Nygren off the mark and Hatate scores stunner as Celtic see off Aberdeen

Benjamin Nygren got off the mark for Celtic as the champions overcame their Scottish Cup conquerors, Aberdeen. The summer signing from Nordsjælland registered a goal and an assist in a 2-0 victory at Pittodrie as Celtic moved four points ahead of Rangers after their second Premiership game.

Much of the narrative around Celtic is centred on their struggles to find attacking additions to their squad but the two new signings in the team, Kieran Tierney and Nygren, combined for the Swede to send the visitors into a half-time lead. Nygren added a simple assist for Reo Hatate to produce a wonderful finish 20 minutes into the second half.

Aberdeen fans raised a giant banner of the Scottish Cup replete with red and white ribbons before the game as they welcomed their team out at Pittodrie for the first time since their Hampden triumph over Celtic. But they were silenced after Hatate’s goal before finishing the game as the only team in the Premiership still to collect a point.

Aberdeen’s manager, Jimmy Thelin, brought Nicky Devlin and Alfie Dorrington into his back four after their opening-day defeat to Hearts, while James Forrest was in for Yang Hyun-jun in the only change to the Celtic team that started their 1-0 win against St Mirren last week.

The home side threatened on several occasions early on when they broke quickly after turning the ball over. The on-loan Sunderland attacker Adil Aouchiche forced a diving save from Kasper Schmeichel from their best moment.

Celtic gradually got the game under control and took the lead in the 27th minute. Tierney used his pace over five yards to get outside Nicolas Milanovic and drilled in a cross that Nygren swept home with his left foot. The Sweden international soon shot over with his right after Hatate’s effort was parried.

View image in fullscreen Benjamin Nygren opens the scoring for Celtic against Aberdeen. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

Celtic were well on top now but were off target from a Nygren free-kick and Liam Scales header.

Aberdeen were struggling to get the ball into Celtic’s half and when they worked the ball into Kusini Yengi in the box, the big striker made a mess of his control and the ball ran out for a goal kick. The former Portsmouth player had missed several good chances at Tynecastle and was replaced by Ester Sokler early in the second half.

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Dimitar Mitov kept the Dons in the game with a brilliant save to tip over Daizen Maeda’s first-time shot after good play from Forrest. Aberdeen were more competitive than they had been in the later stages of the first half but Topi Keskinen sliced well off target when he got a sight of goal and Celtic moved further ahead with a touch of class from Hatate. Nygren’s pass found the Japan midfielder in space and he curled the ball in off the bar from the edge of the box.

Nygren almost had another assist moments later following a deft ball over the top. Maeda’s touch took him away from his marker but he lost his footing as he bore down on goal. Shin Yamada came on for his Celtic debut in the immediate aftermath of Hatate’s goal.

The Japanese striker did not have any sights of goal but he showed his strength in his own box when his shoulder charge on Dante Polvara put the Dons sub off his stride as he latched on to Sokler’s flick. Polvara stabbed the ball towards goal but Schmeichel saved.

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