Aberdeen vs Celtic Prediction: Struggling Aberdeen to be thrashed by Celtic

Aberdeen, currently without a manager following the midweek dismissal of Barry Robson, hosts league leaders Celtic at Pittodrie in a Scottish Premiership encounter on Saturday. In a rare instance where the primary focus leading into a match involving one of the Glasgow giants does not revolve around them, Aberdeen is presently under the interim guidance of Peter Leven until a permanent replacement is appointed.

Robson was dismissed from his position as Aberdeen's manager on Wednesday, following a disappointing performance since the winter break, which has left the club positioned in the bottom six. In the three games played since the resumption of Premiership action, Aberdeen has failed to secure a victory. The final straw for the now-departed manager came after a draw at home to Dundee on Tuesday.

Despite finishing third last season and securing a spot in Europe, particularly in the Europa Conference League, the team has struggled to balance its commitments in both domestic and continental competitions. A challenging start to the season had Aberdeen near the bottom of the table, but they managed to turn things around by winning five out of seven games before the winter break in Scotland. However, their return saw them draw against a struggling St Johnstone side and suffer a defeat at the hands of Hearts, further hindering their chances of securing a position in the top six.

Celtic enters this upcoming match on the heels of a 1-0 Premiership victory against Ross County in their latest fixture. In that game, Celtic dominated with 70% possession and took 17 shots at goal, with 7 on target. Alistair Johnston (1') was the goal-scorer for Celtic, while Ross County managed 7 shots on goal, with only 1 on target.

Over their last six encounters, Celtic has accumulated a total of 16 goals, consistently finding the net in each of those matches. Throughout this period, their defense has conceded just 1 goal. Examining their recent history, Celtic maintains an undefeated record against Aberdeen in their last 14 away league games and has remained unbeaten in their last 2 away league matches.

In the 109 previous encounters between Celtic and Aberdeen, Celtic holds a commanding lead with 89 victories to Aberdeen's 11. Celtic is currently enjoying a nine-game winning streak in this fixture and an impressive 23-game unbeaten run since May 2018. The visitors have recently secured victories in their last five league games and six across various competitions.

In terms of away performances, Celtic has triumphed in their last two away league games, achieving convincing 3-0 wins against both Dundee and St. Mirren. Furthermore, Celtic's defense has been solid, as they have not conceded in their last three games across different competitions.

Aberdeen aims to begin afresh after the removal of Robson, but their task is formidable as they face a challenging fixture. Celtic, sensing an opponent lacking in confidence, is poised to capitalize on the situation and deliver a commanding performance. The objective is to extend their lead at the top to eight points before Rangers enter the fray.