Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou will be hoping to bring a run of conceding goals at Pittodrie to an end this weekend as he eyes up the ideal return to action.
After a month-long absence from competitive fixtures, the Bhoys return this weekend when they take on Jim Goodwin’s Aberdeen.
So far, the Hoops have suffered just one defeat in the Scottish Premiership and hold a nine-point lead at the top.
Despite their dominant start to the league season, travelling to Pittodrie can be an extremely tough task, and that will be the same this weekend.
Currently, the Dons sit in third place, and they will be hoping to strengthen their grip on that position in the hope of securing European football.
Aberdeen face a tough start to league proceedings, taking on Celtic before Rangers a few days later. But Jim Goodwin will be hoping to pick up points at home.
Ange Postecoglou knows first-hand how difficult a trip up North can be after facing Aberdeen on two occasions at their home ground last season.
Although the Bhoys came away with all three points from both games, it was done in dramatic fashion thanks to two separate strikes from Jota.
A late winner during a 2-1 victory in October last year helped kickstart the Hoops season. And Postecoglou’s side also ran out winners, despite letting a two-goal lead slip in February.
Celtic boss will be keen to put Pittodrie trend to an end this weekend.
So, the former Socceroos boss knows we are in for a test, particularly against Jim Goodwin’s new-looks Aberdeen side.
In order to give ourselves the best chance of securing all three points this weekend, you would imagine Postecoglou is keen to put a recent trend at Pittodrie to an end.
During Celtic’s last five trips to Aberdeen’s home ground, the Bhoys have conceded at least once, dating back to the 2019/20 season.
With the Dons now having plenty of goalscoring threats, including on-form Macedonian striker Bojan Miovski, the Hoops must be at their best in defence.
Last season, one of the most impressive attributes of this Celtic side was the backline, conceding the least amount of goals in the 2021/22 campaign.
Although there have been some strong displays at the back, it hasn’t quite been as consistent, and before the break, we conceded in six of our last seven games.
So, the Celtic manager will be hoping to see his team return to their strong defensive ways by keeping a clean sheet against Aberdeen.
Cameron Carter-Vickers will come into this game off the back of a strong showing at the World Cup, and Carl Starfelt is also now back at full fitness.
You would imagine that will be the pairing Postecoglou goes with. But he does also have Moritz Jenz and Stephen Welsh in contention.
Of course, no matter if the opposition gets on the scoresheet, you would always back this impressive Celtic side to outscore them and take home all three points.
But it would be good to kickstart the second half of the campaign with a clean sheet and a victory this weekend, putting an end to this trend at Pittodrie.
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