- Aberdeen are 4 wins and 1 defeat in their last 5 matches in all competitions.
- Dundee are 2 wins and 3 defeats in their last 5 in all competitions.
- Aberdeen have scored 2.50 goals per home game and conceded 2.00 goals per home game in all competitions this season.
An open affair at Pittodrie
Aberdeen will face off against Dundee at Pittodrie Stadium in a second-round League Cup 2026 clash that will be a tough game for the favourites. The Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson has set up his side with a compact back four, high pressing, and a football philosophy of territory first, while Steven Pressley has used a variety of 4-4-1/4-4-1-1 and 4-2-3-1 shapes around his side's ability to execute wide combinations and direct counters at pace. Aberdeen are 21/20 favourites, with Dundee priced at 11/5 and the draw at 12/5 for Saturday's clash. These two sides are of similar quality, but Aberdeen have won their last 3 at home and can make Pittodrie a real fortress once again here, while Dundee have lost their last 2 away, so we're avoiding the hosts in the outright market and taking the goals markets instead. Over 2.5 match goals at 4/5 and Both Teams To Score Yes at 13/20 appeal most in this clash as the styles of these sides are polar opposites and could just leave space for both teams to flourish. Aberdeen want to control territory and break lines, while Dundee thrive on transition speed and wing overloads.
Aberdeen have the edge
Dundee were 2-0 victors at home to Aberdeen in the Premiership last weekend, bouncing back sharply from a 1-0 loss at Celtic before the international break. Pressley's side are dangerous after the break when they bring on their fresh legs and can raise the tempo, but they have won just 1, drawn once and lost 2 of their away matches in all competitions.
The Dens Park side will be desperate to avoid an upset in this cup clash, but Aberdeen are the better team and will want to put a few more wins on the board after losing a bit of momentum when they beat Hearts 2-1 at their place but then lost 2-0 away to Dundee.
The Dons are 5 wins, 1 draw and 4 defeats in their last 10 in all competitions, which is a decent, if a little volatile, record. Robinson's side have looked their most dangerous when they have been able to pin teams back and force turnovers in dangerous areas high up the pitch, so we think that a close Aberdeen win with both teams scoring is a smart punt at the same price as the outright selection.
Kevin Nisbet is their main man and the ex-Hibernian marksman has 4 of the club's 10 goals in the last 5 matches, so he is the most likely man to open the scoring here.
