Aberdeen are just two days away from finding out who they will face in the second round of the Viaplay Cup.
This weekend sees the group stage of the competition draw to a conclusion, with the eight group winners and three best runners up qualifying for the knockout stage.
They will then join manager Barry Robson’s men, Celtic, Rangers, Hearts and Hibernian in the hat for the second round, with each of the Premiership’s European representatives this season being seeded in the draw.
The draw for the second round is set to be made immediately after the match between Dundee and Inverness, which kicks off on Sunday July, 30 at 3pm.
No one has officially booked their place in the knockout phase from the group stage yet, but the likes of Ross County, Airdrieonians and Forfar are all in a strong position to progress, needing just a draw in their final match having won three from three so far.
Premiership sides Kilmarnock, Dundee, St Mirren and Livingston still have work to do in order to qualify, while Jim Goodwin’s Dundee United have already been dumped out having lost two of their four group fixtures.
Cove Rangers are still in with a chance of qualifying, and will do so if they can beat Hamilton away from home tomorrow.
The second round of the Viaplay Cup will then take place over the weekend of August 19-20, with the eight winners progressing to the quarter finals, which will be held at the end of September.
Aberdeen enjoyed a decent run in the competition last season, winning all four of their group stage matches after failing to qualify for Europe in 2021/22.
The Reds required extra-time to eventually defeat Annan Athletic 4-1 in the second round, before clinching their place in the last four with a 4-1 home victory over Partick Thistle in the quarter final.
However it ended in heartbreak for the Dons last January, when they fell to a 2-1 extra time loss to Rangers at Hampden, despite taking the lead through Bojan Miovski.
Source : Aberdeen Live
