It’s all set — Hearts and Aberdeen have dropped their starting lineups for the big Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park this Saturday. And honestly, there’s a lot riding on this one. Not just a place in the final, but a huge confidence boost for both managers, Neil Critchley and Jimmy Thelin, who are still in their first seasons in Scotland.
You can feel the tension already. One game could completely change the way their seasons are remembered.
How They Got Here
Both teams really had to grind their way to this stage — no easy rides.
Hearts had to fight past Brechin City, then edged out St Mirren and Dundee. It wasn’t all smooth sailing, but they found a way, and now here they are, just one match away from the final. There were moments in those games where it looked like they might slip, but the grit and quality showed up when it mattered most.
Aberdeen's journey wasn’t any less stressful. They beat Elgin City and Dunfermline early on, then handled a tricky Queen’s Park team in the quarters. There were questions about whether they could hold up under pressure, but they came through.
Hearts Lineup Breakdown
Neil Critchley has made some bold calls here. Craig Gordon is back in goal, which makes sense — the guy’s experience in big matches can’t be overstated.
The defense has Penrice, McCart, Steinwender, and Forrester, so there’s a decent mix of pace and strength back there. Midfield sees Beni Beningame and Sander Kartum holding things down, with Jorge Grant and Shankland likely pushing forward a lot more.
Up top, it’s Kabangu and James Wilson, which looks like a combo that could cause real problems if they link up well
