Neil Lennon’s Celtic side will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they face off against Aberdeen at Hampden Park on the weekend. The Hoops are coming into this tie on the back of a disappointing 2-2 draw against Ligue 1 side Lille, where despite securing a 2-0 lead going into half-time, they couldn’t see out the victory. Mohamed Elyounoussi scored both of the Hoops’ goals on the night, as he produced two sensational finishes to catch the Lille keeper off guard. With just one point from their two fixtures in Europe so far, it’s now time for the Celts to turn their attention to the Scottish Cup.
The Parkhead club are without a win in four matches across all competitions now, with that run of poor form stretching all the way back to the Hoops’ Old Firm defeat at the hands of Rangers a couple of weeks ago. Since then, they have failed to win in two European encounters, with the defeat against Milan understandably the most frustrating fixture of the lot. More worryingly, their latest Premiership match was also against the Dons, and after a tight affair, the fixture ended with a 3-3 scoreline.
Team News
The introduction of Odsonne Edouard back into the first-team picture is sure to come as a massive boost to Lennon’s ambitions, as Albian Ajeti has undoubtedly been a disappointment over recent fixtures. Not only has he struggled to score goals, but his general involvement in the build up play has been quite limited too. In terms of injuries, Nir Bitton has made his way back to full fitness, which makes it safe to assure that Hatem Abd Elhamed is available too. James Forrest however, remains sidelined with injury, as Kristoffer Ajer is a doubt for this fixture as well.
Here Is The Predicted 4-2-3-1 Celtic Lineup Vs Aberdeen:
Predicted 4-2-3-1 Celtic Lineup Vs Aberdeen
Defence
The Hoops are coming into this fixture on the back of a disappointing performance against Lille, but that takes nothing away from the display that Scott Bain put in, in between the sticks. Not only did he make a number of top saves, but he even managed to stop a Lille penalty in the first-half. With Bain in fine form, it’s unlikely that he’ll be dropped from the side. Shane Duffy is likely to be partnered by Nir Bitton in the heart of defence, with Ajer out injured. The full-back positions could be taken up by Diego Laxalt and Jeremie Frimpong.
Midfield
Callum McGregor put in a good display in the draw against Lille in midweek, and is set to retain his place in the eleven. The control and composure that he adds to the core of the side will be essential to the Celtic team’s attacking play during this tie. Alongside him, expect to see veteran skipper Scott Brown continuing in the midfield, have been dropped from the side for the weekend fixture. His defensive support and ability to run things in the engine room will be crucial to the Celts.
Attack
With Odsonne Edouard now seemingly back to full fitness, it wouldn’t be overly surprising to see the Frenchman starting the game against Aberdeen on the weekend. Olivier Ntcham is likely to take up the number ten role just in behind him, with Mohamed Elyounoussi and Ryan Christie operating on either flank. The Norwegian trickster was at the top of his game in midweek, and a similar performance will surely be enough to guide Lennon’s men to victory in this cup clash.
