Nicky Devlin had the home side ahead in the first-half, before Nedim Bajrami found the target with his first league goal to draw Rangers level with 63 minutes played. However, it was Aberdeen who got that decisive second goal, with Shayden Morris scoring in the final 15 minutes in the north-east.
From the weekend’s victory over St Mirren, there were five changes to the starting line-up as John Souttar and Tom Lawrence returned from injury, while James Tavernier, Ross McCausland and Cyriel Dessers all came into the line-up. Vaclav Cerny missed out through injury, with Jefte, Robin Propper, Mohamed Diomande and Hamza Igamane named on the bench.
That meant Rangers lined-up at Pittodrie with Jack Butland in goal behind a back four of James Tavernier, John Souttar, Robin Propper and Neraysho Kasanwirjo.
Connor Barron and Nico Raskin retained their places in midfield, with Tom Lawrence joining them in the more advanced position. In attack, Cyriel Dessers led the line for Rangers with the support of Ross McCausland and Nedim Bajrami.
It was the first meeting of the two teams this season, with Aberdeen having an unbeaten start to the Scottish Premiership campaign under new manager Jimmy Thelin.
Rangers had an early chance in the match as Jack Butland’s goal-kick found Cyriel Dessers and the striker took a good touch to send it out wide to McCausland. The winger returned it to Dessers who had continued his run into the box, but Aberdeen were able to block the shot.
It was a lively start, and the home side followed with two chances of their own at Pittodrie. Ester Sokler made ground down the right hand side, before picking out Jamie McGrath in space in the box, but James Tavernier was able to block well. Aberdeen regained possession and from outside of the box Nicky Devlin sent a shot wide of the post.
With just over 10 minutes played, Tom Lawrence tested Dimitar Mitov with a looping effort towards goal, but the Aberdeen goalkeeper was able to gather.
A set-piece opened up the next chance for Aberdeen, and it was Jamie McGrath again who came close to breaking the deadlock. The home side were awarded a free-kick and the midfielder stepped up and curled a right-footed strike just wide of Butland’s post.
It was Aberdeen who had the opening goal, with just over half an hour played in the north-east. A throw-in taken by Aberdeen on the right-hand side of the pitch, was delivered into the box by Jack MacKenzie with a flick sending it into the path of Nicky Devlin at the back post and he fired beyond Butland.
Just minutes later Aberdeen hit the post with a long-range strike from Graeme Shinne bouncing back off the woodwork before being cleared by John Souttar.
With 35 minutes played, John Beaton was sent to the VAR monitor to review a possible penalty decision for the home side as an Aberdeen ball into the box appeared to come off the hand of John Souttar as the Rangers defender cleared a cross.
After reviewing the footage, the referee pointed to the spot and awarded Aberdeen a penalty, however, Jamie McGrath’s spot-kick was saved by Butland to deny the home side a second.
Before the break, Butland pulled off another good save as he reacted well to punch away a Jack McKenzie shot.
In first-half injury time, Rangers had the ball in the back of the net after Cyriel Dessers found Bajrami and the Albanian did well to send a dangerous ball across the face of goal, with Ross McCausland tapping home from close range but the linesman raised his flag for an offside against Cyriel Dessers.
Clement turned to his bench at half-time, as Dujon Sterling was introduced in place of Ross McCausland.
Rangers had a chance at an early goal in the second half, as a corner was played short to Lawrence, who found Bajrami and he delivered the ball into the box with Dujon Sterling, Leon Balogun and John Souttar all making runs into the area, but they were unable to connect.
Leon Balogun headed over from a James Tavernier corner shortly after as Rangers continued to push for an equaliser in this match.
The good start to the second-half paid off, and Rangers were level with 63 minutes played at Pittodrie. It was a fantastic solo effort from Nedim Bajrami, as he scored his first league goal for the club.
Tom Lawrence played the ball out to Bajrami, and under the attention of two Aberdeen defenders he weaved his way into the box to create space before firing a right-footed shot low into the bottom corner.
Rangers had another opportunity shortly after as James Tavernier delivered a lovely ball into the box, but Cyriel Dessers was unable to get a strong shot away as the danger was cleared by Aberdeen.
Aberdeen were back ahead with 15 minutes of the match remaining, Jack McKenzie’s ball into the box found Nicky Devlin at the byline, and he hit the post with an shot from a tight angle, but substitute Shayden Morris was quick to react to the rebound to send the ball into the back of the net.
James Tavernier flashed a header wide from a Dujon Sterling cross as Rangers looked for a way back into this game in the dying stages, but it was just off target from the captain.
RANGERS: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Kasanwirjo, Barron, Raskin, Lawrence (Hagi, 76), McCausland (Sterling, 46), Bajrami (Jefte, 76), Dessers (Igamane, 83).
Subs: Kelly, Propper, Diomande, Dowell, Lovelace.
Aberdeen: Mitov, Devlin, MacKenzie, Shinnie, Nilsen (Palaversa, 66), McGrath (Clarkson, 81), Duk (Morris, 55), Sokler (Bersuijen, 66), Molloy, Rubezic, Keskinen (Ambrose, 66).
Subs: Doohan, McGarry, Milne, MacDonald.