Aberdeen v Celtic predictions: Maeda the key to cup success
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- Daizen Maeda has scored five goals in four games against Aberdeen this term
- Aberdeen have conceded at least five goals in three of the last four head-to-heads
- Recommended bet: Maeda to score at any time
Celtic are looking to wrap up another domestic treble when they face Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday.
The Dons fell to fifth in the table on the final day of the season and so will be hoping they can secure Europa League football through winning this cup final.
Team news
Aberdeen’s Ester Sokler, Sivert Heltne Nilsen and Vicente Besuijen are still out for this game while Jack McKenzie is a doubt after being struck by an object thrown from the crowd against Dundee United on the final day of the season.
Celtic are expected to field a similar team to the one that started the final league game against St Mirren despite their disappointing performance.
Reo Hatate, Jota and Dane Murray remain out.
The stats
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Aberdeen head into this game in poor form, having lost four games in a row and conceding 12 goals in the process.
Celtic have won a record 42 Scottish Cup finals and have lifted the trophy in six of the last eight seasons.
Five of the last six meetings between these two in all competitions have gone over 3.5 goals and both teams have scored in five of the last seven head-to-heads.
Daizen Maeda has 33 goals in all competitions this season.
Prediction
Celtic have dominated Scottish football once again this season, winning the title by 17 points, lifting the League Cup and looking to add the Scottish Cup to make it a treble.
They face an Aberdeen side that they have dominated in their meetings this term, recording a pair of 5-1 wins, a 1-0 success and a 6-0 League Cup victory.
The Dons ended the season on a low with four defeats on the bounce condemning them to fifth place in the table and they are a big price to get anything from this final.
Maeda has been a tormentor of the Dons this season, netting five times in the four games he has played against these opponents.
The Japanese star looks overpriced to add to that tally considering how leaky Jimmy Thelin’s defence has been recently.
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