Aberdeen welcome Rangers to Pittodrie on Sunday, as Derek McInnes returns to his former home.
It’s always an exciting clash when these two sides meet, and we may be in store for a classic in the Granite City. Last campaign was a very disappointing one for Aberdeen, as they ended the season ninth in the league, as well as suffering some horror results on the European stage. For Rangers, meanwhile, they ended up third, with Hearts grabbing second on a dramatic final day in Glasgow. Overall, it was a very poor season for the Ibrox side, which saw Russell Martin sacked after a horror spell in Govan, with Danny Röhl taking over — he has since left for RB Salzburg — before former Hearts boss Derek McInnes took charge in the dugout.
Aberdeen have had an alright start to the season, winning five from five in the League Cup group stages, as you’d really expect, and beginning the campaign with a 2-1 win over Hearts, with two late goals sealing Hearts’ fate. Aberdeen then put up a horrible display with a 2-0 defeat at Dens to Dundee, but came out for revenge, winning 3-0 over Steven Pressley’s men in the League Cup.
Rangers, meanwhile, began their season with a 1-1 draw away at Tannadice, one the hosts could easily have won. They then went on to be knocked out of the Europa League by Jagiellonia, in the same week that also included a 2-1 home defeat to Hibs. They have won their last two, however, battering St Mirren 5-1 in the League Cup, as well as a slim 1-0 win over Jablonec in the Conference League, with the tie to be decided tomorrow evening.
The last meeting between the sides was back in March at Ibrox, with Danny Röhl’s men overcoming the Dons 4-1 at the time, while the last Pittodrie clash ended in a 2-0 defeat for Aberdeen, with Aasgaard and James Tavernier both getting goals. Aberdeen have just one win in their last seven meetings with the Ibrox side, which came back in October 2024, when Shayden Morris scored the winning goal during Aberdeen’s impressive run in the 2024/25 season. Aberdeen, as it stands, sit one place above Rangers, with two points separating the two sides.
Aberdeen have been on fire in front of goal, scoring 12 in their last five, and new signing Marius Müller ranks third for the most saves in the league. Rangers have netted 9 goals in their last five, with Emmanuel Fernández leading in terms of chances created.
Sunday’s meeting will be the 150th time these two sides have faced off at Pittodrie, with 43 wins for the Dons, 53 draws, and 54 wins for the Ibrox outfit.
It’ll certainly be a game to keep an eye on, and as we all know, these sides are far from friends. Adding to the rivalry, Rangers have four former Dons in their ranks, with Connor Barron, Ross McCrorie, Lawrence Shankland, and Bojan Miovski all now at Rangers — and, not to forget, Rangers boss Derek McInnes also used to manage the Dons.