All season long fans and pundits have discussed the possibility of Celtic going the entire league season unbeaten.

Now the Hoops are just three matches away from making that a reality. What once seemed impossible now seems incredibly likely to happen. If Brendan Rodgers' side fell at the final hurdles, it would be remarkable.

There is one big challenge left though and that's the visit to Aberdeen on Friday night. Pittodrie is never an easy place to go, no matter how good Celtic are right now and Derek McInnes' men will fancy being the team to ruin the Hoops' chances of an unbeaten season.

The Dons like to think of themselves as the best of the rest in Scotland and it would be a massive point of pride for them if they could be the team to finally get the best of Rodgers and his men.

How likely is it?

Here are four reasons why Aberdeen may just be able to pull it off...

13 wins in 16 games since last meeting

Since Celtic and Aberdeen last faced off, which was a 1-0 win for the Hoops at Celtic Park in February, Aberdeen have won 13 of the 16 games they've played. That's exceptional form and the kind of winning mentality they required to get into their second domestic cup final of the season and help almost secure second spot in the Scottish Premiership.

It's form that the Hoops must be wary of, even though they of course have hardly been slouches in picking up wins.

The low point of Aberdeen's recent form was a 3-0 defeat to Rangers at Pittodrie but even that was a match dominated large spells of. It wasn't until a completely collapse in the closing 15 minutes that Rangers showed much at all.

If the Dons can stay competitive in the match vs Celtic deep into the second half then they have every chance of snatching three points and end the Hoops' run.

A win confirms second place

While second place is all but guaranteed due to a superior goal difference, a result against Celtic on Friday night confirms their second place in the Scottish Premiership and that'll undoubtedly be a motivating factor in their performance.

It's been a long season for Derek McInnes' side, always on the cusp of success but never quite reaching it, but a second place finish above Rangers would represent a fine campaign given the difference in resources between the two clubs.

With many Dons players thought to be coming to the end of their time at Pittodrie, Friday could be the start of a 'last hurrah' in this current cycle at the club. If they can confirm second place by doing it in the most flamboyant way possible, beating the champions, then it could be the start of a wonderful May for McInnes' team and their supporters, with a huge game at Hampden on the horizon.

They are undoubtedly the closest team to Celtic

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The last two league meetings between the sides have been very tight encounters that have been decided by just a single goal. At Pittodrie in October, only a fine Tom Rogic separated the sides while the February clash at Celtic Park was settled by a Dedryck Boyata effort.

The Dons have been outclassed by Brendan Rodgers side too, notably in the League Cup Final earlier this season, but they are undoubtedly the closest team the Hoops all in all.

If they can put in similarly dogged performances to those seen in the 1-0 defeats then this is not going to be a foregone conclusion. It's also worth remembering Celtic have nothing to play for, unlike the other occasions this season.

Can Aberdeen capitalise on complacency and show that not only can they get close to the Hoops, but beat them too?

Send a statement before the final

Of course, the match on Friday night is dress rehearsal for what will be a mammoth Scottish Cup Final at the end of May at Hampden. The nation's two best sides will go head to head. For Aberdeen it's a chance to lift the trophy for the first time in decades, for Celtic it's a chance to secure a rare domestic treble of trophies.

A win for Aberdeen wouldn't just be a big three points for them, but given them the mental upper hand in the upcoming final. If they can prove they can beat Celtic on their day then suddenly that date at Hampden becomes a much more nervy occasion for the Hoops and their supporters.

There's an air of invincibility surrounding Celtic right now, for obvious reasons, but if the Dons can shatter that illusion just weeks before the final, then an already engrossing occasion becomes even more of a spectacle.