Aberdeen vs Hearts Match Analysis and Prediction

3 years ago 559

Aberdeen will be looking for a win that will help them move into the Scottish Premiership European slots this weekend when they welcome Hearts to Pittodrie on Sunday.

Both teams head into the contest seeking momentum due to inconsistencies in form, while there is just one point separating them in the league standings.

Aberdeen have endured a mixed start to the 2022-23 campaign, sitting sixth in the league table on 13 points, with Jim Goodwin having cultivated an entertaining brand of football at the helm in the North East.

Goodwin’s side have been clinical in front of goal, scoring 19 goals in their nine matches so far this season, which statistically makes them the best offensive side in the league apart from Celtic and Rangers.

Last time out, Aberdeen were on the receiving end of a concerning 4-0 thrashing by Dundee United, as goals from Aziz Behich, Tony Watt, Jamie McGrath and a Ross McCrorie own goal saw Goodwin’s side come away empty handed.

Hearts make the trip to Pittodrie without a win in their last four matches across all competitions under Robbie Neilson.

They had previously kicked off the campaign in a promising style before losing several key players to long-term injuries such as Liam Boyce, Craig Halkett, Michael Smith and Kye Rowles.

Hearts have picked up just one point from the available six in their last two league matches, with that point requiring a last-gasp equaliser from defender Nathaniel Atkinson to secure a 2-2 draw away to Kilmarnock.

Their proceedings in Europa Conference League Group A have not given much joy to their fans either, with Hearts suffering two successive defeats to Fiorentina by a 3-0 scoreline at home and 5-1 away in their latest game, and Neilson will be desperate to turn the tide and claim a crucial victory on Sunday.

Aberdeen vs Hearts head to head

These two teams have previously met on 97 occasions across all competitions, where Aberdeen have claimed 30 victories while Hearts have won 43, and they have drawn in 24. Hearts have scored 127 goals and conceded 98. In their last five meetings, Hearts have won two, Aberdeen one with two draws.

Hearts (P)2-2 Aberdeen 25/09/19

Hearts 1-1 Aberdeen 29/12/19

Hearts 1-1 Aberdeen 22/08/21

Aberdeen 2-1 Hearts 30/10/21

Hearts 2-0 Aberdeen 02/03/22

Aberdeen latest home form

Aberdeen have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just one of their nine most recent matches. They managed to defeat Kilmarnock 4-1 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 18 goals and conceded five.

Aberdeen 3-0 Raith Rovers 24/07/22

Aberdeen 4-1 St. Mirren 06/08/22

Aberdeen 2-3 Motherwell 13/08/22

Aberdeen 5-0 Livingston 27/08/22

Aberdeen 4-1 Kilmarnock 01/10/22

Aberdeen latest away form

Aberdeen have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just two of their six most recent matches. They lost 4-0 to Dundee United in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded nine.

St. Johnstone 0-1 Aberdeen 20/08/22

Annan Athletic 1-4(E) Aberdeen 30/08/22

Ross County 1-1 Aberdeen 03/09/22

Hibernian 3-1 Aberdeen 17/09/22

Dundee United 4-0 Aberdeen 08/10/22

Hearts latest home form

Hearts have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just one of their six most recent matches. They lost 3-0 to Fiorentina in their last home game in the Europa Conference League. In their last five matches, they have scored three goals and conceded 14.

Hearts 3-2 St. Johnstone 28/08/22

Hearts 0-1 Kilmarnock 31/08/22

Hearts 0-4 Istanbul Basaksehir 08/09/22

Hearts 0-4 Rangers 01/10/22

Hearts 0-3 Fiorentina 06/10/22

Hearts latest away form

Hearts have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just two of their nine most recent matches. They lost 5-1 to Fiorentina in their last away game in the Europa Conference League. In ther last five matches, they have scored eight goals and conceded eight.

Livingston 1-0 Hearts 03/09/22

Rigas FS 0-2 Hearts 15/09/22

Motherwell 0-3 Hearts 18/09/22

Kilmarnock 2-2 Hearts 06/10/22

Fiorentina 5-1 Hearts 13/10/22

Aberdeen news

Aberdeen have no real injury concerns ahead of the contest other than winger Callum Roberts, who is still on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Mdfielder Connor Barron is likely to make his first start of the season after returning to action from the bench in the defeat to Dundee United last week.

Hearts news

Defender Nathaniael Atkinson will be on the sidelines following his injury sustained away to Fiorentina, while Cameron Devlin is suspended due to his straight red card against Rangers.

Craig Halkett, Qaurtet Liam Boyce, Michael Smith and Kye Rowles will all be unavailable as they continue to recover from lengthy absences.

Prediction and Odds

This is a game with plenty of significance in the upper echelons of the Scottish Premiership and we expect an entertaining game between two teams seeking victory.

Hearts have recently struggled for results while Aberdeen have kept a relatively good run of results and we back the hosts to come away victorious.

Odds: 1 2.30 X 2.05 2 2.88