The 2019–20 Scottish League Cup Group stage was played from 12 to 28 July 2019. A total of 40 teams competed in the group stage. The winners of each of the eight groups, as well as the four best runners-up progressed to the second round (last 16) of the 2019–20 Scottish League Cup.
Format The group stage consisted of eight groups of five teams. The four clubs competing in the UEFA Champions League (Celtic) and Europa League (Rangers, Kilmarnock, and Aberdeen) qualifying rounds were given a bye through to the second round. The 40 teams taking part in the group stage consisted of the other eight teams that competed in the 2018–19 Scottish Premiership, and all of the teams that competed in the 2018–19 Scottish Championship, 2018–19 Scottish League One and 2018–19 Scottish League Two, as well as the 2018–19 Highland Football League and the 2018–19 Lowland Football League champions.
The winners of each of the eight groups, as well as the four best runners-up, progressed to the second round (last 16), which will include the four UEFA qualifying clubs. At this stage, the competition reverts to the traditional knock-out format. The four group winners with the highest points total and the clubs entering at this stage were seeded, with the four group winners with the lowest points unseeded along with the four best runners-up.
The traditional point system of awarding three points for a win and one point for a draw was used, however, for each group stage match that finished in a draw, a penalty shoot-out took place, with the winner being awarded a bonus point.
The draw for the group stage took place on 28 May 2019 and was broadcast live on the SPFL YouTube channel.
Teams
North
Seeding Teams in Bold qualified for the second round. Top seedsSecond seedsUnseeded01. Hibernian 02. Heart of Midlothian 03. St Johnstone 04. Dundee09. Ross County 10. Dundee United 11. Inverness CT 12. Alloa Athletic17. Arbroath 18. Forfar Athletic 19. Raith Rovers 20. Montrose 21. East Fife 22. Stenhousemuir
23. Brechin City 24. Peterhead 25. Stirling Albion 26. Cowdenbeath 27. Elgin City 28. Cove Rangers Source:
South
Seeding Teams in Bold qualified for the second round. Top seedsSecond seedsUnseeded05. Motherwell 06. Livingston 07. Hamilton Academical 08. St Mirren13. Ayr United 14. Greenock Morton 15. Partick Thistle 16. Dunfermline Athletic29. Queen of the South 30. Falkirk 31. Airdrieonians 32. Dumbarton 33. Stranraer 34. Clyde
35. Edinburgh City 36. Annan Athletic 37. Queen's Park 38. Albion Rovers 39. Berwick Rangers 40. East Kilbride
Source:
North All times are BST (UTC +1).
Group A
Matches
Group B
Matches
Group C
Matches
Group D
Matches
South All times are BST (UTC +1).
Group E
Matches
Group F
Matches Due to pitch works at Hampden Park and Broadwood Stadium, Queen's Park played their home games at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie and Clyde played one home match at New Douglas Park in Hamilton and one at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir.
Group G
Matches
Group H
Matches
Best runners-up
Qualified teams TeamQualified asQualified onNotesHeart of MidlothianGroup A Winner27 July 2019Ross CountyGroup B Winner24 July 2019Seeded for the second roundHibernianGroup C Winner26 July 2019Seeded for the second roundDundeeGroup D Winner28 July 2019MotherwellGroup E Winner27 July 2019Seeded for the second roundPartick ThistleGroup F Winner24 July 2019LivingstonGroup G Winner27 July 2019Seeded for the second roundDunfermline AthleticGroup H Winner27 July 2019Forfar AthleticBest 4 Runners Up27 July 2019Hamilton AcademicalBest 4 Runners Up27 July 2019Greenock MortonBest 4 Runners Up27 July 2019East FifeBest 4 Runners Up28 July 2019
References
External links Scottish Professional Football League – League Cup official website