Hearts v Hibernian predictions: Expect a cup cracker at Hampden

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Hearts v Hibernian in the Scottish FA Cup semi-final on Saturday.

Where to watch

BBC One Scotland, 12.15pm Saturday

Best bet

Over 2.5 goals
1pt 11-10 general

Team news

Hearts
Beni Baningime is out for the season and Michael Smith and John Souttar are unlikely to return in time. Cammy Devlin is back in full training and fit to play a part.

Hibs
Ryan Porteous returns to the squad as his four-game suspension applies only to the Scottish Premiership. There are doubts over Drey Wright and Josh Doig, while Christian Doidge will be assessed before kick-off. Rocky Bushiri is likely to be fit.

Match preview

Hearts and Hibernian meet at Hampden Park for a huge Scottish FA Cup semi-final and it's a repeat of last week's Scottish Premiership Edinburgh derby.

Hearts ran out 3-1 winners in that league contest, but punters should be wary of rushing to back a repeat.

The Jambos were 11-10 to beat the Hibees at Tynecastle last Saturday and now bettors are being asked to take 6-5 about a clash at a neutral venue.

Clearly, Robbie Neilson's men were the better side last week, but it wasn't one-way traffic with the pair combining for 24 shots on goal.

It's 11-10 that we see at least three goals at Hampden and it's likely that defences will again be breached.

Neither side tend to approach matches on the back foot, and the frantic atmosphere of a Edinburgh derby in a big cup semi-final should see both teams push forward.

Shaun Maloney's men have been hampered by injuries and player sales in attacking areas this season, but they put two goals past Motherwell in the quarter-finals of this competition and notched three times in the round of 16.

Only Rangers and Celtic have scored more goals in the Scottish top flight than the Jambos this term and Hearts have found the net 16 times in their last seven matches.

Neilson's men hit four past St Mirren in a six-goal thriller in the last-eight stage of this competition and Hearts haven't been shy in their bid to win the trophy they last lifted in 2012.

Three of the last five Edinburgh derbies have gone over the 2.5-goal mark and we could see another entertaining clash at Hampden on Saturday.

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