ABERDEEN 0 RANGERS 2 Sunday 11 January 2026 SPFL Premiership Pittodrie Attendance: 18,151 Referee: David Dickinson
Aberdeen suffered a second 2-0 defeat to Rangers in a week, the Dons’ lack of cutting edge again costing them despite some improved approach play during the game.
There were four changes to the Aberdeen side that lost at Ibrox on Tuesday with Leighton Clarkson, Nicolas Milanovic, Jesper Karlsson and Marko Lazetic in for Kjartan Kjartansson, Stuart Armstrong, Kevin Nisbet and Kenan Bilalovic, the latter three all on the bench with Kjartansson missing from the matchday squad. Adil Aouchiche returned from injury to be on the bench.
Rangers made just one change, Thelo Aasgaard in for Connor Barron.
Amid the freezing temperatures and a chill wind, a composed start to the afternoon from the hosts warmed the patrons in Pittodrie. A mazy run from Milanovic threatened to open Rangers up in the eighth minute, Souttar getting an important block on his shot.
The visitors were quickly up the other end, Diomande firing in a shot from 25 yards that Dimitar Mitov pushed around the post. From the corner to the back post, Fernandez had a clear header at goal but thankfully, he put it over the bar. Chermiti then flashed a wildly optimistic 25 yarder well over the bar and into the Red Shed on the quarter hour.
Good, patient possession for the Dons eventually worked an opening for Clarkson on 18 minutes. His low drive skimmed across the face of goal, forcing Butland to go full stretch to make a very good save.
It was Rangers though who opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. They played a corner short on their right, creating a 2 v 1 against Clarkson. They played around him before Meghoma clipped a low cross to the edge of the six yard box, where Aasgaard produced a crisp volley to turn the ball home.
With the sleet swirling around Pittodrie, out of nothing, it looked like it was 2-0 to Rangers on 28 minutes. A long, looping ball forward from a free-kick on halfway saw Mitov coming towards the edge of the box to try to collect but Fernandez outjumped him and headed in. The VAR replays made it clear that Fernandez had brought his arm across the goalkeeper to push him out of the way and the goal was disallowed.
Aberdeen responded with a good flowing move on 33 minutes that started on the left with an exchange between Karlsson and Dante Polvara, Karlsson then picking out the forward run of Nicky Devlin on the right. He steadied himself to shoot from the edge of the area, but Butland was right behind it.
Tavernier stung Mitov’s palms with a snapshot from 25 yards on 39 minutes as he pounced on a loose ball, Mitov pushing the ball over the bar. It was Butland who was in action two minutes later, another good break from Devlin down the right. His cross worked its way through to Karlsson but his shot was straight at Butland.
HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 0 RANGERS 1
Nisbet replaced Lazetic at the break as the conditions continued to worsen at Pittodrie.
Raskin had a great opportunity from a Tavernier free-kick in the 52nd minute, getting beyond the defence to have a free header that he put wide of goal from 10 yards out. Souttar and Knoester were booked a minute later for the usual tedious pushing and shoving at a Rangers corner. Topi Keskinen replaced Karlsson after 57 minutes. Aasgaard was booked a minute later for a stray elbow as he challenged with Nisbet.
The Dons won three corners in quick succession around the hour, but they came to nothing, the threat petering out as Clarkson skied a volley as the ball was recycled into the box from the third.
Chermiti was the next go in the book, tripping Devlin after 64 minutes. Clarkson followed him in a minute late for a foul on Gassama.
Mitov had to produce a big save in the 66th minute, Moore slicing through the pitch before feeding Chermiti, Mitov narrowing the angle to make an important block.
Milanovic and Clarkson made way for Bilalovic and Armstrong after 68 minutes. Mitov was called on again a minute later, a good block with an extended left leg from Moore’s attempt.
A good run from Bilalovic set up Nisbet on 71 minutes, his low shot deflected behind by Fernandez as Aberdeen again struggled to find a way through.
Gassama went to ground in the 72nd minute as he tried to skip inside past Shinnie, the referee pointing to the spot with no hesitation despite there being minimal contact. Tavernier speared the spot kick just inside the post, Mitov going the right way but having no chance of saving.
Persistence from Polvara saw him barrel his way past a couple of challenges before firing the ball over from a tight angle on 79. Aouchiche then replaced Shinnie.
A good turn inside from the left flank by Keskinen opened space up for him to get a shot away in the 87th minute, Butland saving at the second attempt to his right. Rangers replaced Moore with Djiga a minute later. Miovski then replaced Chermiti as we headed into added time. His first act was to get in the way of a goalbound drive by Gassama, perhaps preventing a third goal for Rangers. Matondo and Aarons were the final Rangers changes, on or Gassama and Tavernier in the 93rd minute.
Aberdeen: Mitov, Devlin, Knoester, Milne, Gyamfi, Polvara, Shinnie (Aouchiche 79), Clarkson (Armstrong 68), Karlsson (Keskinen 57), Milanovic (Bilalovic 68), Lazetic (Nisbet 46).
Subs not used: Suman, Jensen, Heltne Nilsen, Lobban.
Booked: Knoester, Clarkson
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier (Aarons 90+3), Souttar, Fernandez, Meghoma, Aasgaard, Raskin, Diomande, Gassama (Matondo 90+3), Chermiti (Miovski 90), Moore (Djiga 88).
Subs not used: Kelly, Antman, Dowell, Nsiala, Danilo.
Goals: Aasgaard (23), Tavernier (74 (pen))
Booked: Souttar, Aasgaard, Chermiti
