Rangers vs Aberdeen

Philippe Clement’s tenure at Rangers got off to a rocky start, with the team earning just 22 points from their first 12 league matches—their worst opening since returning to the top flight in 2016-17. The 12-point gap behind Celtic at the top proved insurmountable, and despite an improved run of 13 wins, four draws, and four losses in their next 21 games, persistent inconsistency led to Clement’s dismissal.

Barry Ferguson stepped in as interim manager, aiming to prove himself for the permanent role. His early tenure showed promise, with four wins in his first six matches and a Europa League quarter-final run. However, Rangers have since faltered, going winless in their last six games (two losses, four draws), including a Europa League exit to Athletic Bilbao and consecutive draws after the league split.

Notably, Ferguson has yet to secure a victory at Ibrox (three losses, two draws)—a record he’ll be desperate to change when Rangers host Aberdeen on Sunday. While wins in their final three matches won’t lift them from second place, a strong finish could bolster Ferguson’s case for the full-time job.

Aberdeen, meanwhile, arrive with plenty to play for as they push for European qualification. Their season began brilliantly under new manager Jimmy Thelin, who went unbeaten in his first 16 games (15 wins, one draw). But their form nosedived afterward, with just two wins in 17 matches—including a dismal 14-game winless streak in the league.

Thelin was able to get the team a way out of their rut just in time to prevent them dropping out of the top six after four wins, three draws and only one loss in the past eight league encounters to guarantee a top-half finish.

Further momentum was built up when they won 2-1 against Hearts in the Scottish FA Cup semi-final that went into extra time, which sold them a Hampden Park meeting with Celtic at the end of May, which followed a 1-0 victory over Hibernian in their first post split game.

St Mirren have downwardly dented their latest out-come as 1-0 defeat, nevertheless leaving them sitting fourth position in the table, three points behind Hibernian in the Europa League contenders, but three ahead of Dundee United.

Aberdeen want to leave the season on a high, aiming to qualify for European football for next season, but their last games will be difficult, and they may face the Rangers and Celtic, as well as a possible Europe-qualifying encounter with Dundee Utd on the penultimate day.

Aberdeen will look to start a three match end of season run high when they try to overcome Rangers at Ibrox for the second time amongst 15 meetings with Rangers having won one, drawn two and lost 11 of the last 14 encounters.