Hearts vs Rangers Prediction: A matured Rangers side is expected in this tough opening fixture

The 2024/2025 Scottish Premiership season will begin with Hearts hosting Rangers at Tynecastle Stadium in Edinburgh. Both teams finished 3rd and 2nd, respectively, last season and will hope for a better record this season. How will this encounter unfold?

Hearts ended their season with a game against Rangers that ended 3-3. However, their overall season performance saw this team accumulate 68 points from 38 matches, leaving them seated 3rd in the standings. 

However, their preseason performances saw them fail to secure a win, losing each encounter. In those matches, Hearts played Leyton Orient, Tottenham, and Fleetwood in games that ended 1-2, 1-5, and 3-0. Yet, at home in this opener, Hearts are, and in this one, they will take their chances to start their season with a win.

Rangers ended their season with a 3-3 draw with Hearts, with two late goals from Dexter Lembikisa and Kyosuke Tagawa denying them maximum points in that fixture. However, their Scottish Cup encounter against Celtic ended with a 1-0 defeat.

However, Rangers' encounters in the friendly saw them fail to win a single game, losing three and drawing one. In those matches, Rangers lost to Ajax, Manchester United, and Birmingham, while they drew Union Berlin in a 4-4 draw. Going into this game, Rangers are favorites, and with their good record in this fixture, they will hope to secure a win. 

These are two familiar sides with good history. In the meantime, Rangers have been the better team, and while Hearts will be stubborn, especially at home, I still don’t think they will have a chance to stop the visiting team from winning. Also, while the two teams have good attacking players, we expect them to be efficient in this one.