GLASGOW: Defending champion Celtic beat Aberdeen 1-0 yesterday with a goal from Kris Commons as the Scottish Premier League season began without powerhouse Rangers.

Commons scored in the 79th minute at Parkhead with a speculative strike which Aberdeen goalkeeper Jamie Langfield failed to hold at his near post.

Rangers was demoted to the fourth tier, Scotland's lowest professional league, because of tax debts exceeding $30 million. The Scottish champions play their first Division Three game at Peterhead on August 11.

Dundee FC, which replaced Rangers in the SPL, drew 0-0 at Kilmarnock. Also, it was: Hearts 2, St.Johnstone 0; Ross County 0, Motherwell 0; and St Mirren 2, Inverness 2.

Dundee United hosts Hibernian today.