RANGERS 4 ABERDEEN 1 Saturday 21 March 2026 SPFL Premiership Ibrox Stadium Attendance: 50,970 Referee: Matthew MacDermid
An industrious display from the Dons made life difficult for their opponents at Ibrox, and gives them plenty to build on in the coming games, but ultimately, they went down to defeat in Glasgow and are now only three points off the play-off spot following results elsewhere today.
Following the 1-1 draw with Falkirk, Aberdeen made four changes, Graeme Shinnie, Stuart Armstrong, Mitchel Frame and Marko Lazetic all on the bench. Into the side came Emmanuel Gyamfi, Ante Palaversa, Kenan Bilalovic and Afeez Aremu. Kevin Nisbet skippered the side.
The Rangers side showed one change from the 1-0 win at St. Mirren, Thelonious Aasgaard replacing Djeidi Gassama.
The back five for Aberdeen were tested early on by some crisp Rangers passing through the pitch, but they were resolute while still looking to use the front two on the break as and when they got the ball.
The first real chance came in the 10 minute when Chermiti got free at a corner and from eight yards out, he bulleted a header wide when he should have hit the back of the net. Three minutes later, a bending ball forward from Dennis Geiger was just a bit too strong for Bilalovic to reach.
A ferocious shot from Aasgaard from a half cleared free-kick was blocked by Palaversa on 18 minutes, Aremu hurting himself in falling awkwardly as he cleared his lines with an overhead kick. He took a minute of treatment before continuing. Jack Milne went into the book on 29 minutes, late in the tackle on Chukwuani. Milne stopped Chukwuani in his tracks again four minutes later this time with a fine block from his shot, part of an impressive start to the game by Milne.
There wasn’t any stopping the Rangers man on 35 though. The hosts broke down their left as Rommens went past Dylan Lobban and pulled the ball back to Moore. His shot was blocked but the ball rebounded out to Chukwuani who guided a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Tavernier flashed a drive over the bar from 25 yards out in the 40 minute, then Gavin Molloy produced a superb saving tackle on Moore in the 41 minute, Moore having skipped around Morrison and advanced to the corner of the six yard box, ready to pull the trigger.
Dimitar Mitov made a good save with an outstretched leg a minute later as Tavernier advanced into the box. There was a chance of a break from there, but Geiger’s through ball for Bilalovic was cut out by Fernandez. Possibly the wrong option as Aberdeen had players flooding forward, there was no need to force the early pass.
HALF-TIME: RANGERS 1 ABERDEEN 0
Toyosi Olusanya and Alexander Jensen replaced Bilalovic and Lobban for Aberdeen at the break.
But within three minutes though, Rangers had doubled the lead. Winning the ball on halfway, Naderi turned into space and found Moore running into the box, and he slotted the ball across Mitov and just inside the far post.
The response was immediate, Geiger bringing Aberdeen back into the game with his first goal for the club on 52. Pressing Rangers high up, Olusanya won the ball from Fernandez. Palaversa helped it on to Aremu and his pass was beautifully weighted for Geiger to run onto and he produced a fine finish, sweeping the ball across Butland and in. It was the Dons’ first goal away from Pittodrie in 2026.
Good play from Olusanya and Gyamfi won Aberdeen a free-kick on the left edge of the box after 57 minutes. Nisbet’s effort hit the wall and flew behind for a corner, Palaversa’s flag kick drifting wide. Geiger was cautioned for a late challenge on the hour.
A set play for Rangers saw them 3-1 up on 62. Tavernier took the kick wide on the right edge of the box. As the players ran towards goal, the kick hit the back of Molloy and dropped invitingly for Raskin who jabbed a first time effort into the net from ten yards out.
The impressive Aremu needed treatment on 65 minutes and he hobbled off, Palaversa and Nisbet also making way with Topi Keskinen, Shinnie and Lazetic joining the action in Aberdeen’s final changes. Gyamfi was booked in the 69 minute, overrunning the ball and barrelling into Chukwuani. Rangers replaced Aasgaard with Antman on 73.
Lazetic had a glorious chance in the 77 minute. Shinnie played a fine ball to get Keskinen on the run. His low ball ran through the box, just in front of Olusanya, but Lazetic was coming in at the back post. Sprinting, he had to take his shot first time but from a tight angle, he could only put it into the side netting. It was a golden opportunity to put the pressure back on Rangers.
Keskinen was sent on his way again in the 80 minute. He played into Olusanya at the near post, but on the turn, he drilled his shot over the bar. Barron and Meghoma then came on for Chukuwani and Rommens for the home team. Miovski and Gassama were on for Moore and Chermiti in the 86 minute. Gassama quickly drifted inside to let fly with a 20 yarder that flew wide of the goal.
Miovski thought he had made it 4-1 in the final minute, Gassama running inside from the left, the ball breaking for Miovski to fire into the roof of the net from 12 yards. There was a clear hand ball by Barron in the build up to the goal when the referee was looking in the opposite direction, and the goal was rightly chalked off by VAR.
It was 4-1 in the 95 minute after Keskinen was booked for pulling down Antman on the right edge of the box. Tavernier took the free-kick and put it into the top corner, off the bar, with the last kick of the game.
Much work for the Dons to do in the international break.
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Djiga, Fernandez, Rommens (Meghoma 81), Raskin, Chukwuani (Barron 81), Aasgaard (Antman 73), Moore (Gassama 86), Chermiti (Miovski 86), Naderi.
Subs not used: Kelly, Sterling, Diomande, Souttar.
Goals: Chukwuani (35), Moore (48), Raskin (62)
Aberdeen: Mitov, Lobban (Jensen 46), Milne, Morrison, Molloy, Gyamfi, Aremu (Keskinen 67), Geiger, Palaversa (Shinnie 67) Bilalovic (Olusanya 46), Nisbet (Lazetic 67).
Subs not used: Bratveit, Frame, Armstrong, Heltne Nilsen.
Goal: Geiger (52)
Booked: Milne, Geiger, Gyamfi, Keskinen
