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Top ten in Europe

05 August 2014

If Aberdeen are to progress to the next stage of the UEFA Europa League, then they are going to have to produce something a bit special on Thursday against Real Sociedad. However many of the Dons finest performances have been on the European stage and over the years Aberdeen have had some stunning wins against all the odds. So here’s hoping for another famous night on Thursday! The RedMatchday team look back at some of the Dons finest hours on foreign fields as we pick our top ten European wins:

1 Aberdeen v Real Madrid 1983 ECWC Final 
Although a neutral venue as the Dons face Real Madrid in the final of the Cup Winners Cup in 1983, the Dons ultimate success will always remain the clubs top achievement in European competition. After beating Bayern Munich to reach their first European final, Aberdeen joined the short list of Scottish greats when they defeated the mighty Real Madrid 2-1 after extra time in the final in Gothenburg.  

2 Hamburg v Aberdeen 1983 European Super Cup
Alex Ferguson had long been an admirer of German football for many years. He had guided his Aberdeen side through many tough matches against the best in Europe. It was against Hamburg in the first leg of the Super Cup Final that his side came of age with a master class in tactics, ability and European know how. The Dons had matured into the best side on the continent that year and the 0-0 draw in Germany set Aberdeen up for a famous win in the second leg at Pittodrie.

3 Bayern Munich v Aberdeen 1983 ECWC Quarter Final
Dismissed by the German media, players and opponents, the Dons were rank outsiders to take anything in the imposing Olympic Stadium in Munich. Aberdeen not only matched their much hyped opponents but were more than worthy of their 0-0 draw that set up a dramatic conclusion at Pittodrie. Aberdeen rolled out the classic away performance in Europe as they sat in and soaked up the waves of German attacks and looked the more likely side to score when they hit Bayern on the break.    

4 Ipswich Town v Aberdeen 1981 UEFA Cup
This time it was the English who declared that Ipswich would sweep aside the Scots. Ipswich at that time were UEFA Cup holders, managed by Bobby Robson and were sitting at the top of the English league when Aberdeen faced them at Portman Road; a venue they had not lost at for more than a year. The Dons went about their business in impressive style and more than held their own against the holders. John Hewitt scored in a 1-1 draw that was harsh on Aberdeen. Manager Robson said that Aberdeen could not play any better in the return; he was wrong.

5 Austria Vienna v Aberdeen 1980 European Cup
Aberdeen’s first ever away tie in the European Champions Cup was in the imposing Prater Stadium in Vienna. After a Mark McGhee goal in the first game at Pittodrie the 1-0 lead was seen as nowhere near enough for the Dons against a side that had pace and power in their front line. With Alex McLeish failing a last minute fitness test it was down to the likes of Willie Miller to stand up against the Austrian attacks which were repelled through a momentous ninety minutes. The 0-0 draw took Aberdeen through to face Liverpool. 

6 Dnipro v Aberdeen 2007 UEFA Cup
It was Darren Mackie who scored the ‘£1m’ goal that took Aberdeen through to the group stages of the UEFA Cup for the first time in 2007. At that time only one round to play to get into the groups and Ukrainian cracks Dnipro were seen as clear favourites to dismiss Jimmy Calderwood’s side. After a 0-0 draw at Pittodrie, Mackie headed the Dons goal that helped them to a 1-1 draw and qualification on the away goals rule. Aberdeen eventually went out to old foes Bayern Munich in the latter stages.

7 Groningen v Aberdeen 2014 Europa League
Adam Rooney has brought himself into the higher rankings of Dons European scorers and his opening penalty at Groningen a couple of weeks ago set Aberdeen up for a memorable win in Holland against Groningen. Niall McGinn added a second in the first half as the Dons 2-1 win put them through to a glamour tie with Real Sociedad. Not for the first time in Aberdeen history had the Scots been dismissed before the tie and Derek McInnes and his players thrived on such pressure as they merited a first Aberdeen win in Holland.

8 Lech Poznan v Aberdeen 1982 ECWC
Poznan were flying high at the top of the Polish league and were seen as dangerous opponents for Aberdeen in the 1983 ECWC. After a 2-0 first leg win at Pittodrie, the Poles were still confident that they could claw back that deficit in front of their partisan support. A Doug Bell goal was enough to ease Aberdeen through in what was another mighty defensive performance from a side that was maturing in Europe in every game.

9 Celta Vigo v Aberdeen 1971 UEFA Cup
In what was the first season of the new UEFA Cup Aberdeen came up against Spanish side Celta Vigo in the opening round. Goals from Jim Forrest and Joe Harper silenced the noisy Spanish home crowd as Aberdeen showed their class against a top quality side. Vigo had not lost at home for almost a year so the magnitude of the Dons feat was only seen in the Pittodrie return when Vigo had most of the game but fell to a late Joe Harper goal. 

10 Arges Pitesti v Aberdeen 1981 UEFA Cup
The famous ‘tea urn’ incident when manager Ferguson was raging at his side during the half time interval. Aberdeen had taken a 3-0 lead to Romania but were trailing by two at half time. Ferguson kicked out a tea urn; not knowing that it was full and as solid as the Dons defence back then. It worked as two goals from Aberdeen in the second half put the Dons through to the third round of European competition for the first time in club history.

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