Aberdeen FC face a stern test of their cup credentials as they meet Rangers in the Scottish League Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Saturday evening. The winner will progress to December's final to face either Hearts or Hibernian, offering Aberdeen a chance to reach a major showpiece for the first time under manager Stephen Robinson.
This is the seventh time the clubs have met at this stage of the competition, with Aberdeen having prevailed in four of the previous six ties. The most recent was a 2-1 extra-time defeat in January 2023, and Aberdeen have not beaten Rangers in any of their last seven meetings across all competitions. Their last victory was a 2-1 home league win in October 2024.
Team news and form
Aberdeen's recent league form has been inconsistent, leaving them ninth in the Premiership standings with 11 points from 11 matches. They have lost their last two league games, including a 1-0 home defeat to Falkirk last weekend, a result that leaves them 17 points adrift of leaders Celtic.
In contrast, Rangers are unbeaten in their last ten matches in all competitions, winning eight and drawing two. They scored 20 goals in that run and arrive at Hampden after a commanding 3-0 victory over Celtic in the quarter-finals. Aberdeen's path to the last four saw them top Group A before beating Kilmarnock on penalties in the quarter-final. They remain unbeaten in this season's League Cup, with five wins and a draw from six fixtures.
Stephen Robinson, who guided St Mirren to this trophy last season, acknowledged the scale of the task. “It’s certainly an opportunity,” the Aberdeen manager said. “All the pressure will be on Rangers, and the expectation will be on Rangers. We’ve seen many upsets over the years.”
Key attacking threats
Aberdeen's hopes may rest on the form of striker Kevin Nisbet. He is the club's top scorer this season with four goals in 11 Premiership appearances and has been prolific in the League Cup, netting nine times in six matches in the competition. His double helped secure a 2-0 win over Dundee in the last 16. Rangers' main threat comes from Kevin Kelsy, who has scored four goals in his last four games.
Rangers will be without several players through injury, including Ross McCrorie, Cameron Devlin and Lawrence Shankland. Aberdeen's focus now shifts entirely to this one-off tie. As Nisbet noted, the mood in the camp remains positive despite recent league setbacks. The immediate reward for victory is a place in the final, with Aberdeen's next league fixture a home match against Hibernian on November 7.
