ABERDEEN 0 RC STRASBOURG 1 Thursday 11 December 2025 UEFA Conference League Matchday Five Pittodrie Stadium Attendance: 15,404 Referee: Robert Schröder
Aberdeen were left to rue some missed first half chances and a VAR intervention amid a brave performance, as their hopes of furthering their European campaign were finally snuffed out by a high quality Strasbourg side who top the table.
There was one change to the Aberdeen side that won at Dundee on Saturday, Topi Keskinen replacing Dante Polvara, who was on the bench. Emmanuel Gyamfi, Kusini Yengi, Ante Palaversa, Rodrigo Vitols and Nicolas Milanovic were also among the substitutes.
Amid a swirling wind, it was a high octane start from the Dons, winning a first minute corner in front of the Red Shed. It was a well worked flag kick, Adil Aouchiche receiving the ball on the edge of the box and delivering a dangerous ball in, Milne ultimately having a shot deflected behind. It took the French side four minutes and 36 seconds to get out of their own half for the first time, coming from a pass out from the goalkeeper, routinely playing 30 yards off his line.
Mats Knoester was in the book on seven minutes for pulling back Amougou on the halfway line.
Marko Lazetic nearly had the Dons in front on ten minutes. A loose ball from Strasbourg was straight to Armstrong and he threaded the ball into the striker. His first touch was good but as he tried to finish, Omobamidele came across to make an important block.
Aberdeen looked to be in front three minutes later though. Armstrong curled a left wing corner to the back post, where Knoester got free to head in. The obligatory VAR check followed and ruled out the goal for hand ball as the ball struck Knoester’s arm as he headed down into the ground.
Despite that disappointment, it was an encouraging opening to the game for Aberdeen, whose high tempo pressing game was clearly disrupting Strasbourg. Paez illustrated that with a late clip on Devlin that got him a booking.
Strasbourg mounted their first real attack after 20 minutes, Chilwell collecting a pass forward from Amo, but Dimitar Mitov was equal to his shot at the near post – Chilwell might have done better to square it to Paez.
Aouchiche was inches away from the opener on the half hour. Strasbourg overplayed at the back and Aouchiche pounced on a loose ball from Luis on the edge of the area. He fizzed a curling shot beyond Penders, but the ball wouldn’t quite bend back in time, going just wide of the upright. Luis was booked three minutes later for a late challenge on Aouchiche.
Strasbourg were in the lead on 35 minutes on the counter-attack. A Glorious pass forward from Amo got Godo in between the centre-halves and after controlling neatly, he produced a clinical finish.
Doue became the third Strasbourg man to be carded, hacking down Jesper Karlsson on the break after 39 minutes.
Having been denied by technology earlier, Knoester nearly did get his first Aberdeen goal two minutes later, a powerful header to Armstrong’s corner, Penders at full stretch to make a fine save.
HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 0 STRASBOURG 1
Aberdeen could have squared it up on 52, Dylan Lobban curling in a left foot cross. Lazetic was on to it but his jab at goal just caught enough of Penders to divert it off target. Straight up the other end and Mitov had to make a really good save from a Doue header.
Four minutes later Mitov produced a superb save to deny Godo and keep Aberdeen in the game. The shot deflected off Milne and Mitov had to change direction and then claw the ball away one handed to make a superb save.
Strasbourg made a triple change after 59 minutes, the three booked players, Luis, Doue and Paez replaced by Doukoure, Barco and Lemarechal. The Dons, needing two goals to save their European campaign, responded by bringing on Yengi and Milanovic for Keskinen and Lazetic.
Strasbourg were awarded a penalty on 69 minutes, Devlin stumbling as he tried to usher Godo out of play. The striker fell and the referee pointed to the spot. While the VAR check was going on, Godo was replaced by Panichelli. He immediately ran to the penalty spot and had an argument with Doukoure who was preparing to take it. Doukoure insisted on taking, putting it to Mitov’s right, the goalkeeper sprawling away to make a fantastic save.
Lobban was booked for taking out Barko after 75 minutes, then Kevin Nisbet, Graeme Shinnie and Alfie Dorrington replaced Devlin, Armstrong and Knoester on 78. Nzingoula was booked for a foul on Jensen on 83 as the game became scrappy, the Dons unable to find that vital opportunity.
Strasbourg made their last change with Moreira replacing Nzingoula on 84 as the French side managed the game to a conclusion.
In the 94th minute, Karlsson’s near post cross nearly found Yengi, Omobamidele making a vital intervention to put it behind. There was a scramble at the corner, but the Dons could not find a way past the massed ranks of white shirts, and the game was done.
Aberdeen: Mitov, Lobban, Devlin (Shinnie 78), Knoester (Dorrington 78), Milne, Jensen, Armstrong (Nisbet 78), Aouchiche, Keskinen (Milanovic 65), Karlsson, Lazetic (Yengi 65).
Subs not used: Suman, Vitols, Polvara, Heltne Nilsen, Clarkson, Palaversa, Gyamfi.
Booked: Knoester, Lobban
Strasbourg: Penders, Doue (Doukoure 59), Hogsberg, Omobamidele, Chilwell, Amougou, Nzingoula (Moreira 84), Rafael Luis (Barco 59), Godo (Panichelli 70), Amo, Paez (Lemarchel 59).
Subs not used: Bajic, Kerckaert, El Mourabet, Enciso, Nanasi, Sarr.
Goal: Godo (35)
Booked: Paez, Rafael Luis, Doue, Nzingoula
