Celtic Hunt for Historic Treble in Scottish Cup Final!
Hampden Park is buzzing! Today’s Scottish Cup Final between Celtic and Aberdeen is shaping up to be a cracker, with Celtic gunning for an incredible domestic treble. They’ve already clinched the Premiership and the League Cup, so a win today would be the cherry on top of a truly dominant season under Brendan Rodgers – his second time leading the Hoops to glory. It's been a wild ride!
Team News and Pre-Match Jitters
The atmosphere around Celtic Park is electric, as expected. They’re preparing for a massive post-match celebration if things go their way. I’ve seen the stage and giant screen already set up at the top of the Celtic Way—thousands are expected back in Glasgow’s east end later. It’s going to be wild!
Aberdeen, on the other hand, have had a tougher year. They finished in the Premiership's bottom six and made a managerial change before the split, with Jimmy Thelin taking the reins. They're definitely the underdogs here, aiming for a surprising win to end their season on a high note. But honestly, a win against this Celtic side is a huge mountain to climb.
Celtic's starting XI has been announced, and while there were a few injury worries, the team looks pretty strong. Key players like Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston are fit and ready to go, which is a huge relief. Reo Hatate is a slight doubt due to an injury from last week, but we'll know more later. Jota remains out for the long term.
- Celtic’s likely XI: Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor; McGregor, Engels, Bernardo; Kuhn or Forrest, Idah and Maeda.
- Aberdeen Injuries: Sivert Heltne Nilsen, Ester Sokler, and Vinnie Besuijen are out.
Where to Watch the Action
If you can't make it to Hampden, don't worry! The match will be broadcast live on:
- BBC iPlayer
- Premier Sports 2
- BBC One Scotland
- BBC Sport Website
For those outside the UK, you might need a VPN to access your usual streaming service. Plenty of options are available if you do a quick search online.
A Bit of History...and a Kiwi Connection!
Did you know? The coin toss before the Scottish Cup final uses a New Zealand penny—a tradition dating back to World War II! It's a unique tribute to the friendship between Scottish and New Zealand servicemen during the war. It’s a really cool story that adds a nice little touch to the day.
Celtic's Road to Glory
This is Celtic’s 63rd Scottish Cup Final appearance, and a win would be their 43rd in the competition. That's a record that's almost unbelievable! They’re also aiming for their ninth domestic treble, their sixth since 2017. It's a level of dominance that’s really difficult to put into words; truly exceptional.
Predictions and Final Thoughts
I think it’s safe to say Celtic are the favorites. They’ve dominated Aberdeen this season, winning four out of their five meetings. But you can never count out a team in a cup final! Aberdeen will be desperate to upset the odds. I’ll be watching with bated breath, and I’m hoping the Bhoys do it. Kick-off is 3 PM BST. Let's go!
