Boxing Day Premiership Action Begins with Edinburgh Derby

As the Christmas feasts linger and festive wrapping paper readies for recycling, the heart of football drama beats strong with a tantalizing schedule in the Boxing Day Scottish Premiership.

From the crack of noon to the twilight of the evening, we present to you the names and contests poised to deliver the perfect holiday spectacle.

Boxing Day opens with an electric encounter at Tynecastle as the capital’s fierce rivals, Hearts and Hibernian, clash for the second time this season.

Their previous encounter ended in a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Easter Road, with Hearts snatching an equalizer at the death.

Both teams have faced their share of struggles this season but recent form shows promise, particularly for Hibs. David Gray’s squad stormed back from a tough stint to leave Aberdeen’s Pittodrie with a vital three points on Saturday—a significant third win across their last four league outings.

Meanwhile, Hearts clawed their way off the bottom of the table after a 2-1 victory over St Johnstone, sending their adversaries to the foot of the standings. The European commitments this season might have added pressure, but with a solely domestic focus now, the Jambos are primed to make their aspirations clear.

A win for Hearts would lift them above Hibs, while a Hibernian victory could stretch their lead to five points, marking a crucial juncture in the season. Statistically, recent history has been tight—four of the past five fixtures have ended in stalemate, with both sides clinching their last victories by a solitary goal.

Both teams are keenly aware that pushing into the top six is paramount, and Thursday’s fixture could prove pivotal as they aim to ignite their seasons with a vital three points.

Aberdeen began December as the most formidable challengers to Celtic’s dominance. Yet a dismal six-match winless streak now sees them positioned third, just a point behind Rangers with an additional game played.

The Dons were riding a wave of optimism on Saturday when Topi Keskinen netted first against Hibernian, only to see their hopes dashed as Hibs struck back with three unanswered goals to steal the victory.

At just 21 years old, Keskinen has emerged as a dynamic force, making waves since his summer arrival from HJK. To date, he has found the back of the net five times and added a handful of assists, establishing himself as one of Aberdeen’s key performers in their nuanced attack.

As Kilmarnock prepare to host Aberdeen on Thursday—having suffered a 2-0 defeat at Pittodrie earlier in the season—Keskinen’s explosive pace and creativity could prove crucial. The Finnish winger has the potential to stretch defenses and ignite his team’s resurgence.

Furthermore, with World Cup qualifying on the horizon in March, Keskinen will be striving for a powerful start to 2025 to secure his place in the Finland squad.

Simo Valakari, one of the newest managerial faces in the Premiership, is grappling with significant challenges at St Johnstone.

Having secured a mere one point from a possible twelve in December, the Perth side finds themselves teetering at the bottom of the table.

Yet, amidst their struggles, Saints supporters will note that their three losses this month have been painful one-goal defeats, with a hard-earned point against Aberdeen coming despite holding a lead earlier in the match.

In a league as tightly contested as this, finding a way to claim those crucial points in close contests is essential for survival.

Dundee United will be their visitors on Boxing Day, looking to secure a second consecutive victory over the Saints.

Valakari’s statistics of three wins and a draw from eleven thus far haven’t graced McDiarmid Park with abundant joy, and he shares the struggle with fellow managers like Neil Critchley of Hearts and David Gray of Hibernian, both of whom have also faced their share of challenges this term.

However, a single victory can ignite drastic changes within the table’s dynamics; perhaps Valakari holds the key to steering St Johnstone towards a resurgence as the calendar turns towards the New Year.