Aberdeen vs Hearts: Preview, Prediction & Lineups | Scottish Premiership 2025/26
Aberdeen vs Hearts — Match Preview
The Scottish Premiership returns with a Sunday showdown at Pittodrie as Aberdeen host league leaders Hearts.1 The contrast in fortunes could not be starker. The Dons are enduring a difficult campaign, sitting 8th and struggling for consistency under Jimmy Thelin.2 Meanwhile, Hearts have been the story of the season so far, sitting top of the table and looking down on both Glasgow giants.3
With Lawrence Shankland firing the Jambos toward an unlikely title charge and Aberdeen desperate to turn Pittodrie back into a fortress, this match promises intensity. Can the Dons derail the Maroon juggernaut, or will Hearts prove their title credentials with another statement away win?
Aberdeen vs Hearts — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Aberdeen vs Heart of Midlothian
- Competition: Scottish Premiership (Matchweek 13)
- Venue: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
- Date: Sunday, 23 November 20257
- Kickoff Time: 15:00 GMT / 16:00 CET / 20:30 IST
- Referee: David Dickinson
- VAR: Steven McLean (Expected)
- TV Channel (UK): Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports Ultra HDR
- TV Channel (International): Premier Sports
- TV Channel (India): JioStar, Sports18
- Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), JioStar (India)
Aberdeen vs Hearts — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Aberdeen:
- Position: 8th in the Scottish Premiership (11 Points).10
- Form: Stuttering. A 1-1 draw vs Motherwell before the break stopped a losing run, but they have only 1 win in their last 5 league games.
- Current Challenge: Finding goals. They have scored just 8 goals in 11 league games, the joint-lowest in the top half.11
Hearts:
- Position: 1st in the Scottish Premiership (30 Points).12
- Form: Imperious. Unbeaten in the league (9W, 3D). Coming off a 1-1 draw vs Dundee Utd, but prior to that, they hammered Dundee 4-0 and beat Celtic 3-1.
- Current Challenge: Handling the pressure of being league leaders. Every team now treats them as the “team to beat.”
Aberdeen vs Hearts — What’s at Stake
For Aberdeen:
- Job Security: Jimmy Thelin is under pressure. A heavy defeat at home to a non-Old Firm rival would turn the Pittodrie crowd toxic. They need a result to spark their season.
For Hearts:
- Title Belief: Staying top of the table into December would convince fans this isn’t just a hot streak. A win here keeps the pressure on Celtic and Rangers.
Aberdeen vs Hearts — Team Form
Aberdeen (Last 5 Matches):
- D vs Motherwell (1-1)
- D vs AEK Larnaca (0-0 – UECL)13
- W vs Kilmarnock (1-0)14
- L vs Hibernian (1-2)
- L vs AEK Athens (0-6)15
Hearts (Last 5 Matches):
- D vs Dundee Utd (1-1)
- W vs Dundee FC (4-0)16
- D vs St Mirren (2-2)
- W vs Celtic (3-1)
- W vs Kilmarnock (3-0)17
Aberdeen vs Hearts — Team News
Aberdeen:
- Alfie Dorrington: Out (Inactive).18
- Sivert Heltne Nilsen: Out (Inactive – Big loss in midfield leadership).19
- Ante Palaversa: Out (Inactive).20
- Kristers Tobers: Out (Knee Injury).21
- Duk: Available (Expected to provide the spark upfront).
- Graeme Shinnie: Available (Captain will need to rally the troops).22
Hearts:
- Calem Nieuwenhof: Out (Calf Injury).23
- Finlay Pollock: Out (Hamstring Injury).24
- Craig Halkett: Suspended (Red card vs Dundee Utd).25
- Frankie Kent: Available (Returns from injury to replace Halkett).26
- Lawrence Shankland: Available (The league’s top scorer leads the line).
Aberdeen vs Hearts — Head to Head
- 05 Aug 2025: Hearts 2–0 Aberdeen27
- 19 Apr 2025: Hearts 1–2 Aberdeen (Scottish Cup)28
- 12 Jan 2025: Aberdeen 0–0 Hearts
- 01 Dec 2024: Hearts 1–1 Aberdeen29
- 06 Oct 2024: Aberdeen 3–2 Hearts30
Aberdeen vs Hearts — Predicted Lineups
Aberdeen (4-2-3-1):
Without Nilsen, Shinnie will likely partner Barron in midfield. Thelin needs creativity, so McGrath starts centrally.
- GK: Dimitar Mitov31
- RB: Nicky Devlin
- CB: Slobodan Rubežić
- CB: Gavin Molloy
- LB: Jack MacKenzie
- CDM: Graeme Shinnie (C)
- CDM: Connor Barron
- RW: Topi Keskinen
- CAM: Jamie McGrath
- LW: Duk
- ST: Kevin Nisbet
Hearts (4-2-3-1):
Neil Critchley (or current manager) will stick to the winning formula. Kent slots straight back into defense.
- GK: Craig Gordon
- RB: Daniel Oyegoke
- CB: Frankie Kent32
- CB: Kye Rowles
- LB: James Penrice
- CDM: Beni Baningime33
- CDM: Malachi Boateng
- RW: Yan Dhanda
- CAM: Blair Spittal34
- LW: Kenneth Vargas
- ST: Lawrence Shankland (C)35
Aberdeen vs Hearts — Impact Bench Options
Aberdeen:
- Ester Sokler: The Slovenian striker offers a physical aerial threat if Aberdeen resort to long balls late in the game.
- Vicente Besuijen: A wild card winger who can create chaos against tired legs.
Hearts:
- Barrie McKay: One of the most creative players in the league. If Hearts are chasing a winner, his vision off the bench is unmatched.
- Liam Boyce: Experienced forward who can hold the ball up and kill the game if Hearts are winning.
Aberdeen vs Hearts — Tactical Outlook
Aberdeen:
- Playing Style: Pragmatic & Direct. Lacking confidence, Aberdeen will likely sit in a mid-block and look to hit Hearts on the counter using Duk’s pace. They will rely heavily on set-pieces delivered by Jamie McGrath.
- Weakness: Midfield Control. Without Nilsen, they lack a destroyer. Hearts’ midfield duo of Baningime and Boateng could overrun them.
Hearts:
- Playing Style: High Energy Pressing. Hearts are top of the league because they hunt the ball in packs. They will press Aberdeen high up the pitch, forcing mistakes from Rubežić and Molloy.
- Strength: Clinical Finishing. They don’t need many chances. Shankland and Vargas are ruthless in transition.
Aberdeen vs Hearts — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Slobodan Rubežić vs. Lawrence Shankland | The Brawl: Rubežić is aggressive, but Shankland is clever. If the defender dives in, Shankland will spin him or win a foul. | Hearts |
| Graeme Shinnie vs. Blair Spittal | Old School vs. New School: Shinnie will try to kick Spittal out of the game. Spittal needs to find pockets of space to hurt Aberdeen. | Tie |
| Nicky Devlin vs. Kenneth Vargas | Pace Duel: Devlin loves to get forward, but leaving space for the lightning-fast Vargas is suicide. | Hearts |
Aberdeen vs Hearts — Spotlight Players
Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen):
The heartbeat of the Dons. If Aberdeen are to get anything from this game, Shinnie needs to have a 10/10 performance—winning tackles, driving the team forward, and engaging the crowd.
Lawrence Shankland (Hearts):
The Scotland international is the best striker in the league right now. His hold-up play allows midfielders like Spittal and Dhanda to flourish. He scored in the last meeting and loves playing at Pittodrie.
Aberdeen vs Hearts — Fan Reactions
Aberdeen Fans:
“We look toothless upfront. If we concede first, the atmosphere will turn nasty very quickly.”
“Hearts are flying, but we usually turn up against the big teams at home. We need a war.”
Hearts Fans:
“Top of the league and having a laugh! Let’s go up there and show them why we are the best team in Scotland right now.”
“Shankland hat-trick incoming. 3-0 to the famous.”
Aberdeen vs Hearts — Where to Watch
- UK: Sky Sports Football36
- International: Premier Sports37
- India: JioStar, Sports18
Aberdeen vs Hearts — Match-Defining Factors
- The First Goal: Aberdeen’s confidence is fragile. If Hearts score early, heads could drop. If Aberdeen score, Pittodrie becomes a cauldron.
- Set-Piece Defense: Aberdeen have been vulnerable from corners. Hearts’ center-backs (Kent/Rowles) are threats in the air.
- Midfield Battle: With key injuries for Aberdeen (Nilsen), can Barron and Shinnie stop Hearts from dictating the tempo?
Aberdeen vs Hearts — Prediction
Score Prediction: Aberdeen 1–3 Hearts
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Hearts to Win (Form suggests they are too strong).
- Anytime Goalscorer: Lawrence Shankland (He is on penalties and in red-hot form).
- Total Goals: Over 2.5 Goals (Aberdeen’s defense is leaky; Hearts attack is flowing).
Analysis: While Aberdeen will fight hard at home, the quality gap right now is undeniable. Hearts are playing with the swagger of champions, while Aberdeen are disjointed. Expect Shankland and Vargas to exploit Aberdeen’s defensive gaps for a comfortable away win.
Aberdeen vs Hearts — Final Word
This is a clash of trajectories. Hearts are riding the crest of a wave, while Aberdeen are treading water. Pittodrie on a Sunday can be a difficult place to go, but this Hearts team looks different—resilient, clinical, and hungry. Unless the Dons can produce a season-best performance, the Jambos should leave the Granite City with all three points.38
Aberdeen vs Hearts — FAQs
When is the Aberdeen vs Hearts match?
The match is on Sunday, 23 November 2025, at 15:00 GMT (20:30 IST).39
Is Lawrence Shankland playing?
Yes, the Hearts captain and top scorer is fit and expected to start.
Is the match on TV?
Yes, it will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football in the UK and JioStar in India.
Who is favored to win?
League leaders Hearts are the clear favorites due to their unbeaten run and Aberdeen’s poor form.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
Can the Dons stop the Hearts title charge? Give us your predictions below!
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