8 – Celtic have reached the semi-final stage of the Viaplay Cup for the eighth time in nine years – they have won the competition in six of those previous eight seasons. The Hoops’ last defeat in a League Cup semi-final came against Ross County in 2015/16 – the Staggies are the only team to have beaten them in this competition since 2014, having done so on two occasions. Ange Postecoglou’s side knocked out County in Dingwall in the 2nd Round of this season’s competition, before winning at Fir Park in the quarter-final.
11 – Kilmarnock are playing in their first Viaplay Cup semi-final in almost 11 years, since they defeated rivals Ayr United on their way to winning the trophy in 2011/12. After progressing as one of the best runners-up from the group stage, Derek McInnes’ side beat Heart of Midlothian 1-0 at Tynecastle before a 2-1 victory at home to Dundee United. The Ayrshire side have won each of their last three League Cup semi-finals, beating St Mirren in 2000/01, Falkirk in 2006/07 and Ayr United in 2011/12 – their last semi-final defeat came against Celtic in 1999/00.
1 – The last meeting of Celtic and Kilmarnock at Hampden came in the 2012 League Cup final, when Killie won 1-0. The sides have met once in the competition since then – Celtic won 5-0 at Celtic Park in Round 2 in August 2017. Celtic have picked up 10 wins and a draw in their last 11 matches against Killie in all competitions, the most recent of which was a 2-0 victory at Celtic Park in the cinch Premiership last Saturday. Killie’s most recent win over Celtic came in September 2018, when Stuart Findlay scored in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 win at Rugby Park.
6 – Rangers are playing in their sixth Viaplay Cup semi-final in the last seven seasons – the only exception was 2020/21 when they were eliminated in the quarter-final by St Mirren. The Light Blues have lost four of their last five League Cup semi-finals, including a 3-1 defeat to Hibernian in last season’s competition. They have lifted the trophy a record 27 times but are aiming to win the competition for the first time since 2010/11. Rangers defeated Queen of the South 3-1 and Dundee 1-0 at Ibrox to seal their place in the last four of this season’s competition.
3 – Aberdeen have reached the semi-finals of the Viaplay Cup for the first time since 2018/19, when they defeated Rangers before losing to Celtic in the final. The Dons have won three of their last four League Cup semi-finals – they beat St Johnstone in 2013/14, Greenock Morton in 2016/17 and Rangers in 2018/19, but lost to Dundee United in 2014/15. Jim Goodwin’s side have six wins out of six in this season’s Viaplay Cup – they cruised through the group stage without conceding a goal, then recorded 4-1 wins away to Annan Athletic and at home to Partick Thistle to progress to the semi-final.
2 – The last two League Cup semi-finals between Rangers and Aberdeen were won by the Dons – Lewis Ferguson scored the only goal in the 2018/19 semi-final, while a Billy Dodds double handed them a win in 1995/96. Rangers’ last victory over Aberdeen at Hampden came in the 1999/00 Scottish Cup final, when they ran out 4-0 winners. Rangers are unbeaten in their last 13 matches against Aberdeen in all competitions, with their most recent success coming in the cinch Premiership in December, when they scored twice in stoppage time to win 3-2 at Pittodrie. The Dons’ last win over Rangers came in March 2019, when they won a Scottish Cup replay 2-0 at Ibrox.
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