Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Scottish Premiership match.
This is undoubtedly the match of the round, and this time, Aberdeen are the favourites. Their recent performances and current standings support this claim: they are above their rivals on the table.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen are currently on par with Celtic, both on 25 points, and they didn't lose in their head-to-head clash (2:2). That eighth-round fixture took place in Glasgow, adding to the challenge for Aberdeen. They stood firm despite the hosts' overwhelming dominance, with stats showing 32 (7) — 8 (4) in shots, 3.21 — 1.16 in xG, 73% — 27% in possession, and corners at 19 — 2. Following that outing, Aberdeen narrowly defeated Dundee United, scoring the only goal in the 84th minute — but a win is a win.
Rangers
Rangers found themselves in a similar situation to Celtic, only on the road, but they couldn't handle Kilmarnock (0:1). They had the upper hand in many aspects:1.08 — 0.63 in xG, 15 (3) — 10 (3) in shots, and 68% — 32% in possession, but it didn't pay off. The hosts scored in the 87th minute. This marked Rangers' second defeat of the season. Afterward, they secured a resounding victory against FCSB (4:0) in the Europa League and a narrow win over St Mirren (2:1). It's evident, though, that Rangers are vulnerable.
Aberdeen vs Rangers Prediction
However, it's important to consider the recent results between these teams. Over the last two years, they've met eight times: Rangers have five wins, but only one away (3:2). In Aberdeen, there have been only two matches: a home victory (2:0) and a 1:1 draw. Taking this into account, we predict that Aberdeen will not concede a loss.
