Scottish Premiership Preview: Key Matches and Players to Watch
In just the first week of the season, Scottish football has already presented a plethora of storylines, including discussions of board ultimatums, leaked team information, the potential for a split in the Old Firm, a European resurgence from Scottish clubs, and even an incident involving a Dundee United fan falling down a flight of stairs three times.
With such excitement already, what can we expect in the second week?
Let's delve into the key talking points from this weekend's Premiership matches.
Game of the Weekend - Aberdeen vs. Celtic (Sun, 12:30 BST)
Celtic kicked off their title defense last week with a match against St Mirren, a team that managed to draw with them in their last encounter of the previous Premiership season.
After narrowly defeating St Mirren with a late goal, Brendan Rodgers' team will now look to avenge their loss to Aberdeen, who denied them a domestic treble in last season's Scottish Cup final at Hampden.
Like Celtic, Aberdeen is also playing their second match of the season, having suffered a 2-0 defeat to Heart of Midlothian in their opener.
Despite the optimism surrounding Jimmy Thelin's summer rebuild, Aberdeen fans are aware of their team's poor track record against Celtic, having not won in their last 30 encounters.
In their last visit to Pittodrie in May, Celtic showcased their dominance with a 5-1 victory, marking their second consecutive win by that scoreline against the Dons.
Celtic has not lost in their last 17 visits to Aberdeen, with their last defeat occurring in February 2016. Despite concerns about their squad depth following the cup final loss, they are favored to win their opening away league match for the fourth consecutive season.
Player to Watch - Kieron Bowie (Hibernian)
While Martin Boyle made headlines with both goals in Hibernian's impressive 2-0 victory over Partizan Belgrade in Thursday's Conference League qualifier, Kieron Bowie is also gaining recognition for his performances.
The 22-year-old forward, originally from Aberdeen, consistently troubled the Czech defense, leading to a sending-off and a penalty that positioned Hibs strongly for the next round.
Bowie also scored both goals in Hibernian's 2-1 win against Dundee in their Premiership opener, with Kilmarnock next on the horizon.
His journey from Fulham to Hibernian has been remarkable, especially after a loan spell in League One. Despite only scoring six goals in 23 matches last season, Bowie has the best minutes-per-goal ratio among players with more than two goals in the Scottish top flight.
His impressive performances earned him a first Scotland cap in June, and his rise to prominence is a source of pride for his family in Kirkcaldy.
Manager in Spotlight - Russell Martin (Rangers)
Although Russell Martin has only been at the helm for a short while, Rangers have shown resilience in European competitions, remaining unbeaten in their first four matches. However, their domestic form has raised concerns.
After a fortunate 1-1 draw against Motherwell in their season opener, Martin's squad is already trailing Celtic by two points in the league, which he has emphasized as a priority this season.
Rangers are looking to build on their 3-0 lead against Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League qualifiers as they prepare for their league opener against Dundee.
Martin's recent decisions, including dropping four players, have seemed to galvanize the team, but the Premiership remains a significant challenge for him to navigate.
Dundee, who are struggling under new head coach Steven Pressley, will present a favorable opportunity for Rangers, who have an excellent record against them, remaining unbeaten in their last 17 meetings.
Pick of the Stats
Last season, all three league matches between Dundee United and Hearts concluded with a 1-0 victory for the away side. Will Hearts secure their sixth consecutive win under new head coach Derek McInnes this Sunday?