BRENDAN RODGERS has every reason to look forward to Celtic’s top-of-the-table clash with Aberdeen at Parkhead this afternoon.
The Irishman may even view the Pittodrie outfit as a bit of a lucky charm after past occurrences when they have provided the opposition.
Rodgers won seven successive domestic trophies in his first stint as Hoops boss after taking over from Ronny Deila in May 2016.
The first piece of silverware was the League Cup when he saw his side demolish the Dons 3-0 in his debut campaign.
He brought down the curtain on that memorable term with a 2-1 Scottish Cup Final victory over Derek McInnes’ men.
A BIG HAND…Brendan Rodgers acknowledges the Celtic fans.
His final hurrah at Hampden before his February 2019 shift to Leicester City was another triumph over the north-east club, again in the League Cup.
It’s been wall-to-wall wins when it has mattered most. That happy knack carried on into last season when Rodgers guided Celtic to a 3-1 success at Pittodrie in his first away league confrontation in his second spell.
Plus there was a penalty-kick shoot-out Scottish Cup semi-final triumph in April following a 3-3 extra-time stalemate on the Hoops’ way to a dramatic 1-0 win over Philippe Clement’s Ibrox outfit in the showpiece showdown on the iconic date of May 25.
And it could be red for go for Rodgers again this afternoon as he attempts to open a points gap between the champions and the challengers.
Here are three reasons for the Celtic gaffer to be cheerful as he reflects on battles with the Dons on prize-giving at the national stadium.
LEAGUE CUP FINAL
November 27 2016
CELTIC 3 ABERDEEN 0
Rogic, Forrest, Dembele (pen)
TEAM: Gordon; Lustig, Simunovic, Sviatchenko, Izaguirre; Brown, Armstrong; Roberts (sub: Bitton 65), Rogic (sub: McGregor 76), Forrest (sub: Griffiths 90); Dembele.
SCOTTISH CUP FINAL
May 27 2017
CELTIC 2 ABERDEEN 1
Armstrong, Rogic
TEAM: Gordon; Lustig, Simunovic, Boyata, Tierney (sub: Rogic); Brown, Armstrong; Roberts (sub: Sviatchenko), McGregor, Sinclair; Griffiths.
LEAGUE CUP FINAL
December 2 2018
CELTIC 1 ABERDEEN 0
Christie
TEAM: Bain; Lustig, Boyata (sub: Simunovic 60), Benkovic, Tierney; McGregor, Rogic (sub: Brown 64), Christie; Forrest (sub: Ntcham 86), Sinclair; Edouard.
*DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Aberdeen this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
