Scottish Premiership: Celtic against Aberdeen Date: Saturday, October 19 Kickoff: 15:00 BST. Celtic Park in Glasgow will serve as the venue. Coverage: Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Sounds, highlights on BBC Scotland and iPlayer beginning at 19:15, and updates on the BBC Sport website and app. Aberdeen’s manager Jimmy Thelin believes it is “way too early” to consider them championship contenders, regardless of how they perform against champions Celtic on Saturday.

The 46-year-old Swede has led Aberdeen to 13 wins from 13 games this season, including seven in the Scottish Premiership as they prepare to visit Celtic Park. Brendan Rodgers’ side leads the table on goal difference after starting the season with seven wins. The last team to open a league season with eight straight victories was Aberdeen in 2015-16, but Thelin believes even if his side can replicate that, it is too early to predict they can go the distance.

“It’s the eighth game and it’s October and then you go until May and a lot of things can happen,” he told me. “We have a long-term project, and this season we are going game by game, trying to improve and build a clear identity. “We are currently on the correct road in terms of training, competition, and team spirit. “But still we have to improve a lot of things and stay humble with a lot of effort, and then we have to try and then try again.”

Aberdeen have lost their last 25 matches against Celtic, the longest streak in the club’s history. They’ve also lost 34 of their last 36 league games at Celtic Park, with the home side winning 6-0, 5-0, and 4-0. However, Thelin maintained that Aberdeen will not fly south only to relieve pressure following recent defeats. “They are going to test us in some areas, of course, they are a really strong team,” the man from Sweden told reporters.

“Every game is a test in many areas, and we’re striving to be more consistent in our qualities over longer periods of time, and maybe, in some minutes, we’ll be able to maintain this momentum and attempt to be what we’re excellent at. “I believe that is critical to scoring points in these kind of games. Every game we’ve played has had minor variances, but you can still tell it’s Aberdeen. And I hope it’s the same tomorrow.”

Read more on sportupdates.co.uk