Coin flip finally falls Celtic's way as Ange Postecoglou 'wins ugly' - tactical and data match report against Aberdeen

After more than seven months – tumultuous months which included losing their league crown, going trophyless for the first time in a decade, a change of manager and an overhaul of the playing staff – the Hoops ended their wait by beating Aberdeen 2-1 at Pittodrie.

Goals from two new arrivals in Kyogo Furuhashi and Jota were enough to down the Dons, who had pulled level through a Lewis Ferguson header.

Here, we look at the StatsBomb data from the game to give you a match report experience like no other.

Goals and shots

Despite taking more shots (12 compared to Celtic’s eight) the Dons were never truly in the ascendancy when it came to the quality of chances created and they could only muster 0.60 cumulative xG.

They did have spells, though. Throughout the match, both sides had long periods of inactivity – the flatlines on the chart – while Celtic themselves only broke through the one-xG barrier with Jota’s winner.

As the chart shows, Ange Postecoglou’s men would have won this match 74 per cent of the time based on xG.

Both Celtic goals came from open play and – while they did not take as many shots as fans have become accustomed to this season – the ones they did get off were generally decent quality and from close, central positions.

Aberdeen, in contrast, took 12 shots (seven from open play) with most attempts of poor quality. Ferguson’s equaliser came from a corner and carried an xG value of 0.13, with neither Joe Hart nor Adam Montgomery able to keep it out despite their presence on the goalline.

Individually, Jota took the most shots for Celtic with three (1.07 xG) while Ferguson was top overall with four.

Possession and passing

With 60 per cent possession, the Hoops – as is their wont in domestic fixtures – dominated the ball for most of the match.

Nevertheless, that figure is the lowest Celtic have registered in Scottish football this season. Likewise, their pass accuracy of 83 per cent is also their lowest of the domestic campaign, suggesting this was a match in which Postecoglou’s men struggled to take care of the ball as well as they usually do.

With the inclusion of Nir Bitton to sit at the base of midfield, Callum McGregor was generally playing further forward than usual. In turn, David Turnbull also occupied a more advanced position and was Celtic’s most dangerous player in terms of the team’s passing network.

Interestingly, Furuhashi’s average position was wide and high, close to left winger Jota. Usually, when playing through the middle, the Japan international tends to present a clear focal point centrally in the network. On this occasion he was just that in the first half but, after the break, was more often found out wide.

Kyogo’s positioning could be influenced by a tactical switch – when Albian Ajeti came on to play as the main striker – however that was from the 72nd minute which suggests he was drifting wide throughout the match and not just after the change.

READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou's challenge is keeping Celtic title charge on the rails before injury return - Alison McConnell

Elsewhere, Liel Abada did not enjoy his best game in the hoops and cuts an isolated figure on the map. The link-up play between the Israeli and right-back Anthony Ralston – who had the most touches in the game – is a cool colour in contrast to the opposite flank, where Adam Montgomery and Jota meshed well.

Celtic’s most common passing combination was once again between centre-backs Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers, with McGregor and Montgomery also featuring in the top three.

In terms of individuals,  Turnbull played the most key passes followed by Montgomery. Two of Turnbull’s three key passes were from set-pieces while both players recorded a direct assist from open play into the bargain.

Pressing and defending

Celtic’s most intense pressing was on the flanks while their most persistent pressers were Jota and – for the second match in a row – Furuhashi. Both wings played host to the most intense pressing with the Hoops’ left-sided action generally taking place higher up the pitch.

Furuhashi was also top of the Celtic charts for counter-pressures – level with Turnbull – in another display in which his influence from the front was an unquestionable asset to the way the Hoops want to play.

Celtic counter-pressing heatmap v Aberdeen

They may have conceded in unfortunate fashion but Celtic generally defended well enough as a team. They shared the defensive load in terms of tackles and interceptions – of the starting XI, only Turnbull did not register either one – while all four of the backline were called into clearance action regularly.

Carter-Vickers led the way in this regard with a whopping 13, with Starfelt (eight), Ralston (six) and Montgomery (five) all involved too – in contrast, no Dons player had more than five.

Despite Celtic having most of the ball, Jota was deemed to have committed the most fouls in the match with eight. Overall, Aberdeen made 21 attempts at tackles – winning 14 – with no bookings while the Hoops won 10 of 13 with three players cautioned.

Focus: Celtic at corners

Another concession from a corner has once again cast a spotlight on Celtic’s set-piece defending.

Celtic faced six corners in total at Pittodrie, giving up three shots on goal including Ferguson’s header. From the six, Postecoglou’s men were only first to the ball on two occasions.

Bitton is closest to Ferguson when the Dons midfielder makes contact with the ball for the leveller. Ultimately, the contact he makes is with his shoulder and it loops over Montgomery with Hart watching on. The goal itself had an xG value of 0.13 but a post-shot xG of 0.62.

Last time out against Dundee United the Hoops gave up only two corners but were first to the ball for neither of those while there have been worrying instances of set-piece defending against Rangers and Hearts in the league already this term as a concern from the last campaign continues to trouble the team.