Preview: Aberdeen vs Dundee United - prediction, team news, lineups

Aberdeen welcome Dundee United to Pittodrie Stadium on Saturday afternoon for a matchday 36 clash in the Scottish Premiership.

The hosts are eighth in the standings with 37 points from 35 games, while the visitors are seventh with 43 points from 35 fixtures.

Match preview

Aberdeen had a disappointing pre-split 2025-26 Scottish Premiership campaign, falling from a fifth-placed finish last year to placing eighth this season.

The Dons endured a particularly disastrous run between December and April, winning just one of 16 league fixtures, featuring 12 defeats and three draws.

Stephen Robinson was appointed from St Mirren towards the end of that run, with the objective of turning their form around and steering them clear of the relegation battle, and after failing to win his first three games, the manager has overseen an improvement in recent outings.

Robinson has now guided Aberdeen to two wins and one draw in their last three league fixtures, extending their lead over the relegation zone to a considerable seven points with just three matches left to play.

Now with the opportunity to secure their safety when they take on Dundee United, Robinson will also be hoping to claim all three points and build a positive foundation ahead of the 2026-27 term.

The Tangerines similarly dropped from a top-half finish last season to competing in the relegation group of the post-split campaign, having finished fourth last year before falling to seventh this term.

Despite a positive end to the pre-spit season, winning four, drawing three and losing two of their last nine games, Dundee Utd narrowly missed out on a top-six finish by six points.

Jim Goodwin's men continued their momentum with a 3-0 win against rivals Dundee in the opening post-split match, but they will now be hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 3-0 loss to Kilmarnock last weekend.

A victory would lift them nine points clear of Aberdeen at the top of the relegation group table, while a defeat would see the Dons close the gap on sixth to just three points.

Aberdeen Scottish Premiership form:

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Dundee United Scottish Premiership form:

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Team News

Aberdeen are dealing with injury issues to Nick Suman, Nicky Devlin, Kristers Tobers, Tom McIntyre and Emmanuel Gyamfi, while Jack Milne may also be a doubt to start after coming off injured in the draw with Livingston.

Mats Knoester could replace Milne in defence, starting alongside Liam Morrison and Gavin Molloy, while the remainder of the starting side may remain unchanged.

Meanwhile, Dundee United are contending with injuries to Ashley Maynard-Brewer, Isaac Pappoe, Luca Stephenson, Kristijan Trapanovski and Amar Fatah.

Off the back of a lacklustre loss to Kilmarnock last weekend, Goodwin could decide to make numerous changes on Saturday, meaning the likes of Vicko Sevelj, Ivan Dolcek, Craig Sibbald and Johnny Russell could start.

Aberdeen possible starting lineup:

Mitov; Knoester, Morrison, Molloy; Jensen, Geiger, Afeez, Frame; Armstrong; Olusanya, Nisbet

Dundee United possible starting lineup:

Richards; Cleall-Harding, Graham, Keresztes; Naamo, Sevelj, Sibbald, Ferry; Russell, Watters, Dolcek

We say: Aberdeen 1-1 Dundee United

Aberdeen have improved since the arrival of Robinson, but the Tangerines are undefeated in their last six meetings with the Dons, leading us to expect a hard-fought draw.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.