Aberdeen to face Swedish side BK Hacken in Europa League playoffs

Aberdeen now know who they will play for a place in their Europa League playoff tie.

Swedish side BK Hacken is all that stands between the Dons and the group stages of the continent’s second tier competition.

Hacken cemented their place in the next round with an 8-1 aggregate win in their third qualifying-round against Zalgiris Vilnius.

The Gothenburg-based team beat the Lithuanian 5-0 at home on Thursday to set up the tie, that will be a rematch of a game won comfortably by the Premiership side two years ago.

Aberdeen beat the Allsvenskan side 5-3 on aggregate in 2021 after recording a 5-1 victory in the first leg at Pittodrie.

Hacken are second in the Swedish top flight after 19 matches, one point behind leaders Elfsborg.

Barry Robson’s side will visit Gothenburg, the city in which they beat Real Madrid in the 1983 European Cup Winners’ Cup final, for the first leg next Thursday.

Aberdeen are assured of group-stage football as they will drop into the Europa Conference League if they lose the tie.

This was secured after they finished third in the Scottish Premiership last season.

They will be hoping they can quickly turn their recent form around in time for the Hacken game after managing only one point from their opening two league games.