Celtic v Aberdeen: Sky Sports' David Tanner looks ahead to the big game
Wednesday 9 September 2015 15:49, UK
Following Scotland's disappointing but thrilling defeat at the hands of world champions Germany, we return to SPFL action with the clash of the big two in the Premiership as Celtic travel to face Aberdeen.
And, as you would expect, it is live on Sky Sports.
Celtic enjoyed a 100 percent record in this clash last season and, be in no doubt, the 12 points gathered against the Dons clinched the title for Ronny Deila's side.
It is not overstating the importance of this fixture to say that it carried as much significance in the destination of the big trophy as Old Firm games usually do. And I expect it to be a similar situation this year.
A chance meeting with Pittodrie legend John Hewitt at the airport last week gave me a flavour of just how optimistic Aberdeen supporters are these days.
The scorer of the winning goal against Real Madrid in the European Cup Winners' Cup Final in 1983 remarked at how manager Derek McInnes has improved his team by "making small tweaks" and "holding on to what did so well for him last season".
Aberdeen are yet to drop a point this campaign, despite early European endeavours, but Sunday is their big test. It is massive for the men from the Granite City.
Celtic are in a slightly different situation following the Deadline Day departure of their best defender. Virgil van Dijk was as big an influence on the Celtic team as Scott Brown is - and the champions are never the same proposition when the skipper's driving force is missing.
How will they cope following Southampton's long-expected intervention?
Van Dijk scored, in my opinion, the most important goal of Celtic's season on Ronny Deila's first trip to Pittodrie on Remembrance Sunday last year.
The visitors led in the game for just one minute - the final one - as the Dutchman nipped in with a late winner, rescuing a Celtic side which could have buckled after the captain had been sent off for two bookable offences.
That goal did not kill off Aberdeen's challenge (it would have in previous seasons) - the Dons were not ruled out of the title race until May.
Instead, it got Celtic going and it is no coincidence that what has become known as the Ronny Roar was given its first run-out by the ecstatic Norwegian at full time. The players' exuberance was also revealing.
Deadline Day was busy around Celtic Park and it will be exciting to see how the new boys settle in. Pittodrie can be an unforgiving place for a debutant but it could also serve to establish the signings who are the genuine article.
Good luck to Virgil van Dijk as he starts his new career in the Premier League. If he does half as well as ex-Old Firm pair Victor Wanyama and Steven Davis have done in a classy Southampton side, then he will be a good advert for serving a British football apprenticeship in the Scottish Premiership.
Celtic will miss his physical presence at the back but rival defenders will not miss his forward runs which caused so much chaos as opponents suddenly found themselves outnumbered with a giant problem running at them!
I first saw Virgil when he was playing for the Netherlands U21s against Scotland in Nijmegen. The big Dutchman lost to Billy Stark's boys that night - but his record against Scottish teams when wearing the hoops was rather better.
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Watch Aberdeen v Celtic live on Sky Sports 2 on Saturday, September 12 from noon.
