After the international break, all eyes are back on Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. The team, led by Brendan Rodgers, is currently dominating the league standings, sitting nine points ahead of their rivals Rangers. While Aberdeen, under new manager Jimmy Thelin, has matched Celtic’s points total of 31, they have only dropped points against the champions themselves.
Analyzing the statistics, it is evident that Celtic is the team to beat in the league. According to HudlStatsBomb’s ‘Match Time’ metric, Celtic has shown superior attacking capabilities compared to Aberdeen. The graph indicates that Celtic consistently creates high-quality chances throughout the game, with a slight drop-off in tempo after the 60th minute, possibly due to the match being effectively over by that point.
Furthermore, Celtic has also displayed a solid defense, posting the lowest xG against in comparison to Aberdeen. This indicates that Celtic is not only strong in attack but also resilient at the back, conceding fewer quality chances to their opponents. On the other hand, Aberdeen’s xG for and against are closely linked, showcasing their tendency to both score and concede goals consistently.
In contrast, Rangers are struggling to keep up with Celtic, primarily due to their inefficiency in front of goal and weaker defensive numbers. While Rangers show some defensive stability towards the end of matches, their lack of attacking prowess is a cause for concern. The gap between Celtic and Rangers this season has been significant, with little improvement in sight for the blue side.
Looking ahead, Celtic’s strong position in the league suggests that they are poised for continued success. However, they will need to maintain their performance, starting with their upcoming match against Hearts at Tynecastle. As for their rivals, Aberdeen remains a team to watch, while Rangers will need to make significant changes to avoid a disappointing finish in the league standings.