Benjamin Nygren data vs Aberdeen proves Celtic bagged a bargain after £2m deal
Benjamin Nygren put in a statement performance in Celtic’s 2-0 Scottish Premiership win over Aberdeen on Sunday.
The Sweden international signed from Nordsjaelland for a fee of just £2million (Sky Sports) this summer, but despite the low price, he has a decent reputation after registering 35 goals and six assists during his 107 appearances for the Danish side.
Nygren was solid but unspectacular in a 1-0 win over St. Mirren on the opening weekend.
However, on Sunday, he truly came to life.
Nygren runs the show against Aberdeen
Nygren played primarily as a winger during his time with Nordsjaelland, but since joining Celtic, has lined up as a central midfielder in both his appearances.
If Sunday’s evidence was anything to go by, it’s a role he is more than comfortable in.
It was Nygren who put the Hoops 1-0 on 27 minutes, applying a smart finish to Kieran Tierney’s cross. The 24-year-old pulled the strings from there and, after a sustained period of pressure, provided the assist for Reo Hatate’s clincher in the 64th minute.
They were just two actions in a stunning performance from Nygren that yielded a whopping seven chances created to the tune of 0.44 xA, three shots, four passes into the final third, three touches in the opposition box and seven crosses (FotMob).
And despite all that, Nygren still had the time to disrupt Aberdeen with three interceptions and three recoveries.
Rodgers praises Nygren masterclass as Celtic make statement
It’s a credit to Nygren that you wouldn’t even know he’d spent most of his career as a winger, had you only watched his Pittodrie masterclass.
The former Genk and Heerenveen man set the tempo in the middle and was a constant thorn in Aberdeen’s side, popping up in all areas of the pitch to score, create and disrupt.
| Stats vs Aberdeen | Benjamin Nygren |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Shots | 3 |
| Chances created | 7 |
Manager Brendan Rodgers heaped praise upon his new signing after the match, also highlighting the player’s versatility.
“I’m really pleased for Benji [Nygren],” said Rodgers (BBC).
“That’s why we signed him. He’s a player with a record of scoring goals from midfield or wide areas. But we see him very much as an eight. He can move well, he can take the ball in tight spaces, and he can get in the box. It’s really nice for him to get that goal.
“And the second goal, we played out the pressure really well. And then we’ve done what we’ve done up here a few times.”
It’s already looking ominous for the rest of Scotland, with Celtic taking maximum points from their opening two games and sitting four points clear of Rangers, who have endured two draws.
Hearts sit level on points with them for now, but if Nygren can keep putting in these sorts of performances — and inspire his teammates to do the same — nobody will be able to stop them claiming a record 56th title and overtaking Rangers for the first time since the 1920s.