to get on the end of Yang’s low cross, but Molloy made an important block to deny him. The Dons fashioned a real opportunity in the 21st minute, Nesta Guinness-Walker the instigator with some good work down the left. His cross to the back post found Mouloua but he headed wide of the target from eight yards out. Duran should have had a second a minute later, played clean through on goal after the Dons gave away possession, but his shot lacked the sting to trouble Marius Muller, who saved away to his right. Guinness-Walker had a useful pop at goal from 30 yards out in the 28th minute, coming onto a half cleared corner to smack a swerving shot goalwards, Sinisalo down to save. It was 2-0 thanks to Nygren after 34 minutes, all too simple for Celtic. Hassan put in a cross that came off Afeez Aremu and the ball ricocheted perfectly for Nygren to stroke a first time shot past Muller, the ball taking an awkward bounce just in front of the goalkeeper. Muller had to be sharp to deny Duran and then Hassan within seconds of each other as Celtic looked to try to tie up the game. Carter-Vickers was booked on 36 for hauling down Mouloua, then Kevin Nisbet needed treatment after taking a stray elbow to the head in a challenge with Scales in the 40th minute. Lewis Mayo was booked for a foul on Duran a minute later. As we headed into added time, the Dons were a fraction away from pulling one back. Armstrong’s deep corner was met by Molloy, his header thumping off the bar and back into play. From there, Celtic were straight up the other end with a long clearance out. Aremu missed his clearance on halfway, the ball falling into the path of Duran. He advanced before passing into the path of Yang to slot into the bottom corner. HALF-TIME: CELTIC 3 ABERDEEN 0 The Dons made four changes at the break, bringing on Lewis Smith, Ronan, Ntelo and Olusanya at the break in place of Nisbet, Mouloua, Aremu and Briedl. The Dons produced a good move just before the hour, Ntelo, Olusaya and Smith all involved before Ronan’s dangerous cross was headed behind for a corner. From the flag kick, Molloy headed straight at Sinisalo. Celtic made a double change on 63, replacing Nygren and Oxlade-Chamberlain with Baur and Sorensen. Aberdeen were much improved in the second half, keeping better possession and playing more of the game in the Celtic half, but the hosts were never really threatened. Mheuka and Forrest replaced Yang and Duran in the 75th minute, then Tounekti came on for Hassan a minute later. Mheuka almost made an instant impact, getting into the box and firing off a low shot that Muller did well to save to his right. Jack Milne was Aberdeen’s final change, coming on for Molloy in the 82nd minute. Baur drove a low shot at goal from 25 yards in the 85th minute, the ball skipping and skidding across the sodden turf, but Muller was equal to it down to his right side. He produced another fine save three minutes later to tip a Forrest effort over the bar. FULL-TIME: CELTIC 3 ABERDEEN 0 CELTIC: Sinisalo, Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Scales, McGregor, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Sorensen 63), Hassan (Tounekti 76), Nygren (Baur 63), Yang (Mheuka 75), Duran (Forrest 75). Subs not used: Johnstone, McCowan, Murray, Ralston. Goals: Duran (14), Nygren (34), Yang (45+1) Booked: Carter-Vickers ABERDEEN: Muller, Cadden, Mayo, Knoester, Molloy (Milne 82), Guinness-Walker, Aremu (Smith 46), Briedl (Ronan 46), Armstrong, Mouloua (Ntelo 46), Nisbet (Olusanya 46). Subs not used: Suman, Milne, Yogane, Devlin, Marshall. Booked: Mayo