Watch: Scottish Cup semi-final – Aberdeen face holders Celtic

1. Celtic have cup edge

   Aberdeen v Celtic (12:30 BST)

   There have been plenty of Scottish Cup meetings between the sides down the years, with Celtic winning 2-0 the last time they met in a semi-final – in the Covid delayed showpiece in November 2020.

   Indeed, Celtic have won their last nine meetings at Hampden in any competition. Aberdeen have to go back to September 1992 for a victory over Celtic at the national stadium – 1-0 in the League Cup.

   Their most recent win over Celtic in the Scottish Cup came in February 2014, when the Dons came back from an early Anthony Stokes goal thanks to finishes from Russell Anderson and Peter Pawlett.

2. Aberdeen’s Thelin tales

   Aberdeen v Celtic (12:30 BST)

   Aberdeen’s second cup semi-final appearance of the season has been somewhat overshadowed by this week’s confirmation that Jimmy Thelin will be taking over as manager this summer.

   The 46-year-old Swede’s Elfsborg side were pipped on goal difference to their domestic title last year and the Dons are having to wait until midway through the current campaign in his homeland to get their man.

   That leaves Peter Leven in charge again, but the caretaker says he will be keeping in close touch with the new boss between now and then. Indeed, with Elsborg not playing Kalmar until Monday, you imagine Thelin will be glued to the live action from Hampden.

   

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3. Dismal Dons against Celtic

   Aberdeen v Celtic (12:30 BST)

   Aberdeen will have to end Celtic’s run of 24 meetings between the sides without defeat if they are to reach May’s cup final.

   Andrew Considine, the centre-half now with St Johnstone, was the last Dons player to score a winning goal against today’s opponents – way back in May 2018 at Celtic Park.

   Aberdeen ended a run of nine consecutive defeats by Celtic with a 1-1 Premiership draw at Pittodrie in February. But they had lost the previous four by an aggregate of 18-1!

4. Listen on Sportsound

   BBC Radio Scotland (12:05)

   Indeed, it’s a feast of cup football all over the BBC, with live radio coverage too from Hampden, starting just after the midday news on BBC Radio Scotland.

   Former Aberdeen captain Willie Miller and ex-Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner are the pundits joining host Kenny Macintyre, with commentary of the match provided by Alasdair Lamont.

   If you want a football alternative, Stuart Cosgrove and Tam Cowan will be providing some laughs on BBC Radio Scotland FM.

   Don’t forget that there’s lots of big games later this afternoon in the Championship, League 1 and League 2, while the Highland League will be settled too. Billy Dodds, Derek Ferguson, Jim Duffy and Allan Preston will be among those providing updates around the grounds.

   Get those fingers clicking those wee windows above with your choices.

   

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5. Watch on Sportscene

   BBC One Scotland (12:00)

   Don’t forget that television coverage of the big game is starting shortly on BBC One Scotland.

   Former Scotland internationals James McFadden, Charlie Mulgrew and Leanne Crichton join host Jonathan Sutherland, with Liam McLeod on the live commentary from Hampden.

   You can watch by clicking the wee button at the top of this page from noon.

   

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6. ‘We have a gameplan to stick to’ – MacDonald

   Aberdeen v Celtic (12:30)

   Angus MacDonald, who is deputising for the suspended Graeme Shinnie as Aberdeen captain, tells BBC Scotland: “We’ve come with a gameplan and we’re going to stick with it. It’s a massive game for us – anything can happen in the cup.

   “We’ve looked at that, we’ve looked at videos and done all our analysis and we’re going to cause them the same problems that hopefully we’ve done in the past.”MacDonald says the team haven’t heard yet from Jimmy Thelin, who will take over as manager this summer, but that news of the appointment had been a pre-match boost.

   “It’s probably given the fans a lift more than anything – we’ve got to concentrate on the job we’ve got in hand,” he adds.

   

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7. Celtic ‘built on big games’ – McGregor

   Aberdeen v Celtic (12:30)

   Celtic captain Callum McGregor tells BBC Scotland: “Obviously I’ve missed the last few weeks, but you get to a cup semi-final, you see the pitch, you see the weather, it’s the perfect day for football, so I’m delighted to be back in.

   “It’s great to get on the pitch today, get some minutes in and hopefully keep getting stronger.

   “This club is built on big games and we’ve got another one today. It’s important we do our job and get ourselves into the final.

   “We know Aberdeen have a threat on counter attacks. They’re a physical team, so we have to bring our A-game, we have to be good with the ball, good in transition and then try do the right things to get a good result.”

   

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8. Polvara replaces suspended Shinnie

   Aberdeen v Celtic (12:30 BST)

   We all knew Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie would miss out through suspension and his absence is the only change from last weekend’s 0-0 draw with Dundee.

   Dante Polvara comes into Peter Leven’s midfield, while centre-half Angus MacDonald takes the armband in Shinnie’s absence.

   

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9. McGregor and Scales start for Celtic

   Aberdeen v Celtic (12:30 BST)

   The headline Celtic news is that captain Callum McGregor starts after two substitute appearances since his return from injury.

   Liam Scales is also fit to return to central defence.

   It means Maik Nawrocki and Tomoki Iwata drop to the bench.

   

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10. LINE-UPS from Hampden Park

    Aberdeen v Celtic (12:30)

    Aberdeen: Roos, Devlin, Gartenmann, MacDonald, MacKenzie, Barron, Polvara, McGrath, Clarkson, Duk, Miovski.

    Substitutes: Doohan, Jensen, Phillips, Sokler, Morris, Duncan, Milne, Hoilett, Rubezic.

    Celtic: Hart, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, O’Riley, McGregor, Hatate, Kuhn, Kyogo, Yang.

    Substitutes: Bain, Palma, Idah, Nawrocki, Tomoki, Bernardo, Kelly, Forrest, Ralston.

11. Post update

    Aberdeen v Celtic (12:30)

    Let’s get straight to the all-important team news…

12. Fans arrive early

    Aberdeen v Celtic (12:30)

    

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13. Up for the cup

    Aberdeen v Celtic (12:30 BST)

    Scottish Cup semi-final weekend is upon us and first up for your viewing (and listening and reading) pleasure is Aberdeen against holders Celtic.

    Brendan Rodgers’ Premiership leaders head to Hampden Park as strong favourites against a side struggling in the league and having to wait until the summer for their new manager to arrive.

    But this is cup football, so upsets do happen. Stay with us to find out if today is one of those days as we build up to kick-off on TV, radio and online.

    

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