Aberdeen host Heart of Midlothian at Pittodrie Stadium on Saturday 1st August, with kick-off at 5.30pm as the new Scottish Premiership season gets under way.
Hearts finished second last season, 40 points clear of ninth-placed Aberdeen, and they arrive on the opening weekend as the bookmakers’ favourites even on the road. Our football tips desk has two Premium Tips for the opener below, followed by the full market-by-market predictions and a score prediction.
Premium Tips
Two standout calls for the Premiership opener from our betting desk, backed with the numbers. Our full market-by-market predictions table sits further down the page.
| Premium Tip | Odds | Why we’re backing it |
|---|---|---|
| Pierre Landry Kabore and Claudio Braga Both To Score | 8/1 with Spreadex | Kabore and Braga both scoring is aggressive, but the profile fits if Hearts get territory. Braga looks the stronger leg: 14 goals from 109 shots, with 93 efforts inside the box and 252 penalty-area touches. Kabore adds a second central threat, with five Hearts goals and most of his shots also coming from inside the area. If Aberdeen allow Hearts to build pressure, both forwards should get the kind of chances this bet needs. |
| Match Result & Total Goals – Aberdeen/Over 2.5 | 15/4 with BOYLE Sports | Aberdeen/Over 2.5 has a decent shape because this fixture points towards a home response rather than a cagey grind. Aberdeen’s recent games have had chaos in them – their last league outing was a 3-2 – and Hearts arrive after conceding six across two European defeats. That gives Aberdeen a clear route at home, but Hearts still carry enough attacking threat to help the total. Aberdeen win, with goals attached, feels live. |
18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware — gambleaware.org · Odds correct at time of publishing.
How Aberdeen go into the game
Aberdeen finished ninth last season on 40 points, scoring 40 and conceding 55 — a return that leaves little margin for error. Kevin Nisbet was their most reliable source of goals with nine, and with much of last season’s forward line moved on he looks the man they will lean on again. A home opener at Pittodrie is the sort of night that can paper over a summer of upheaval, but the underlying numbers point to a side that will have to defend far better than it did last term to take anything from this one.
How Hearts go into the game
Hearts were the story of last season, finishing second on 80 points and carving out 61 big chances along the way. Braga’s 14 goals were central to that, and he carries the load up top now that Lawrence Shankland has departed. The one note of caution is that this is a first competitive outing and an away trip to Pittodrie, where Aberdeen beat them 1-0 as recently as last November — opening-day sharpness is never a given, even for the side holding the stronger hand.
Aberdeen vs Hearts head-to-head
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28/02/26 | Hearts | 1-0 | Aberdeen |
| 23/11/25 | Aberdeen | 1-0 | Hearts |
| 04/08/25 | Hearts | 2-0 | Aberdeen |
| 12/01/25 | Aberdeen | 0-0 | Hearts |
| 01/12/24 | Hearts | 1-1 | Aberdeen |
Hearts have edged the recent head-to-head, winning five of the last 10 meetings to Aberdeen’s three, with two draws. The goals have dried up of late, though: three of the last five produced under 2.5 goals, and Aberdeen won the most recent Pittodrie meeting 1-0 last November, so the hosts will not fear this fixture.
Aberdeen vs Hearts predictions & betting tips
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen to win | 11/10 (bet365) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Hearts have been gutted over the summer and it could be a slow start for them. |
| Over 2.5 Goals | 8/11 (bet365) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Hearts scored 67 last term against an Aberdeen defence that shipped 55. |
| Both Teams to Score – Yes | 4/7 (bet365) | ⭐⭐ | Two rebuilt attacks, though the recent meetings have been tight. |
| Claudio Braga anytime | 8/5 (bet365) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Fourteen goals last season and now the focal point of the Hearts attack. |
| Correct Score – Aberdeen 2-1 Hearts | 8/1 (bet365) | ⭐⭐ | A slender victory for Aberdeen looks likely and has an enticing price. |
Aberdeen vs Hearts score prediction
Aberdeen 2-1 has the right balance for this matchup: a home win, but not a clean one. Aberdeen should fancy themselves at Pittodrie, especially with Hearts looking vulnerable defensively after shipping goals in recent outings. But Hearts still have enough forward threat to nick one, particularly if the game opens up after the first goal. A narrow Aberdeen win with both teams scoring fits the pattern better than a comfortable stroll. 2-1 is the tidy version. Score prediction: Aberdeen 2-1 Hearts.