Aberdeen vs RoPS Predictions

Aberdeen have played 135 European games in total and have won the Cup Winners’ Cup and the UEFA Super Cup in the past, while their guests RoPS of Finland have only played eighteen European matches and have so far never gotten any further than the second qualifying round.

Aberdeen haven’t lost so far in pre-season and, after drawing with Connah’s Quay and beating Peterhead they conceded their first goal during the 1-1 draw with Inverness CT. RoPS are right in the middle of their Veikkausliiga season and currently sit a disappointing tenth after fifteen matches and do not look capable of challenging for the European places this time around.

These two clubs have never met before but the form of both sides heading into Thursday’s match and each team’s European experience suggest that Aberdeen are likely to win to nil on Thursday. Aberdeen are unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions and have won three of their last five matches, while RoPS have lost three of their last five matches and have failed to score in three of their last five. Aberdeen have played over 100 European games before and have a major trophy to their name, while RoPS are yet to make it through the qualifiers, which is why we’re backing a 3-0 win for Aberdeen on Thursday.

Aberdeen have managed to keep hold of last season’s top scorer Sam Cosgrove who has scored 17 league goals in 40 appearances for the Dons since 2018. Lassi Lappalainen netted eight league goals for RoPS last season but has since returned to his parent club meaning there is more pressure on the likes of Veka Pyyny, Jarkko Luiro, and Aleksandr Kokko to produce the goals in 2019. We’re confident that Aberdeen will win to nil on Thursday and have predicted a final scoreline of 3-0. The hosts have more firepower and a higher overall quality of player in their squad, not to mention a lot more European experience which is so valuable during these qualification stages.