Match: Scottish Premiership
Fixture: Hearts vs. Aberdeen
Local kick-off time: 20:00 on August 4
Handicap prediction:
Hearts -0.5 (Asian Handicap)
Home win (European Odds)
Predicted scores: 1-0, 2-0
Predicted total goals: 1, 2
Comprehensive analysis:
After securing top-four finishes for three consecutive seasons, Hearts had a disappointing 2024-25 campaign, finishing 7th in the league with a record of 15 wins, 7 draws, and 16 losses from 38 matches. Impressively, Hearts scored 4 goals in each of their four group stage matches against Dunfermline, Hamilton, Stirling, and Dumbarton. McInnes’ current focus is on Monday’s match against Aberdeen; he lost three of his previous four official encounters against his former club, so he is eager to secure a positive result. Hearts have also struggled to beat Aberdeen recently—since a 2-0 home win in January 2024, they have failed to win any of their last four official matches against them.
Aberdeen will have fond memories of the 2024-25 season, as they ended their 35-year wait for the Scottish Cup title. Their title run included a semi-final victory over Hearts, followed by a penalty shootout win against Celtic in the Hampden Park final in May, which earned them a spot in the Europa League play-offs. While the season was successful, Aberdeen may feel slightly frustrated to have finished 5th in the league after a strong start. They won 10 and drew 1 of their first 11 league games, keeping pace with leaders Celtic, but their form dipped thereafter, managing just 5 wins, 7 draws, and 15 losses in their next 27 matches.
Summary:
Overall, Hearts’ strong performance in the Scottish League Cup group stage should have built confidence. Additionally, they have won four of their last five home league matches against Aberdeen. Aberdeen will be eager to take all three points in the new season’s opening match, but this may be easier said than done—since a 2-1 away win in May 2017, they have failed to win any of their last 11 away league matches against Hearts. In terms of the handicap, initial Asian odds opened with Hearts -0.25, and have now risen to the -0.5 range, indicating that bookmakers’ confidence in Hearts is significantly increasing. Hearts will fully utilize their home advantage to claim all three points in the opening match of the Scottish Premiership.
