Celtic vs Aberdeen Predictions

• Celtic won 16 and drew three of their 19 home Premiership games last term.
• Celtic covered a -2 handicap in their first three home league games last season – and four of their last five.
• Aberdeen had the second-worst away record in the division in 2021-22, losing 11 of 19 road trips.
• Daizen Maeda, who scored six goals and provided five assists in 16 league appearances last term, has looked sharp in pre-season.

Celtic capable of emphatic opening win

Celtic will almost certainly get their title defence off to a winning start against Aberdeen on Sunday and could do it in emphatic fashion. Ange Postecoglu’s side recorded wide-margin home victories for fun during the run-in to their Premiership title success and there’s been nothing in pre-season to suggest they can’t do it again.

The Hoops won 16 of 19 at home in the league and it’s noticeable that all seven of their biggest wins – when a -2 handicap was covered – came at the start and end of the campaign when the weather and pitch conditions were probably better.

Aberdeen arrive in the east end of Glasgow after four League Cup group victories, scoring 12 goals without reply. Jim Goodwin’s men finished a lowly tenth in the table last season and there wasn’t any improvement in their away results after the ex-St Mirren boss took over from Stephen Glass in February.

Maeda marked out as anytime goalscorer value

Based on that form, Celtic should romp this – they scored 92 goals throughout the 38 games last term and have been banging in multiple goals in each of the warm-up matches. A 3-0 success looks worthy of support in correct score betting as the Hoops only conceded six at home in total last term.

With a couple of goals in pre-season already, including an audacious backheel on Saturday against Norwich City, Daizen Maeda has been looking very sharp up top.

The Japanese frontman, who looks a value anytime goalscorer option here, scored six league goals and provided five assists in half a season last term.