When Aberdeen suffered their heaviest ever European defeat by shipping six goals at AEK Athens last month, even the most optimistic supporter must have written off their hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the Conference League.
However, a much-improved display at AEK Larnaca on Thursday earned Jimmy Thelin’s side their first European point of the season and kept their slim chances of progression alive.
They host Noah of Armenia and France’s Strasbourg in their next two Conference League matches, before finishing the league stage in the Czech Republic against Sparta Prague.
Last season, eight points guaranteed a spot in the play-off round, while Celje, Omonia Nicosia, Molde and TSC progressed with seven points.
Scotland’s representatives – Hearts – also accrued seven points but missed out having scored fewer goals than TSC.
So, what do Aberdeen likely need if they are to upset the odds and go beyond the league stage?
