Hampden Stage Set For Another
Cup Classic
~~~~~~~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~~~~~~~


Daizen Maeda has scored 6 goals at Hampden Park this season, including a hatrick against Aberdeen


Hampden Park, Glasgow
Saturday, 24 May 2025
15.00 BST

Celtic are eyeing the prospect of lifting the Scottish Cup for a 43rd time this weekend, when they line up to take on Aberdeen at Hampden Park.

The Bhoys drew 1-1 with St Mirren last week, which completed the Premiership duties ahead of the title winning celebrations, but Brendan Rodgers will want an much improved overall team performance tomorrow, after it took a late James Forrest equalizer to prevent the embarassment of a loss to the Buddies on trophy day.

Should Callum McGregor lift the oldest trophy in all of world football tomorrow, it will mark the Hoops' 6th domestic treble and a 7th Scottish Cup in the past 9 years.

And while the Celts will be strong favourites going into this match, standing in their way is an Aberdeen side that has the chance to secure the Reds' first silverware since 2014.


Cameron Carter-Vickers in action against Aberdeen earlier this season

Jimmy Thelin's side, who enjoyed such a wonderful start to the campaign, will hope that they can not only buck that trend, but also of a current 4 match losing streak coming into this game, which has seen the men from the Granite City slip to ultimately finishing 5th in the Premiership.

Since their 12 game unbeaten run (including 11 wins) which kicked off the season when they were being touted as possible title contenders ended, the Dons picked up just 22 points from tbe next 26 League games - form that was on par with what relegated St Johnstone acquired over that same period.

And with Celtic having won four of the previous five meetings between these two sides this season with an aggregate of 19-4, Aberdeen are undoubtedly the underdogs, if they are to lift the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1990.

However, as has often been said this is a Cup game, and on any given day anything can happen. And with these two sides having produced many memorable Scottish Cup Final classic clashes, from the 'Roar that Shook the Gods' in 1937 (when the world record for a club fixture 147,365 were in attendance) to Tom Rogic's magic moment in 2017, Celtic will be hoping that another glorious chapter will be written to close out the 2024/25 campaign. History awaits.


James Forrest's goal against St Mirren last week means he has scored in 16 consecutive seasons​

How They Got Here...

The Hoops road to Hampden began back in January with a 2-1 win over Killie, followed by victories over Raith Rovers (5-0), and Hibernian (2-0) in the Quarter Final. All three of those were at Celtic Park, before they eased past St Johnstone (5-0) at Hampden.

As for the Reds, they eased past lower league opposition, Elgin and Dunfermline, registering 3-0 wins against both, before posting 4-1 win over Queens Park in the Quarter-Final which set up a showdown with Hearts at the National Stadium, overcoming the Edinburgh outfit, 2-1.

Remarkably, both sides have impressed throughout the earlier stages, with Aberdeen recording an aggregate of 12-1 and Celtic 14-1. Oday Dabbagh leads the way with 3 goals for the Reds, while Daizen Maeda has remarkably scored at least once in all 4 of the previous rounds for a total of 7 goals so far, in addition to having netted in every visit to Hampden (scoring 6 goals in 3 games) this season.


Luke McCowan was in inspired form, including a goal and 2 assists when these sides last met​

By the Numbers​

• Celtic are chasing a 7th Scottish Cup in 9 seasons, and a 43rd such triumph overall.

• The Bhoys are undefeated by Aberdeen since May 2018 in all competitions, and have won 4 and drawn once in the previous 5 meetings this season.

• Since 2004, the Hoops have also won on each of the past 11 occasions when they have reached the Scottish Cup Final.

• Aberdeen have won the Scottish Cup 7 times in total, and are searching for their first since 1990.

• There have been 7 Scottish Cup Finals played between these sides, with Celtic winning four (1937, 1954, 1967. 2017) while Aberdeen have won three (1970, 1984, 1990).

2017: Tom Rogic's late magic sealed the Cup the last time these sides met in the Final​

Team News

Brendan Rodgers will be without Reo Hatate (knee) and Jota (ACL), but there could be a few tweaks to the starting XI from last weekend, considering the unconvincing performances by some of the players, especially in comparison to the last times these sides faced off, less than 2 weeks ago, when the manager fielded a largely second-string side that ran out comprehensive 5-1 victors.

As for the Dons, Thelin has confirmed that apart from Ester Sokler (leg), Sivert Heltne Nilsen (eye) and Vicente Besuijen (groin), everyone else is available, including Jack MacKenzie, who was an unused substitute last weekend at Tannadice, was struck in the face by part of a seat that was thrown from the stands amid ugly scenes at the conclusion of that match, with the young defender having trained throughout the week.​

Referee: Don Robertson

The 38y.o. has taken charge of two League Cup Finals, but this will be the first time that Robertson has been appointed to the season einding showcase, Scottish Cup Final.

Celtic's Overall Record
M:44 W:37 D:4 L:3

VAR: Greg Aitken

Weather

The forecast for Glasgow suggests light intermittant rain and a moderate breeze, with temperature approximately 18°C at Kick-Off.

​

~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~

Overall
P:312 W:192 D:69 L:51​

Last 5 Meetings
W W W W D

~~~~ 2024/25 Form ~~~~

All Comps
W W W D W ~ L L L L W​