Aberdeen sit fourth in the Scottish Premiership following a two-match losing streak. The Dons could leapfrog third-place Kilmarnock with a win on Friday night against Hearts at Pittodrie Stadium.
Hearts are sixth and 10 points behind their rivals. The Edinburgh-based club are on a terrible run of form in the second stage of the Scottish Premiership. Hearts are winless in their last five games with four of those matches ending in losses.
The two Scottish clubs have met three times already this season in the SPL. Hearts have won two and lost one to Aberdeen in their three meetings this term. All three games saw at least 1.5 goals scored.
Hearts won both games at home, but did lose the last time they visited Pittodrie Stadium. The two sides met at Pittodrie in December with Aberdeen winning 2-0. Aberdeen forward Sam Cosgrove scored both goals in the game.
Cosgrove is second in the Premiership in goals scored with 16. He is just one goal behind Rangers’ Alfredo Morales and can still win the league’s Golden Boot Award.
Hearts FC and Aberdeen have played 11 times in the Premiership since the start of the 2016 season. Aberdeen are undefeated in eight of those matches. Five of those eight games ended in wins.
Just three of their last 11 meetings have featured over 2.5 goals scored. None of the last 11 games between Aberdeen and Hearts at Pittodrie Stadium have seen over 2.5 goals scored.
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is expected to be without winger Niall McGinn and midfielder Graeme Shinnie. The latter will leave Aberdeen in the summer having signed a pre-contract with English side Derby County this week.
Hearts’ manager Craig Levein is expected to be without defender Demetri Mitchell. Midfielder Callum Morrison and left-back Benjamin Garuccio are also expected to miss the fixture as well.
Levein’s team is winless in their last three games away from Tyncastle by a combined score of 5-1. Hearts have lost two of those game on the road which doesn’t bode well for their trip to Aberdeen on Friday night.
Aberdeen FC’s home form hasn't been great as they are winless in five of their last six games. Their last home match was a 3-0 loss to SPL winners Celtic, 3-0.
Despite Aberdeen’s current form, Hearts are woeful and have little incentive to finish the season strongly. Hearts look like they are on holiday already as they head into the final two games of the season.
Aberdeen’s home record has been very good against Hearts. The Dons need to finish strongly to qualify for the Europa League qualifying rounds. Aberdeen have more incentive to win and they will pick up the victory on Friday night. The game will be another low scoring affair at Pittodrie with under 2.5 goals scored.