Aberdeen vs Hearts

Aberdeen will host Hearts at Pittodrie Stadium on Sunday afternoon, aiming to break a dismal 10-match winless streak in the Scottish Premiership. The Dons, once a formidable force at the top of the table, now find themselves struggling for form. Currently sitting fourth with 34 points from 21 matches, Aberdeen have seen their once-promising campaign unravel in recent weeks. Their opponents, Hearts, have had their own turbulent season but are coming off a series of positive results that have boosted their confidence. With Hearts sitting in 11th place, just two points adrift of the 10th spot, they will be keen to continue their upward trajectory, while Aberdeen will look to secure a much-needed win to steady their ship.

Aberdeen started the 2024-25 season in exceptional form, surpassing expectations and making a strong push for the upper echelons of the league. The team, led by new manager Jimmy Thelin, who took charge in the summer of 2024, went unbeaten through their first 16 matches across all competitions. The Dons recorded 15 victories and a solitary draw in this remarkable run, a stretch that saw them briefly top the league alongside Celtic after 11 matches. However, since their 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Celtic in the Scottish League Cup semi-final, Aberdeen's season has taken a sharp downturn. Thelin's first defeat, which came in such a humiliating fashion, seemed to mark the beginning of a deep slump.

Following the League Cup loss, Aberdeen bounced back with a 4-1 victory over Dundee, but the relief was short-lived. A series of disappointing performances saw them fail to win any of their next 10 matches in all competitions, with seven defeats in that stretch, including losses in each of their last five league encounters. This run has seen Aberdeen fall from a joint top position with Celtic to a distant fourth place, now 22 points behind the leaders. With just eight points separating them from seventh-place Dundee, Aberdeen’s grip on a top-half finish is slipping. Thelin will be hoping his side can find a way to turn their fortunes around and restore some stability to their league campaign.

In stark contrast, Hearts' recent form has seen them improve significantly after a disastrous start to the season. The Jambos were winless in their first 10 matches across all competitions, with eight losses and two draws. Their early struggles also included an early exit from European competition, as they were defeated by Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League playoff round, which saw them drop into the Conference League. This poor run eventually led to the dismissal of former manager Steven Naismith, with Liam Fox stepping in as interim manager. Under Fox, Hearts showed brief signs of life, winning one match, drawing another, and losing one more.

However, the club turned a significant corner when Neil Critchley was appointed as the permanent manager. Critchley’s tenure began in sensational fashion, with a 4-0 victory over St Mirren in his debut match. The Jambos then followed this up with two wins and a draw from their next four outings, but a subsequent four-match losing streak threatened to derail their recovery. Nonetheless, a 1-1 draw against Aberdeen ended their losing streak, and since then, Hearts have put together a much stronger run of form. They are currently undefeated in their last five matches, with four wins, three draws, and three losses in their most recent 10 games. This form has seen them climb closer to safety in the league standings, with Hearts now just two points behind 10th-place Ross County. A victory in this fixture could see them rise as high as seventh, depending on results elsewhere.

As Hearts approach this fixture with newfound confidence, Aberdeen will be under significant pressure to end their woeful winless streak. The Dons have a history of strong performances at Pittodrie, but their recent home form has been far from reassuring. A win for the hosts could provide much-needed relief, allowing them to retain their place in the top half of the table and perhaps reignite their hopes for a European spot. However, Hearts will be keen to capitalize on Aberdeen's poor form and continue their surge up the table, knowing that a victory could push them into a much safer position as the season progresses.

With both teams desperate for points, this clash promises to be a high-stakes encounter. Aberdeen’s priority will be to restore their earlier season form and stop their alarming slide, while Hearts will be eager to build on their recent positive results and continue to climb the standings. For Thelin and his players, the pressure is on to turn around a season that started with so much promise. Meanwhile, Critchley will be hoping to make it three wins in a row and further cement his position as Hearts' manager. With both teams in need of a victory, this match is bound to be an intense and closely contested affair, with neither side willing to drop points in such a crucial stage of the season.