Aberdeen FC face Kilmarnock in a Viaplay Cup quarter-final at Rugby Park on Saturday afternoon, a week after the two sides played out a goalless draw in the Premiership. The Dons are aiming to reach the semi-finals of the competition and find a route back to form, having scored just twice in their last five matches across all competitions.
Recent form and team news
Aberdeen's recent run includes a 3-0 defeat at Celtic and a 1-0 home loss to Rangers, leaving them 10th in the Premiership with four points from five games. Their last victory was a 3-0 win over Dundee in mid-August. The goalless draw with Kilmarnock last Saturday was their first clean sheet in that five-game sequence, which has seen them concede seven times.
Manager Jimmy Thelin is without several key players for the trip to Ayrshire. Bradley Lyons, Emmanuel Gyamfi, Kristers Tobers and Kusini Yengi are all currently sidelined, which will test the squad's depth. Kilmarnock will be missing defender Robbie Deas due to a foot injury, a blow for a side that has kept two clean sheets in its last three outings.
The starting lineups from the league meeting provide a likely template for this cup tie. Aberdeen fielded a 4-1-3-2 formation with Marcel Muller in goal, a back four of Cadden, Mayo, Happe and Guinness-Walker, and a front two of Kevin Nisbet and Michy Ntelo. Kilmarnock mirrored that shape, with Marcin Stryjek in goal and a strike partnership of Josh Hugill and Dylan Daniels.
With both teams struggling for goals, Kilmarnock have failed to score in three of their last five, a tight, tactical battle is anticipated. The prize is a place in the last four of Scotland's secondary cup competition, offering a tangible target for a season that has started slowly for Aberdeen in the league.
The winner of this tie will advance to the semi-finals, with the draw to be made after the weekend's fixtures. For Aberdeen, attention will then turn to their next Premiership assignment, a home game against fifth-placed Motherwell on 30 December. The full schedule is available on our fixtures list.
