Aberdeen

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Aberdeen must "apologise" to their fans with a good performance against Hibs on Sunday, after their heaviest ever defeat in Europe, according to manager Jimmy Thelin.

The Dons were absolutely battered by AEK Athens on Thursday night, losing 6-0 on an evening where it could have been worse.

AEK hit the woodwork three times, on top of putting six past Dimitar Mitov, and spurned a few glorious chances as they left Aberdeen's defence in ruins.

"It's a different kind of game on Sunday at home, and this is the best way we can show our fans and put our hands up and apologise, to give out a really, really strong performance at Pittodrie," said Thelin.

"We have to take it step by step. We have to leave the [AEK] game behind us and focus on the right things, and that's the Hibs game. I think everybody wants to show our fans a different side of themselves as a collective and as individuals on Sunday."

It was a humiliating evening for the Dons, and particularly frustrating given the false dawn of the previous two results - wins against Dundee and St Mirren.

"This is the way of football and sports in general," Thelin added. "When you get these tough results and all these emotions, you have to move on and focus on the next game."

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Aberdeen had Emmanuel Gyamfi and Sivert Heltne Nilsen missing for Thursday's Europa League defeat at AEK Athens. Kristers Tobers (knee) is a long-term absentee.

Hibernian midfielder Jamie McGrath has trained this week after recovering from an Achilles problem and is fit to play against his former club.

Rudi Molotnikov picked up a knock in the Uefa Youth League and will be assessed. Joe Newell is close to a return from groin trouble while Alasana Manneh (hamstring) is still missing.

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• Aberdeen's Jesper Karlsson has created more chances from open play (13) than any player in the Scottish Premiership this season. Despite this, the Sweden forward is yet to record an assist in the competition.

• Hibernian have only won one of their past seven away league games (D3 L3), triumphing 2-1 at Dundee on matchday one this season.

• Aberdeen have won their past two league games without conceding; they last won three in a row in November 2024 and last did so while also keeping a clean sheet each time in May 2024 – when the third game was a 4-0 win over Hibs.

• Hibs have won just three of their past 18 league visits to Aberdeen (D5 L10), although two of those have come in their latest four (D1 L1).

• After their 1-0 victory in April, Aberdeen are aiming to win back-to-back league meetings with Hibs for the first time since November 2020 (three in a row).

Defender Mats Knoester urges Aberdeen to learn lessons quickly and "be less childish" following Thursday's 6-0 humbling by AEK Athens. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Athens

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Stuart Armstrong admits Aberdeen "let themselves down" and were fortunate to only ship six goals to AEK Athens, but he hopes the club's record European loss can prove "character building".

"It's a lot to process and analyse," midfielder Armstrong told BBC Scotland after the 6-0 Conference League humiliation.

"The short story is we let ourselves down. We made it too easy for them and there's a lot to learn.

"Probably it's fair [Aberdeen got off lightly conceding six] as they hit the post four or five times. It's never nice to feel you weren't really ever in the game and didn't fight the way you wanted to.

"They have a lot of quality, they're a good team but we made them an even better team by the way we played.

"They were a team full of good players and they exploited the space that we didn't."

Aberdeen went into the game in buoyant mood after two wins in a row lifted them off the bottom of the Premiership table. They will now have to bounce back quickly, with Hibs the visitors to Pittodrie on Sunday.

"You need to learn from it," Armstrong added.

"It's a tough night, a tough result but it's experience, it's character building.

"To say it doesn't affect you is wrong but it needs to affect you in the right way. You need to remember it but not dwell on it.

"This is a learning moment. We were beaten heavily, outperformed so we need to learn from it and focus our mind on Sunday."

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Mats Knoester conceded "childish" Aberdeen need to learn lessons quickly after "too many things went completely wrong" in their heavy Europa League defeat by AEK Athens.

The Dons suffered their biggest ever European loss as they capitulated to a 6-0 Conference League drubbing in the Greek capital which left them rock bottom of the 36-team table with no points and a goal difference of minus seven.

AEK were three up within 27 minutes before adding three more after the break, and the dominant hosts spurned several additional big chances to make the scoreline even more emphatic.

"Big lesson, big defeat," defender Knoester said in a club interview. "In a lot of aspects not good enough so it's hard to take out one thing because it was too many things that went completely wrong.

"I think we allowed too easily to give them chances and free shots on the edge of the box, give them transition. In that way, we need to be less childish and be prepared for that on the pitch.

"Not only talk about it before, but on the pitch, actually do the things that are needed against a team like that who is individually better."

Knoester says they need to become more streetwise and not make it as easy for teams in transition.

"Of course it's very weird to say after a defeat like that but in the beginning there were a few good attacks from us," he said. "We break out and as soon as we broke one line, it was quite open.

"We could come to the edge of their box and take a shot, but then, for example, one of the shots became a transition and we get beat.

"At this level, if you give away those spaces and those chances, it means goals against. Absolutely, some of their goals were our own fault and our own downfall."

Aberdeen had won their previous two matches in the Premiership after a poor start to the campaign, and Knoester warned they must ensure their chastening night in Athens does not send them back into a tailspin.

"Always in football when things like this happen, there's no point in digging yourself deeper," he said. "You have to try and take a lesson, like we already did before.

"Be hard on ourselves with each other, but then also stay together and move on and grow. If you respond on Sunday [against Hibernian], it doesn't take away the defeat but it takes away the bad momentum."

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We asked for your views after Aberdeen slumped to their record European defeat with a 6-0 shellacking at AEK Athens in the Conference League.

Here's what some of you said:

Andy: Where do you start? I guess the previous two results were papering over the cracks. Outplayed in every department. Where do we go from here Jimmy Thelin?

Niall: In 40+ years following Aberdeen in Europe this was, by some distance, the most embarrassing display and one-sided match. It gives a real sense of perspective as to how far Scottish teams are from competing at the top of European club football. Let's not dwell on this one, regroup and focus on progressing in the SPFL with a strong performance and a win on Sunday.

Graeme: Formation was wrong from the start, Topi Keskinen is not a wing-back. We were overrun all over the pitch for 90 minutes, we are out of our depth at this level. I hope Thelin can turn this around, it's not all his fault though. Dave Cormack and the board have to take a share of the blame as well. Sunday is a massive match against Hibs.

Donald: The Dons were taught a proper footballing lesson, and we have to learn from it, and fast! We have to learn how to not concede so easily from our own attacking positions, and some decisions from our defensive play were baffling to say the least against a team of this calibre.

Julie: Yes, it was an embarrassing defeat but Athens were the better team. We can't jump on Thelin when some fans say he should put a weaker team and keep the stronger players for Sunday. After the defeat some fans are now now wanting Jimmy gone, but I still back him.

Ross: In all honesty, that game exemplified why I genuinely feel that Hibs deserved the automatic European place more than we did; we let Scottish football down there. Can only hope that the lessons were not too painful going forward.

Angus: I don't think it was the manager's fault. He played basically the best team available to him using the formation that has been working well for us over the past few weeks. It was individual errors by too many players against an incredibly good opposition. The blame lies with the players for this one.

Justin: Woefully inept. It honestly seems like the players crumble and don't know how to play football at a fundamental level. AEK were a good side but it was very clear after the first two goals we needed to change it and that's on the manager who was probably tactically naive.

Aberdeen suffered their heaviest ever European defeat as they were humbled 6-0 by AEK Athens in Greece to suffer a second consecutive Conference League loss.

Read the full match report here

Have your say on the game via this link

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "I think sometimes you have to say that the opponent was really good.

"We felt prepared before the game to put in a better performance but every time we lost the ball they hurt us.

"There were a lot of things that didn't work so we have to learn from this game as a collective, as a coaching team, as a manager and as individuals.

"Sometimes when you play against this quality, they show you what you need to improve and how you have to grow. 6-0 is a lot and it's really tough to manage because we saw how many Aberdeen fans were there and it's really tough for the players, staff, everyone when supporters travel and support us the whole game.

"The most important thing for us right now is we have a super important game on Sunday and we have to focus on the right things and make it a good game against Hibs on Sunday.

"Football sometimes is difficult to explain everything. There are so many things, it can be emotional, it can be stress, quality can be the difference between the teams.

"I think the best I can do as a manager is support my players and learn from this one. Show our support on Sunday that we can do really well in the league.

"We have a journey to do to reach another level and compete in Europe. We have to build this year and next year to become a more competitive team in these kinds of games.

"I am the manager of this football team, of course I take responsibility. It's my job to help the players cope in this context. Now it's a lot of emotions but when everything calms down we have a lot of things to learn from this game. We win and we lose together.

"Sometimes you have to put your hands up, they were really good. We have a journey to do as a team."

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AEK Athens head coach Marko Nikolic has revealed James Penrice's attacking qualities mean the former Hearts left-back will return to their starting line-up against Aberdeen on Thursday.

Penrice was an unused substitute as AEK were knocked off the top of the Greek Super League by PAOK after a 2-0 home defeat by their rivals on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Scot has made seven starts and four substitute appearances since his summer move, but Nikolic said: "He had an amazing season last season and has different qualities than the other players we have in the same position.

"It is very important for me, this diversity, as a coach and that's the answer to why he hasn't played all the games this season.

"As a coach, it is good to have two different players in this position and, when I need a more defensive player, I have one playing, and need more offensive, then James is playing.

"He was the best at assists in the Scottish league, he has an amazing left foot, he is fast, he has a very good personality.

"Of course, he needs time to adapt because British and Greek football are completely different, but I believe he has adapted and I expect the best from him is still to come. He will be in the starting line-up."

Penrice, meanwhile, says a hostile environment awaits Aberdeen at the Agia Sophia Stadium but has told his team-mates the Dons will be no pushover despite a disappointing start to the season.

"I've said numerous times not to disrespect or anything because the league position doesn't tell you everything," Penrice said.

"They are a team who are maybe not the best at the minute but they more than have the quality to come here and hurt us so we have to be wary of that. I've tried to give everyone the best insight possible.

"There will be a very lively atmosphere. That shocked me when I first came out, just how loud the ground is.

"It's a ground that is kicking the ball every time it's on the pitch and they want to score the goal themselves. The crowd are very passionate and this is a massive club so it's going to be lively."

Manager Jimmy Thelin is relishing the Conference League test against AEK Athens on Thursday and says Aberdeen must strive to be in European football every year to help "grow" the club.

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• Aberdeen have won two games in a row after ending an eight-game run without a victory.

• AEK Athens have lost just twice in 16 games this season, but two of those have come in their past three outings.

• Sunday's 2-0 defeat by PAOK ended AEK's run of seven consecutive home wins this season.

• Scottish left-backs James Penrice (AEK) and Greg Taylor (PAOK) were both unused substitutes for Sunday's match in the Greek Super League.

• Aberdeen have yet to beat a Greek side in three matches, losing 3-2 at home and drawing 2-2 away to PAOK in the Conference League group stage two seasons ago and losing 3-0 in Athens to Panathinaikos in the Uefa Cup group stage in 2007.

• AEK have only lost once in 10 games against Scottish sides in European competition, winning seven, the latest being a 3-2 victory on aggregate over Celtic in Champions League qualifying in 2018.

• Hibernian are the only Scottish side to have beaten AEK, but the Greeks progressed in the Uefa Cup in 2001 4-3 on aggregate after extra time despite a 3-2 loss at Easter Road.

• Dundee United are the only Scottish team to avoid defeat by AEK in Athens, but their 1-1 Europa League play-off draw in 2010 was to no avail, coming after a 1-0 first-leg loss at Tannadice.

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Aberdeen defender Nicky Devlin is looking forward to coming up against "best pal" James Penrice but insists, "when the game starts, it's about winning".

Devlin's former Livingston team-mate Penrice joined AEK Athens from Hearts in July.

"I'm delighted he got the kind of move he did to a club like [AEK]," Devlin, 32, said.

"He's probably one of my best pals in football, played with him for three years. It'll be good to come up against him. When the game starts, it's about winning.

"It won't be a new thing. We played against each other the last couple of years.

"We're going in with two wins. The boys are going in with a wee bit more confidence. We're kind of starting to find the rhythm that we wanted to, probably a few weeks later than we wanted to. We'll be more than ready when the game comes."

And Penrice, 26, commented: "It's been very different, it's been very up and down but I've enjoyed every minute of it. It's been a massive life experience, a massive change for me. I expected it to be hard. It's taken me a bit of time to adjust.

"[Aberdeen have] signed a lot of players in the summer. There's a big turnaround. I've tried to give [AEK] the best insight as possible. We will be prepared for the game."

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has spoken to the media in Athens before Thursday's Conference League match against AEK. Here's a flavour of what he had to say...

• Thelin is impressed by his AEK Athens counterpart, Marko Nikolic, and the Greek side's "good ideas and good attacking formation".

• The Pittodrie manager believes Aberdeen are "ready" for their first away match in this season's Conference League.

• Aberdeen need "a really strong performance and we need points", says Thelin.

• With the Dons having improved domestically but still looking for their first Conference League points, the manager says it's "important for us to be strong in all competitions".

• The Swede says Aberdeen's objective is "to get through" to the next phase of the tournament.

• With football being "a game of passion and emotions", Thelin urges his players to "manage the emotions".

• Defenders Emmanuel Gyamfi and Sivert Heltne Nilsen are unavailable for the Dons.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Marco Lazetic was entitled to take a bow in front of an ecstatic away end in Paisley as Aberdeen smashed their Renfrewshire hoodoo with a goal of the season contender from their young Serb.

On a weekend of superb goals in the Premiership, Lazetic's moment, deep into second-half stoppage time, secured a huge three points for the Dons as they made it back-to-back league wins for just a third time this calendar year.

It was also successive clean sheets, which will please manager Jimmy Thelin.

Not as much Lazetic enjoyed his first goal for the club. With that moment of skill, the former AC Milan striker showed what he is capable of and what he could bring to this Aberdeen side this season.

It would be no surprise to see him start against Greek title challengers AEK Athens in Aberdeen's second Conference League fixture on Thursday having done so against Shakhtar Donetsk on matchday one.

Thelin will be determined that his side produce a similar performance to the one they came up with against the Ukrainians at Pittodrie when they go to the Greek capital, but it is a huge challenge.

What is important is that whatever happens in Greece, they cannot let it block any momentum gained from these two wins with a visit from Hibernian to come on Sunday where the target is a third league victory on the bounce for the first time in almost a year.

Calum Wright
Fan writer

Whatever it is, I believe Marko Lazetic has got it.

The Serb's late winner at St Mirren was a glimpse of why AC Milan forked out a decent fee for him as a teenager.

He impressed against Shakhtar, Dundee and most recently in Paisley, showing a fantastic willingness to work and press from the front, combined with some lovely touches.

But his goal on Saturday - which Dimitar Berbatov would have been proud of - was nothing short of brilliant.

To chase down what could have been a lost cause and keep the ball alive, while displaying an excellent piece of skill, before finishing emphatically from such a tight angle was exactly what the Dons needed to continue to build after a poor start to the season.

And aged just 21, it's certainly a promising sign at the start of Lazetic's career in the north east which will hopefully continue on an upward trajectory in sync with our season.

Calum Wright can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin wants the club to get used to playing in Europe and dealing with the demands of more games, travel and recovery. (Record), external

Junior Hoilett urges Hibernian to build on Saturday's win over Livingston by recording a positive result at Aberdeen on Sunday and says "it will take a professional performance". (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Aberdeen dramatically earned back-to-back Scottish Premiership victories to move off the bottom of the table as substitute Marko Lazetic's injury-time winner stunned St Mirren.

And he makes my team of the week.

The former AC Milan and Red Star striker only came on for the last half hour but in a weekend of great goals, he merits his place for what was for me the best strike of the weekend.

The skill to create the opportunity was sublime and the finish from such a narrow angle was incredible. The fact it was a stoppage-time winner from the Serb makes it all the more significant.