Scottish League Cup PREVIEW 15 Aug 2026: League Cup Last 16: Aberdeen, Dunfermline, Dundee United at Home

Aberdeen host Dundee at Pittodrie on Saturday knowing they arrive with a perfect record in this season's Premier Sports Cup. Stephen Robinson's side, into his first full campaign after taking permanent charge on 12 March 2026 following a difficult ninth-placed finish last term, won all four of their Group A matches to top the section with 12 points and a goal difference of 11 scored to two conceded, Kevin Nisbet scoring a hat-trick in the 4-1 win at Queen of the South among his contributions. Dundee, under Steven Pressley, who signed a new contract on 30 July, needed a runners-up spot to get here: they finished second in Group D on 10 points behind Ross County, having beaten Airdrieonians 4-2 and Annan Athletic 5-0 either side of a 1-1 draw with County that they lost on penalties, before closing with a 4-0 win over Clyde to go through as one of the three best runners-up.

Dunfermline Athletic welcome Ross County to East End Park in a meeting between clubs now a division apart, Dunfermline in the Championship and County starting life in League One after successive relegations. It is a fixture with plenty of history: Dunfermline's own site records that across 22 previous meetings between the sides, Dunfermline have won five, drawn seven and lost ten. Both arrive in form from the group stage. Neil Lennon's Dunfermline finished second in Group C on nine points and went through as one of the best runners-up, a run that included a 5-0 home win over Cove Rangers and a 1-0 win at St Mirren in the final round that settled it on goal difference. Ross County, now managed by Stuart Kettlewell, topped their group with 11 points, beating Annan Athletic 4-1, Clyde 3-1 and Airdrieonians 3-0 before drawing 1-1 with Dundee and winning that shootout 7-6.

Dundee United host Celtic at Tannadice on Saturday evening (17:45), with Celtic making their first appearance of the competition after a bye into this round as European qualifiers. Martin O'Neill's side have opened the league with a 1-0 win over Dundee and a 5-1 thrashing of Kilmarnock, and go into the tie with a strong recent record against these opponents — Celtic have won 19 of their last 26 clashes with the Tangerines, losing just twice in that time. Dundee United, managed by Jim Goodwin, topped Group B with nine points, only ahead of Montrose on goal difference, but come into the weekend out of form: Dundee United are now winless in their last three, having lost a pre-season friendly to Salford, drawn 1-1 with Rangers and then lost 4-0 to Hearts in the Premiership. On team news, Dundee United are anticipated to be without Dario Naamo and Miller Thomson due to ongoing injury issues, while Celtic remain without long-term absentee Jota due to a cruciate ligament injury; Kasper Hogh, who scored a hat-trick against Kilmarnock last time out, is expected to lead the Celtic attack again.