Aberdeen’s Divergent Paths into European Football

How Next Saturday's Scottish Cup Final result will determine the Dons’ entry point and financial outlook in next season’s UEFA qualifiers

Aberdeen Football Club have finished fifth in the Premiership - and guaranteed their participation in European qualifiers this summer. Despite the improvement from last season, it will be a bitterly disappointing end for Dons fans, given how long they spent in 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th place. They were 2nd when Hibs were bottom of the table at the end of November, yet have finished 5 points behind them in 3rd place.
Even the nature of Dundee United clinching 4th place on goal difference, by 4 goals, will be crushing. Aberdeen lost to both sides of the old firm by 4 goals this week. Had they only lost by 2 goals on each occasion - they’d have still finished 4th.

However, all is not lost and these players can earn forgiveness - and hero status - if they win the Scottish Cup Final against Celtic next weekend. The result of that match will dictate which European competition the Dons enter in, with drastically different entry points and rewards on offer.

Below graphics show:

• Two entry points (one if Aberdeen win the Cup & one if they don’t)

• Detailed explanation of each route

• Example opponents in each round

• What happens if they lose at each round

• Estimated prize money at each stage

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IF ABERDEEN WIN THE SCOTTISH CUP: