2016–17 Scottish League Cup

2016–17 Scottish League Cup
Country  Scotland
Dates 16 July 2016 – 27 November 2016
Teams 44
← 2015–16 2017–18 →
All statistics correct as of 25 April 2016.

The 2016–17 Scottish League Cup will be the 71st season of Scotland's second-most prestigious football knockout competition. It is also known as The Scottish League Cup presented by Utilita for sponsorship reasons.[1]

The format for the 2016–17 competition will depart from the previously used knockout-rounds, and instead will begin with 8 groups of 5 teams, which includes all 38 Scottish Professional Football League clubs who are not competing in UEFA qualifiers, as well as the top 2015–16 Highland Football League club (Cove Rangers) and the highest placed team from the 2015–16 Lowland Football League (Edinburgh City).

Schedule

Round First match date Fixtures Clubs
Group stage 16 July 2016[2] 80 40 → 12
Second round TBC 2016 8 16 → 8
Quarter-finals TBC 2016 4 8 → 4
Semi-finals TBC 2016 2 4 → 2
Final 27 November 2016[3] 1 2 → 1

Format

The competition will begin with 8 groups of 5 teams, made up of 9 sides competing in the 2015–16 Scottish Premiership and 9 sides competing in the 2015–16 Scottish Championship, excluding the sides confirmed to be competing in UEFA qualifiers. The winner of the 2016 Scottish Cup Final, either Hibernian or Rangers will also take part in UEFA qualifiers and will not take part in the group stage. In addition, the sides competing in the 2015–16 Scottish League One and 2015–16 Scottish League Two, as well as the top 2015–16 Highland Football League club and the highest placed team from the 2015–16 Lowland Football League will also enter the competition at the group stage.[2]

The winners of each of the 8 groups, as well as the 4 best runners-up will progress to the second round, which will include the four UEFA qualifying clubs.[2] At this stage, the competition will revert to the traditional knock-out format.[2]

Bonus point system

In December 2015, the SPFL announced that alongside the new group stage format, a bonus point system would be introduced to provide greater excitement and increase the number of meaningful games at this stage.[2] The traditional point system of awarding 3 points and 1 point for a draw will be used, however, for each group stage match which finishes in a draw, a penalty shootout will take place, with the winner being awarded an extra point.[2]

Group stage

The following teams qualified and will compete in the 2016–17 Scottish League Cup group stage.

Teams

There are 9 teams from the 2015–16 Scottish Premiership, 9 teams from the 2015–16 Scottish Championship, 10 sides from each of the 2015–16 Scottish League One and 2015–16 Scottish League Two, as well as the winners of the 2015–16 Highland Football League and 2015–16 Lowland Football League.[2]

Teams in italics are still to be confirmed, depending on the outcome of the 2016 Scottish Cup Final.

Scottish Premiership Scottish Championship Scottish League One Scottish League Two Other

Highland Football League

Lowland Football League

Second round

The following teams qualified and will compete in the second round of the 2016–17 Scottish League Cup. Aberdeen, Celtic and Heart of Midlothian entered the competition at this stage, after receiving a bye for the group stage.

Teams in italics are still to be confirmed, depending on the outcome of the 2016 Scottish Cup Final.

Teams

Scottish Premiership Scottish Championship

Statistics

Top Goalscorers

As of matches played on 25 April 2016
Rank Player Club Goals

References

  1. ↑ "Scottish League Cup: Energy firm Utilita agree sponsorship deal". BBC Sport. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "New League Cup format and TV deal". SPFL. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "2016/17 League Cup Final in November". SPFL. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.

External links

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