Celtic Narrow Victory Over Aberdeen in Scottish Premiership

Aberdeen, Scotland – Celtic secured a 2-1 victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, closing the gap on Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts. The win elevates Celtic to second place in the league standings, one point above Rangers, while Aberdeen continues to search for a new manager.

Match Highlights

Kieran Tierney opened the scoring for Celtic in the early minutes, following up on his goal against Rangers the previous Sunday. However, Aberdeen quickly responded with a penalty converted by Kevin Nisbet, leveling the score. The decisive goal came from Benjamin Nygren in the second half, combining with James Forrest for a deft finish. A lengthy VAR check confirmed Nygren was onside, with Gavin Molloy’s foot deemed to have played him on.

Standings Update

This result places Celtic five points behind league leaders Hearts. Rangers remain close behind, trailing Celtic by a single point. Aberdeen remains without a win in five league games.

Managerial Search at Aberdeen

The match was attended by Sandro Schwarz, a candidate in Aberdeen’s ongoing search for a replacement for the sacked Jimmy Thelin. Schwarz, formerly managing Mainz, Hertha Berlin, Dynamo Moscow, and New York Red Bulls, observed the game from the main stand at Pittodrie. Interim manager Peter Leven made four changes to the starting lineup, dropping captain Graeme Shinnie to the bench and including former Celtic midfielder Stuart Armstrong.

Celtic’s Lineup and Strategy

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill started Reo Hatate, Sebastian Tounekti, and Luke McCowan, who had made an impact coming off the bench in their previous draw against Ibrox. Tomas Cvancara led the attack, with Daizen Maeda on the bench. A late change saw Benjamin Arthur replace Dane Murray in the starting eleven due to an injury during the warm-up.

Key Statistics

• Celtic have an unbeaten streak of 34 matches against Aberdeen in all competitions (W27 D7).
• Celtic has won 16 of their last 19 visits to Pittodrie in the Scottish Premiership.
• Celtic has prevailed in 21 of their last 23 top-flight matches played on a Wednesday.
• Benjamin Nygren has now scored 19 goals this season.

Looking Ahead

Celtic will aim to continue their momentum as they pursue Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership table. Aberdeen will be focused on appointing a new manager and turning their season around.