Aberdeen will be looking to continue their perfect start to the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season when they host Kilmarnock at the Pittodrie Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
While the hosts have won both of their opening fixtures, the visitors are still seeking their first points of the campaign after losing 7-0 on aggregate in their first two games.
Match preview
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Aberdeen had a disastrous 2023-24, falling from a promising third-place finish in 2022-23 to placing ninth in the pre-split campaign with 35 points from 33 outings.
Peter Leven, who stepped in on an interim basis to finish the campaign after Barry Robson and Neil Warnock departed, significantly improved the team's form in the final matches of the season.
The Dons lost just one of their last 10 league outings - a significant improvement considering they lost 14 in 33 pre-split matches - including four wins and a draw in the post-split games, lifting them to an eventual seventh-placed finish.
Jimmy Thelin was appointed as permanent manager ahead of the 2024-25 term with ambitions of guiding Aberdeen back up the table, and the former Elfsborg manager has had a brilliant start to life in Scotland.
Since Thelin's arrival, the Dons have won all eight of their matches across all competitions, placing them second in the Scottish Premiership behind Celtic, the only other team to win both of their opening matches.
The Swedish manager will be aiming to continue his side's winning momentum in this game, and Aberdeen are strong favourites to win against a Kilmarnock side that have struggled so far this campaign.
![Stuart Findlay defender of Kilmarnock FC during the UEFA Europa League Second qualifying round, 2nd leg match between Cercle Brugge and Kilmarnock F.C. at the Jan Breydel stadium on August 01, 2024 [on August 2, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/31/stuart-findlay.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Stuart Findlay defender of Kilmarnock FC during the UEFA Europa League Second qualifying round, 2nd leg match between Cercle Brugge and Kilmarnock F.C. at the Jan Breydel stadium on August 01, 2024 [on August 2, 2024]")
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Unlike their hosts, Kilmarnock enjoyed a remarkable 2023-24 season, rising from a 10th-place finish in their first year back in the top flight in 2022-23 to achieve a fourth-place finish last term.
However, their form went through a sharp decline in the post-split fixtures, winning just one of their five games, and they have been unable to recover since.
Derek McInnes's men have triumphed in just one of their first eight outings this year, losing five and drawing two in that time, leaving them in torrid form heading into this one.
Kilmarnock suffered a 2-0 loss in their most recent game, conceding twice in the final 15 minutes against Copenhagen in the first leg of their Europa Conference League playoff round tie, leaving them on the brink of an exit from European competitions.
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Team News
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The hosts will be without Dante Polvara, due to a hamstring injury that will keep him out until November, and Leighton Clarkson, who is out with a dislocated shoulder but should return in September.
Jamie McGrath has scored and assisted in both of Aberdeen's opening two league fixtures, as well as scoring against East Kilbride in the Scottish League Cup, and he is expected to start in attack here.
Last year's top scorer, Bojan Miovski, departed the club in favour of Girona earlier in the window, leaving Ester Sokler likely to lead the line for the hosts.
Kyle Magennis has not made an appearance for Kilmarnock since December, and the midfielder will remain out of the team until September due to a hamstring injury.
Joe Wright is suspended for this one after receiving his marching orders for an accumulation of yellow cards in the 16th minute of their 3-0 defeat to St Johnstone, leaving Lewis Mayo likely to start alongside Robbie Deas.
Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Mitov; Devlin, Rubezic, Molloy, Mackenzie; Nilsen, Shinnie; Morris, Gueye, McGrath; Sokler
Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:
McCrorie; Burroughs, Wright, Mayo, Findlay; Lyons, Donnelly, Watson; Kennedy, Vassell, Watkins
We say: Aberdeen 2-0 Kilmarnock
These two sides have had polar opposite starts to the campaign, and with the hosts proving unstoppable across all competitions so far, we expect a comfortable victory for Aberdeen.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
