The Scottish League Cup is going into its sixth season using the group-stage formatIt has been five years since the Scottish League Cup was shaken up, with a group stage format introduced, European participants given a bye, and non-league teams included. With the fifth iteration of the format upon us, BBC Scotland looks what lessons can be learned. One persistent negative with the League Cup group stage is the repetitiveness in fixtures. For instance, in four of the five years Hearts have competed in the group stage, they have been drawn in the same section as Cowdenbeath three times. Throughout the five years we have seen Dundee and Ayrshire derbies contested at the group stage, while Motherwell and Airdrieonians' Lanarkshire rivalry will be reignited for the first time in over decade this season.

Source: BBC July 08, 2021 16:18 UTC