Weekend 3/1 Treble | Jack Wright

Jimmy Thelin continues to work wonders at Aberdeen. Prior to the international break, they defeated Dundee 4-1. The Dons have won 10 of their opening 11 Premiership matches to sit behind Celtic on goal difference after a draw in Glasgow last month.

St Mirren have had off-field issues to deal with and have released three players as a result, not helpful for a small squad already stretched through injury. The Dons won the reverse 3-1 in August and can keep the pressure on at the top by claiming another three points here against a side that have lost all five games they have played against teams currently above them in the league.

Atletico Madrid look to have recovered impressively from an early season wobble after just one win in six outings across all competitions. They then went into the international break having won four successive games. That included a 2-1 success at Paris St Germain in the Champions League and back-to-back in La Liga. No real surprise given Atleti have the best defence in the league having conceded just seven times in the opening 13 fixtures.

Los Colchoneros are now seven points off leaders Barcelona and will be keen to make it three home wins on the spin against an Alaves side that have lost six of their last seven league games. That includes each of their last five road trips with the last three seeing them fail to get on the scoresheet.

If not for Aberdeen’s unexpected start to the season Celtic could well have been thinking the title race is over before the Christmas decorations have even gone up. Brendan Rodgers has seen his side collect 31 points from a possible 33 and enjoy a nine-point cushion to their Old Firm rivals in third.

It was possibly to be expected the Bhoys weren’t at their best in winning 2-0 at Kilmarnock prior to the international break given it came only a couple of days after a big Champions League victory over RB Leipzig. But they got the job done as they tend to do and as has been the case in 12 of the last 14 meetings with Hearts. The Jam Tarts have lost eight of their opening 13 league games and only have Edinburgh rivals Hibernian beneath them in the table.