Hearts vs Aberdeen predictions: Jambos to maintain perfect start
Hearts looking to build on strong League Cup campaign in Premiership opener
Aberdeen hope to replicate last season’s fine start to season
Recommended bet: Hearts to win
Hearts head into the Scottish Premiership season in excellent form as they look to gain revenge for last season's Scottish Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of eventual winners Aberdeen.
The Dons have not had the luxury of warm-up games in the Scottish League Cup, but they got off to a flying start last season and will look to begin the new term in a similar vein on Monday evening.
The latest Hearts vs Aberdeen odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordan is struggling with a shoulder injury, while defender Jamie McCart is forced to sit this one out.
Midfielder Yan Dhanda is suspended, while late decisions will be made on Calem Nieuwenhof, Beni Baningime and Christian Borchgrevink.
The Dons are going to have to do without Kristers Tobers and Emmanuel Gyamfi for the trip to Tynecastle.
The stats
Hearts have won their last eight matches, while Aberdeen have come out on top in just one of their last eight games.
Hearts are unbeaten in their last 13 home games against the Dons.
Four of Aberdeen's last six matches have featured at least three goals and both teams have scored in six of the Dons' last eight games.
The last three meetings finished level after 90 minutes but none of the preceding 10 games between the sides ended in a draw.
The latest Hearts vs Aberdeen odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Hearts could hardly be coming into the Scottish Premiership season in better form and they should be confident they can get off to a flying start by beating Aberdeen on Monday.
It would be easy to scoff at the fact their four League Cup victories have come against Dunfermline, Hamilton, Stirling and Dumbarton, but they scored four goals in each of those matches and that should do wonders for confidence levels among the Tynecastle outfit.
Falling into the bottom half after the split last season was not good enough for a club of their size, but they did end with four victories, so they are well used to the winning feeling.
There will also be the extra motivation of their Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to the Dons when they fell in extra-time after having Michael Steinwender and Cameron Devlin sent off in their Hampden showdown.
Aberdeen went on to gain a memorable cup victory over Celtic on penalties and their campaign was certainly a rollercoaster, as they looked like potential title challengers in the early months before dropping like a stone in the winter.
A couple of pre-season friendlies may mean Jimmy Thelin's team are slightly undercooked going into this one and there is enough momentum for the hosts to build upon to ensure they get their campaign off to a winning start.
