GLASGOW, Scotland — Defending champion Celtic beat Aberdeen 1-0 on Saturday with a goal from Kris Commons as the Scottish Premier League season began without traditional 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 54-time Scottish champions play their first Division Three game at Peterhead on Aug. 11.