2020–21 Scottish League Cup

The 2020–21 Scottish League Cup (also known as the Betfred Cup for sponsorship reasons) will be the 75th season of Scotland's second-most prestigious football knockout competition.

2020–21 Scottish League Cup

Country	Scotland
Dates	6 October 2020 – 28 February 2021
Teams	44
Defending champions	Celtic
← 2019–20 2021–22 → All statistics correct as of 20 July 2020.

The format for the 2020–21 competition will be the same as the previous four seasons.

It will begin with eight groups of five teams including all 2019–20 Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) clubs, excluding those competing in Champions League and Europa League qualifiers, as well as the winners of the 2019–20 Highland Football League (Brora Rangers) and the 2019–20 Lowland Football League (Kelty Hearts).

The domestic broadcasting rights for the competition are held exclusively by Premier Sports.

Schedule

Round	First match date	Fixtures	Clubs
Group stage	6 October 2020[1]	80	44 → 16
Second round	28 November 2020[1]	8	16 → 80
Quarter finals	15 December 2020[1]	4	8 → 4
Semi finals	23 January 2021[1]	2	4 → 2
Final	28 February 2021[1]	1	2 → 1

Format

The competition is to begin with eight groups of five teams. The four clubs competing in the UEFA Champions League (Celtic) and Europa League (Rangers, Motherwell, and Aberdeen) qualifying rounds are given a bye through to the second round. The 40 teams competing in the group stage consists of the other eight teams that competed in the 2019–20 Scottish Premiership, and all of the teams that competed in the 2019–20 Scottish Championship, 2019–20 Scottish League One and 2019–20 Scottish League Two. The 2019–20 Highland Football League and the 2019–20 Lowland Football League champions will also compete.

The winners of each of the eight groups, as well as the four best runners-up will progress to the second round (last 16), which includes the four UEFA qualifying clubs. At this stage, the competition reverts to the traditional knock-out format. The four group winners with the highest points total and the clubs entering at this stage are seeded, with the four group winners with the lowest points unseeded along with the four best runners-up.

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 three points for a win and one point for a draw is used, however, for each group stage match that finishes in a draw, a penalty shoot-out takes place, with the winner being awarded a bonus point.

Group stage

Main article: 2020–21 Scottish League Cup group stage

The group stage is made up of eight teams from the 2019–20 Scottish Premiership, and all ten teams from each of the 2019–20 Scottish Championship, 2019–20 Scottish League One and 2019–20 Scottish League Two, as well as the winners of the 2019–20 Highland Football League and 2019–20 Lowland Football League. The 40 teams were divided into two sections – North and South – with each section containing four top seeds, four second seeds and 12 unseeded teams. Each section was drawn into four groups with each group comprising one top seed, one second seed and three unseeded teams.

The draw for the group stage took place on 10 August 2020 and was broadcast live FreeSports & the SPFL YouTube channel.[3]

North

Group A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		COW	EFI	HOM	INV	RAI
1	Cowdenbeath	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Qualification for the Second Round		—	—		—
2	East Fife	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Possible Second Round			—		—	—
3	Heart of Midlothian	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			—	—	—
4	Inverness CT	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0					—	—	—
5	Raith Rovers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			—		—		—

First match(es) will be played on 6 October 2020. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[4]

Group B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		BRO	COV	DUN	FOR	HIB
1	Brora Rangers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Qualification for the Second Round		—			—	—
2	Cove Rangers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Possible Second Round		—	—	—
3	Dundee	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			—		—		—
4	Forfar Athletic	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0				—	—	—
5	Hibernian	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0				—		—	—

First match(es) will be played on 6 October 2020. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[5]

Group C

Pos	Team	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		BRE	DUN	KEL	PET	STJ
1	Brechin City	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Qualification for the Second Round		—			—	—
2	Dundee United	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Possible Second Round		—	—			—
3	Kelty Hearts	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			—	—	—
4	Peterhead	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0				—	—	—
5	St Johnstone	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0					—	—	—

First match(es) will be played on 6 October 2020. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]

Group D

Pos	Team	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		ARB	ELG	MON	ROS	STI
1	Arbroath	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Qualification for the Second Round		—			—	—
2	Elgin City	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Possible Second Round		—	—	—
3	Montrose	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			—		—		—
4	Ross County	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0				—	—	—
5	Stirling Albion	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0				—		—	—

First match(es) will be played on 6 October 2020. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[7]

South

Group E

Pos	Team	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		CLY	DUM	DNF	FAL	KIL
1	Clyde	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Qualification for the Second Round		—		—	—
2	Dumbarton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Possible Second Round		—	—			—
3	Dunfermline Athletic	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0				—	—		—
4	Falkirk	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0				—	—	—
5	Kilmarnock	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			—			—	—

First match(es) will be played on 6 October 2020. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[8]

Group F

Pos	Team	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		ALB	ANN	AYR	HAM	STR
1	Albion Rovers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Qualification for the Second Round		—			—	—
2	Annan Athletic	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Possible Second Round		—	—	—
3	Ayr United	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			—		—	—
4	Hamilton Academical	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0				—		—	—
5	Stranraer	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0				—	—		—

First match(es) will be played on 6 October 2020. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[9]

Group G

Pos	Team	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		GMO	PAR	QOS	QPK	STM
1	Greenock Morton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Qualification for the Second Round		—	—			—
2	Partick Thistle	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Possible Second Round			—	—		—
3	Queen of the South	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			—		—	—
4	Queen's Park	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			—	—		—
5	St Mirren	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0					—	—	—

First match(es) will be played on 6 October 2020. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[10]

Group H

Pos	Team	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		AIR	ALO	EDI	LIV	STE
1	Airdrieonians	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Qualification for the Second Round		—			—	—
2	Alloa Athletic	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Possible Second Round		—	—		—
3	Edinburgh City	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			—	—	—
4	Livingston	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0					—	—	—
5	Stenhousemuir	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0				—	—		—

First match(es) will be played on 6 October 2020. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[11]

Best runners-up

Pos	Grp	Team	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	H	Alloa Athletic	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Qualification for the Second Round
2	F	Annan Athletic	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	B	Cove Rangers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	E	Dumbarton	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	C	Dundee United	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	A	East Fife	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
7	D	Elgin City	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
8	G	Partick Thistle	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

First match(es) will be played on 6 October 2020. Source:
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[12]

Media coverage

The domestic broadcasting rights for the competition are held exclusively by Premier Sports who will broadcast between 12 and 16 Betfred Cup live matches per season as well as highlights.

The following matches are to be broadcast live on UK television:

Round	Date	Match
Group Stage	6 October 2020	Heart of Midlothian v Inverness Caledonian Thistle[13]
	9 October 2020	Dunfermline Athletic v Falkirk[13]
	10 October 2020	Cove Rangers v Hibernian[13]
	13 October 2020	Heart of Midlothian v Raith Rovers[13]
	10 November 2020	St Johnstone v Dundee United[13]
	11 November 2020	St Mirren v Greenock Morton[13]
	15 November 2020	Hibernian v Dundee[13]
Second Round
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final

References

1. "Betfred Cup dates confirmed". SPFL. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
2. "New League Cup format and TV deal". SPFL. 7 December 2015. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
3. "DATE SET FOR BETFRED CUP DRAW". SPFL. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
4. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
5. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
6. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
7. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
8. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
9. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
10. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
11. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
12. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
13. "BETFRED CUP GROUP STAGE FIXTURE LIST". SPFL. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.