The Edinburgh derby rarely disappoints, but the December 27, 2025, clash at Easter Road between Hibernian and Hearts delivered a spectacle that will be talked about for years. In front of a raucous, sell-out crowd of 20,035, Hibs edged city rivals Hearts 3-2, shaking up the Scottish Premiership title race and reigniting old passions in this storied rivalry.
Heading into the match, Hearts head coach Derek McInnes had his sights set on stretching a six-point lead atop the Premiership over defending champions Celtic. With a game in hand, Celtic loomed in the background, ready to pounce on any slip-up. Hibs, meanwhile, sat 16 points behind their rivals in fifth, but manager David Gray and his men were determined to cut that deficit and claim bragging rights in the capital.
The atmosphere was electric from the first whistle. Hibs, lining up with Raphael Sallinger in goal and a back line featuring Nicky Cadden, Jack Iredale, Grant Hanley, Warren O’Hora, and Kanayo Megwa, were on the front foot immediately. The midfield trio of Jamie McGrath, Daniel Barlaser, and Josh Mulligan set the tempo, while Martin Boyle and Kieron Bowie led the attack.
Hearts countered with Alexander Schwolow between the posts and a defense of Stephen Kingsley, Stuart Findlay, Craig Halkett, and Michael Steinwender. Their midfield—Cammy Devlin, Oisin McEntee, and Tomas Bent Magnusson—looked to provide service to the attacking trio of Alexandros Kyziridis, Lawrence Shankland, and Claudio Braga.
The opening moments set the tone for a wild afternoon. Just two minutes in, Hibs struck. Warren O’Hora, freshly returned from illness, launched a diagonal ball to Nicky Cadden on the left. Cadden, full of confidence, breezed past Steinwender and delivered a pinpoint cross. Jamie McGrath, left unmarked, cushioned a volley past Schwolow to give Hibs a dream start. The home fans erupted, some spilling onto the pitch in celebration, as stewards and police scrambled to restore order.
Hearts tried to steady themselves, and nearly responded in the 18th minute when Kingsley’s deep cross found Shankland at the back post. The Hearts captain, usually so clinical, saw his header flash just wide. Moments later, Kingsley again delivered, this time for Kyziridis to knock down to Magnusson, but the shot was deflected behind. It was a warning that Hearts weren’t going to roll over easily.
But Hibs pressed on. The first half saw a setback when Nicky Cadden was forced off with injury, replaced by Josh Campbell. McGrath shifted to left wing-back, but the change did nothing to slow Hibs’ momentum. Just before the break, McGrath beat his man on the flank and whipped in a cross. Campbell, making an immediate impact, glanced a sublime header into the far corner. Hibs went into halftime two goals to the good, and the home crowd was in full voice.
Hearts made adjustments at halftime, bringing on Harry Milne and Beni Baningime for Kingsley and McEntee, and switched to a back three. Yet, it was Hibs who struck again. Only minutes after the restart, Stuart Findlay’s errant clearance was seized upon by Kieron Bowie. The young striker drove forward and slotted home, notching his eighth goal of the 2025/26 season and sending Easter Road into a frenzy.
At 3-0, the contest seemed all but settled, but anyone who’s seen an Edinburgh derby knows better. Hearts, stung into action, began to mount a late charge. Kyziridis tested Sallinger with a fierce effort, but the Hibs keeper was equal to it. The Greek winger continued to threaten, forcing another fine save as the game entered its final quarter.
Hearts finally broke through in the 76th minute. Kyziridis delivered a dangerous ball into the box, and Shankland made no mistake this time, glancing a header into the bottom corner. The visitors, sensing an opening, poured forward. Substitute Sabah Kerjota whipped in another menacing cross, narrowly missing Magnusson’s head.
The drama reached fever pitch with two minutes of normal time remaining. Kyziridis unleashed a shot that Sallinger could only parry, and Devlin reacted quickest to nod home the rebound. Suddenly, the score was 3-2, and Hearts had all the momentum. Six minutes of stoppage time were added by referee John Beaton, and Easter Road held its breath.
Hearts threw everything forward, and in those dying moments, only the heroics of Raphael Sallinger preserved Hibs’ lead. First, he denied Shankland with a world-class stop, then thwarted Baningime at point-blank range. As the final whistle blew, Hibs players and fans erupted in celebration, having survived a furious late onslaught.
It was a result that sent shockwaves through the Premiership. Hearts, previously beaten only once in the league all season, saw their lead at the top cut to three points after Celtic’s win over Livingston later that day. The loss stung, but as McInnes reflected, "If you don't do the basics well, it doesn't matter how good you are or how good a run you're on, you're going to end up with a sore one. We nearly get the draw at the end, the keeper's pulled off a brilliant save, but you can't just play for half an hour and lose three goals and expect to get something from the game. It's a sore one for us, but we've got to own that."
For Hibs, the win was a statement. David Gray praised his players, saying, "I asked [the players] for a big statement win, we got that today. It's now about kicking on and trying to be more consistent with our results. They are a really good group, they work hard all the time. The dressing room is a very good dressing room. There's a long way to go, a lot of football to be played. I'm sure the neutrals enjoyed it, I'm off for a lie down."
The 150th anniversary of the Edinburgh derby was marked in fitting style—full of goals, drama, and controversy. Hearts will look to regroup before facing Livingston at Tynecastle on January 3, while Hibs hope to build on this momentum against Aberdeen and Kilmarnock in the coming week. With just two points separating third and fifth, and the title race tightening, this was more than just a derby—it was a season-defining afternoon in the capital.
As the dust settles, fans on both sides will remember this wild five-goal thriller—a match that captured everything great about Scottish football and the enduring spirit of the Edinburgh derby.
