The 2023–24 Scottish League Cup final was an association football match that took place at Hampden Park, Glasgow on 17 December 2023. It was the culmination of the 2023–24 Scottish League Cup, the 78th season of the Scottish League Cup (known as the Viaplay Cup for sponsorship reasons), a competition for the 42 teams in the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL). It was played between Rangers and Aberdeen, meeting at this stage in the competition for the seventh time.Rangers v Aberdeen: Will old foes drum up another classic League Cup final? , Liam McLeod, BBC Sport, 16 December 2023
Rangers won 1–0 through a goal by captain James Tavernier to claim the League Cup for the first time since 2011 and a record 28th time overall; Aberdeen's trophy drought since their 2014 win in the same competition continued.Rangers edge Aberdeen in League Cup final for Philippe Clement’s first trophy, Ewan Murray, The Guardian, 17 December 2023
Route to the final
As both clubs participated in European competitions, they both received a bye through the 2023–24 Scottish League Cup group stage.
Rangers RoundOppositionScore Second round Greenock Morton2–1 (h) Quarter-final Livingston4–0 (h) Semi-final Heart of Midlothian3–1 (n)
Aberdeen RoundOppositionScore Second round Stirling Albion2–1 (a) Quarter-final Ross County2–1 (a) Semi-final Hibernian1–0 (n)
Match
Summary In a match hampered by poor weather and numerous fouls, Aberdeen offered little offensively but Philippe Clement's Rangers struggled to make the breakthrough; they eventually went ahead in the 76th minute when captain James Tavernier scored after controlling a cross from Borna Barišić from the left with his right foot before firing to the right of the net. It was the only goal of the game as Rangers claimed a first Scottish League Cup since 2011. Tavernier's goal was the defender's 14th against Aberdeen (all others coming in the Scottish Premiership),Rangers win Viaplay Cup: James Tavernier drags side to win against Aberdeen , Tom English, BBC Sport, 17 December 2023 tying him with Ally McCoist and Derek Johnstone as the all-time top scorer in the fixture.Player Records (Filtered) Most Goals [Filter: Vs Aberdeen FitbaStats (Rangers). Retrieved 19 December 2023.
Details
GK1 Jack ButlandRB2 James Tavernier (c)CB6 Connor GoldsonCB27 Leon BalogunLB31 Borna BarišićCM4 John LundstramCM21 Dujon SterlingRW45 Ross McCauslandAM13 Todd CantwellLW19 Abdallah SimaFW9 Cyriel DessersSubstitutes:GK28 Robby McCrorieLB3 Ridvan YilmazCB5 John SouttarFW14 Sam LammersLW17 Rabbi MatondoMF20 Kieran DowellRW23 Scott WrightFW25 Kemar RoofeDF38 Leon KingManager: Philippe Clement GK1 Kelle RoosCB6 Stefan GartenmannCB33 Slobodan RubežićCB5 Richard JensenRM2 Nicky DevlinCM10 Leighton ClarksonCM4 Graeme Shinnie (c) LM17 Jonny HayesAM7 Jamie McGrathFW9 Bojan MiovskiFW19 Ester SoklerSubstitutes:GK31 Ross DoohanMF8 Connor BarronFW11 DukDF15 James McGarryFW20 Shayden MorrisMF21 Dante PolvaraMF23 Ryan DuncanDF27 Angus MacDonaldDF28 Jack MilneManager: Barry Robson Man of the Match: Dujon Sterling (Rangers)
Assistant referees: Daniel McFarlane Ross Macleod Fourth official: David Munro Video assistant referee: Andrew Dallas Andrew McWilliam (assistant)Match rules 90 minutes 30 minutes of extra time if necessary Penalty shoot-out if scores still level Nine named substitutes Maximum of five substitutions, with a sixth allowed in extra time
See also Aberdeen F.C.–Rangers F.C. rivalry Scottish League Cup Finals played between same clubs: 1947, 1979, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992
Notes
References