The last time these teams met at Pittodrie in October, Aberdeen were unbeaten and second in the league, while Hearts were bottom without a win.
How times have changed.
Jimmy Thelin’s side are stuck in a winless rut, having gone 10 games without a win, including five straight defeats. They have fallen to fourth place.
After their latest defeat to Motherwell, where they also lost defender Slobodan Rubezic to a red card, the Swede admitted his team have “problems to solve”.
They must do so quickly if they are to avoid matching their worst seven-game losing streak since December 2010.
Amid this crisis, in which they appear to lack the confidence they developed during their 11-game unbeaten run at the start of the season, they have often faced an uphill battle, conceding the first goal in seven games since their last victory.
While it makes for discouraging reading, the ray of hope is that hearts are in the city. The Dons have not lost to Hearts at home in the Scottish Premiership since May 2017.
In fact, none of the last 22 matches between these teams have been won by the visiting team (17 home wins, five draws), with Aberdeen being the last visiting team to win this match in May 2017.
However, Neil Critchley’s side are two out of two in 2025 and are looking for three league wins in a row for the first time since February last year.
Following arguably their best win under coach Critchley against Dundee United on Sunday, the Maroon music has changed for the better since the Boxing Day derby defeat to Hibernian.
At the center of it all was James Penrice, who scored the crucial goal at Tannadice. The former Livingston man has been a bright spark in an often dull season for Gorgie’s side.
If Hearts are to end their Pittodrie voodoo on Sunday, the left-back will certainly have a role to play.
