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Rangers logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 5
May 15, 2021 at 12.30pm UK
Ibrox Stadium
Aberdeen logo
Rangers
4 - 0
Aberdeen
Lewis (5' og.), Roofe (34', 60'), Defoe (88')
Davis (85')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Preview: Rangers vs. Aberdeen - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Scottish Premiership clash between Rangers and Aberdeen, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Rangers will be lifting the Scottish Premiership trophy for the 55th time on Saturday afternoon, after they lock horns with Aberdeen in the final game of the season.

The Gers are looking to become only the second club in top-flight history to complete a 38-game campaign undefeated.


Match preview

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard pictured on May 2, 2021© Reuters

Rangers followed up their convincing 4-1 victory in the Old Firm derby last weekend with a commanding 3-0 away win at Livingston on Wednesday evening.

James Tavernier scored his 12th league goal of the season from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time, moving him level with teammates Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe; Ryan Kent and Ianis Hagi then scored in the second half to seal their 31st top-flight win of the campaign.

Steven Gerrard, who was named SFWA's Manager of the Year earlier this week, has urged his players to leave a legacy behind and make more history as they chase down several records including an invincible top-flight campaign.

Only Brendan Rodgers's Celtic side from 2016-17 have finished a Scottish Premiership season unbeaten, but the Gers are just 90 minutes away from replicating this achievement. Securing at least a draw against Aberdeen will also see the Gers reach the 100-point barrier in the top-flight for the first time in their 149-year history.

Furthermore, Rangers could better the British record goals-against tally of 15, set by Jose Mourinho's Chelsea team back in 2005, if they concede less than two goals against the Dons this weekend.

The Gers are unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Aberdeen, winning all three encounters this term by an aggregate score of 7-1.

Rangers have had a truly remarkable season, dethroning their bitter city rivals and ending their nine-year dominance at the top. Securing three more points would wrap up a historic campaign, with Gerrard hoping that their place at the summit of Scottish football is just the beginning of their own spell of supremacy.

Aberdeen's Joe Lewis pictured in November 2020© Reuters

Aberdeen lost their 11th league game of the season when they were narrowly beaten 1-0 at home to Hibernian on Wednesday evening.

A brilliant 20-yard volley from Christian Doidge four minutes before half time was the only goal of the game, giving the visitors their first win at Pittodrie since May 2012.

That result also ensured Hibs consolidated third place, moving six points clear of the Dons in fourth who will be finishing in this position for the third successive year.

Manager Stephen Glass has admitted that his short time at the club has been about evaluation and seeing what changes need to be made ahead of next season.

Scoring goals has been one major issue throughout this campaign and one that Glass is sure to address in the summer. The Dons have found the net just 36 times in the league this term, only Dundee United, Ross County and Hamilton Academical have scored fewer.

Their chances of breaching one of Europe's strongest backlines on Saturday will prove to be a challenge, but spoiling Rangers's title party with a win – ending their hopes of an unbeaten season – would be a great way for the Dons to see out the 2020-21 campaign.

Rangers Scottish Premiership form:
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W

Rangers form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • W

Aberdeen Scottish Premiership form:
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • L

Aberdeen form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • L


Team News

Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos celebrates scoring against Celtic in the Scottish Premiership on May 2, 2021© Reuters

Rangers pair Borna Barisic and Scott Arfield, who have recently been out with respective thigh and ankle injuries, could be in contention to feature on Saturday.

Leon Balogun (Achilles), Filip Helander (knee), Ryan Jack (calf) and Nikola Katic (knee) all remain on the treatment table.

Goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin started for just the ninth time ahead of Allan McGregor against Livingston and he could keep his place in the side, while Joe Aribo may start at left-back again if Barisic is not deemed fit to play.

Midfielder Scott Wright, who joined the Gers from Aberdeen in February, will be hoping he can play some part against his former club.

Gerrard is unlikely to make too many changes to his starting lineup as Rangers look to finish the campaign undefeated.

Aberdeen midfielder Ross McCrorie has played the final game of his loan spell from Rangers. The 23-year-old is unable to face his parent club but an ankle injury would also have kept him out of this weekend's match.

The Dons will also be without Ash Taylor (knock), Greg Leigh (hamstring) and Michael Devlin (ankle) due to injury.

Goalkeeper Joe Lewis is back in training but is still being troubled by the rib problem he suffered during the Scottish Cup clash with Livingston last month and is unlikely to feature on Saturday.

Forwards Callum Hendry and Florian Kamberi, who have started their last four games, are set to keep their places in the side, with Fraser Hornby expected to start on the bench once again.

Rangers possible starting lineup:
McLaughlin; Tavernier, Goldson, Simpson, Barisic; Aribo, Davis, Kamara; Roofe, Morelos, Kent

Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Woods; McLennan, Hoban, Considine, McKenzie; Hedges, McGeouch, Ferguson, Hayes; Kamberi; Hendry


SM words green background

We say: Rangers 3-0 Aberdeen

Rangers have won all 18 league matches at Ibrox this campaign, scoring 53 goals and conceding just four times; they have also won three of their last four home matches against Aberdeen by an aggregate score of 11-0.

The Gers will be celebrating no matter what the result is on Saturday, but we feel that Gerrard's side will turn up for one final time to ensure their unbeaten record stays intact, completing the 2020-21 campaign in style.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Rangers win with a probability of 60.83%. A draw had a probability of 23.3% and a win for Aberdeen had a probability of 15.88%.

The most likely scoreline for a Rangers win was 1-0 with a probability of 14.43%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-0 (12.51%) and 2-1 (9.41%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (10.86%), while for an Aberdeen win it was 0-1 (6.27%). The actual scoreline of 4-0 was predicted with a 3.1% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Rangers would win this match.


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Game History

How you voted: Rangers vs Aberdeen

Rangers
90.9%
Draw
3.0%
Aberdeen
6.1%
33
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Rangers players celebrate after Celtic's Callum McGregor scores an own goal in the Scottish Premiership on January 2, 2021
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic30225371234871
2RangersRangers29231564164870
3Hearts3017493930955
4Kilmarnock30111183933644
5St Mirren30126123637-142
6Hibernian30911104145-438
7Dundee2999114050-1036
8Motherwell30711124147-632
9Aberdeen3079143348-1530
10St Johnstone30610142141-2028
11Ross County3069152851-2327
12Livingston3038192052-3217

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