ABERDEEN start their Europa Conference League group stages with an extremely difficult trip to Germany to meet Rangers' conquerors in the 2022 Europa League Final, Eintracht Frankfurt.
And the 3,000 Dons face heading to the game will be watching it through the cracks in their fingers if recent form is anything to go by.
This could easily be a mess in Hesse.
The Pittodrie side have been a shambles this season. Only a goal keeps them off the bottom of the league and Saturday's dismal 2-0 loss at Hearts saw plenty of fans turn on under-pressure boss Barry Robson.
Robson signed 13 players in the summer and to say they have not gelled is an understatement. Shelling long balls over the head of playmaker Leighton Clarkson to a clearly disinterested Duk has not helped either and the defence – which consisted of a Serbian, Swede and a Finn on Saturday – look like they are the punchline to a bad joke.
The only crumb of comfort they can take going into this is that Eintracht Frankfurt have had a somewhat stuttering start to the season and have drawn four of their last five games.
Dino Toppmoller's side were made to work hard to see off Levski Sofia in the last round, but they will view this as a real chance to build confidence and momentum.
HOW THE BOOKIES VIEW IT
Aberdeen have been written off as no-hopers at 18/1 with Coral.
The Germans hover between 1/6 and 1/8 although UniBet dangles a 1/5 in front of the big-hitters. The draw is 6/1 with Paddy Power.
RECENT HEAD TO HEADS
The clubs met before in the 1979/80 UEFA Cup and after a 1-1 draw at Pittodrie, Eintracht beat Alex Ferguson's Dons 1-0 in West Germany in the second leg.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Mario Gotze is 31 now, but the former Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund playmaker still has plenty of star appeal and will be keen to add to his only goal scored this season. He will be of interest when the anytime goalscorer prices come up.
Bojan Miovski, along with keeper Kelle Roos, has probably been the only Aberdeen player who can claim pass marks this season. The North Macedonian international striker has five goals for the campaign so far.
ANYTHING ELSE CATCH THE EYE?
This has got damage limitation written all over it for the Scottish visitors, but they look incapable of doing even that at the moment.
They are disjointed, lacking direction and confidence and if they lose an early goal here, which is entirely possible, then the floodgates could open.
Aberdeen would take a three-goal defeat now and the hosts minus two on the handicap is 6/4 with Paddy Power which looks banker material.
The Dons' aim will be to get out of Germany with their pride intact and hope Eintracht lose interest. But they could meet the hosts at the wrong time because they are desperate to put down a marker by taking their chances – something they have failed to do this season.
But Aberdeen are just the opposition to fix that problem on current form. Back Eintracht to win by four goals or more at 3/1 with bet365.
This UEFA Europa League Conference match between Eintract Frankfurt and Aberdeen will be played on Sep 21, 2023 and kick off at 17:45. Check below for our tipsters best Eintract Frankfurt vs Aberdeen prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
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