- Team form: Hearts are in better form with 5 unbeaten (W3, D2) but Hibernian are stronger in the home Edinburgh derby, winning 2 of the last 3.
- Recent meeting: Hearts won the last away meeting 2-1 in Premiership Championship Round 2026.
A close match between two Edinburgh rivals
Hibs host the Jambos in the Edinburgh derby on Thursday in what is a major game for both sides as bragging rights and early momentum in the Premiership 2026/2027 are on the line. The Edinburgh rivals are in the same boat so far in the top flight this year, sitting 7th and 5th with three points from two matches, so it should be a close game and the odds certainly reflect that with Hibs favorites at 2.55 and Hearts not far behind at 2.65.
The draw, priced at 3.6, looks the most attractive option as neither side has been convincing enough to warrant a positive bet on them at this stage in the season.
David Gray’s men can be stifling
Defensive structure
David Gray has set Hibernian up in a compact back three system with wing-backs and pacey players that can absorb pressure and hit on the counter-attack. The problem has been that Hibs have shown some frailties, particularly at the back, but they arrive for this game after a solid 1-0 win over Partick Thistle, a 0-0 draw away to KAA Gent and a 2-3 home defeat to the Belgian side.
Form and key players
They have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 1 in their last 5 matches and are not the most consistent side on paper, but they do have some lively players on the break that can cause Hearts problems. Callum Wright leads the Hibs scoring in the league with 1 goal in 1 game, but Owen Elding has been a livewire in the midfield with 2 goals in the club's 5 games this season.
Jambos have better pace and more potency
Wouter Vrancken's men are clearly the team in the stronger nick and have been playing a higher-tempo press and vertical edge that should see them create more chances in this derby.
Under 2.5 goals at 1.97 matches up well with recent form patterns for both teams, while Hibs have yet to win at Easter Road in 2026/2027 (D0, L1), so the draw offers the best value in the result markets.
- The Jambos are unbeaten in their last 5 with 3 wins and 2 draws, a sequence that includes a 1-1 draw in the away leg against SK Rapid Wien and a penalty shootout win over Rapid Wien.
- Claudio Braga has been a creative spark for Hearts with 2 assists in the opening 2 league games, with no player scoring more than Calvin Miller's 1 goal.
- Their away stats mirror those of Hibs, with 1.00 goals per game scored and 2.00 goals per game conceded so there should be chances at both ends, but the best play is for this to be a tight, intense derby.
