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Will Hibernian’s counter-punching at Easter Road undo Motherwell’s possession control in the European chase? Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
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Motherwell have transformed into a defensive powerhouse, keeping eight clean sheets in their last nine Premiership matches. This defensive resilience is complemented by a cautious approach on the road, where they have failed to score in their last three away games. Hibernian are strong at home, but they are facing a side that has not been trailing at half time in 12 consecutive matches. With both teams fighting for European spots, the fear of losing may outweigh the urge to attack, leading to a low-scoring affair consistent with Motherwell's recent 7-of-8 under 2.5 goals trend.
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This selection is based on the clash between Motherwell’s elite defensive form and their current away-day goal drought. The visitors have kept clean sheets in the vast majority of their recent games but have also gone three straight away matches without scoring. Hibernian may struggle to break down a team that has conceded only one goal in their last nine league fixtures. In a high-stakes match between fourth and fifth place, a scoreless draw reflects the tactical standoff expected between Motherwell's possession-based control and Hibernian’s reliance on counter-attacking opportunities that may not materialize.
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Hibernian vs Motherwell Predictions and Best Bets
Hibernian vs Motherwell — bet365 Market Snapshot
Key pricing and probabilities for the Easter Road encounter based on current league form.
Hibs enter as favorites at Easter Road, while Motherwell’s strong league position keeps them in contention.
Pricing indicates a high likelihood of goals, with both sides finding the net regularly this term.
- Two top-five attacks meeting head-on: Hibernian have scored 36 goals in 21 Premiership matches, while Motherwell have scored 30 in 21, so both arrive used to creating and converting chances.
- Control versus direct punch: Motherwell average 58.9% possession with 85.6% pass completion, while Hibernian average 48.2% possession with 80.9% pass completion, setting up a clash of tempo and territory.
- Home scoring run meets an away drought: Hibernian have scored two or more in each of their last three Premiership home matches, while Motherwell have failed to score in their last three away Premiership games.
Offensive Output: Total Goals Scored
Both sides have maintained a healthy scoring rate through 21 Premiership fixtures this season.
Hibs have averaged 1.7 goals per game, showing high efficiency in front of goal.
Motherwell’s attack remains potent, averaging over 1.4 goals per match campaign-wide.
Attacking Intent: Shots per Match
Active offensive play characterizes both teams, frequently testing opposition goalkeepers.
The hosts maintain a high volume of attempts, particularly effective at Easter Road.
Motherwell create consistent scoring opportunities through structured possession play.
Hibernian host Motherwell at Easter Road on Saturday, and it already feels like one of those afternoons where the league table starts staring back at you. This is a significant game for both sides in the battle for European qualification, with Motherwell fourth in the Scottish Premiership and Hibernian just two points behind in fifth.
The backdrop is properly competitive. Motherwell have 36 points from 21 games, Hibernian have 34 from 21. Both have 30-plus goals scored in the league, both have been winning regularly of late, and both carry enough identity in their football to make this more than a scrap for territory.
There’s a recent edge to the matchup too. Motherwell beat Hibernian 2–0 on 25 November 2025, and that sort of result doesn’t vanish just because a new weekend rolls around. Hibs, though, arrive with their own momentum at Easter Road, where they’ve won their last three Premiership home matches and scored two or more in each of those three.
So yes, it’s Saturday. Yes, it’s Easter Road. And yes, it looks like the kind of fixture that swings on one or two moments in the wide areas, a couple of decisions in midfield, and whether the finishing matches the chance creation.
Team News and Likely Set-Ups
Hibernian’s possible starting lineup is Sallinger; O’Hora, Hanley, Iredale; C. Cadden, Mulligan, Barlaser, McGrath; Hoilett; Youan, Klidje.
That reads like a back three in front of Raphael Sallinger, with Warren O’Hora, Grant Hanley and Jack Iredale set to handle the central defending. The midfield line looks built for balance: Josh Mulligan and Daniel Barlaser give structure and circulation, while Jamie McGrath offers goals and craft from deeper areas when required. With Chris Cadden and Junior Hoilett in the side, Hibs have natural width and a direct running option to stretch the pitch. Then you have Élie Youan and Thibault Klidje as a front two, with Hoilett sitting behind them to knit things together.
It’s a selection that leans into what Hibernian do well. They are very strong on the counter attack, very strong at finishing scoring chances, and strong at creating scoring chances. They also create chances using through balls and individual skill, which suits a setup with a clear front pairing and a link player operating between the lines.
Motherwell’s possible starting lineup is Ward; O’Donnell, McGinn, Welsh, Longelo; Priestman; Just, Fadinger, Slattery; Said, with the final attacking slot not named.
Even with that missing piece, the spine is clear. Calum Ward starts in goal. Stephen O’Donnell and Paul McGinn give experience in the defensive line, Stephen Welsh provides calm distribution from the back, and Emmanuel Longelo adds thrust from the left. In midfield, Lukas Fadinger and Oscar Priestman point to control and security, while Elijah Just and Callum Slattery bring forward-running and combination play. Ibrahim Said offers a direct wide threat from the left.
Motherwell’s identity is equally defined. They play possession football with short passes, they attack down the right, and they create chances using through balls. They are strong at finishing scoring chances and strong on the counter attack as well. The shape here looks designed to have Motherwell in the ball and Hibs ready to punch back.
How the Match Could Be Played
This game sets up as a contest between Motherwell’s control and Hibernian’s sharpness when the pitch opens.
Motherwell keep the ball more than most. Their Premiership possession sits at 58.9% with an 85.6% pass completion rate, and that combination measures both their willingness to take responsibility and their ability to connect phases without gifting cheap turnovers. When Motherwell settle into that rhythm, they squeeze opponents back, and their strongest chance-creation route comes through balls threaded into runners, either from central areas or from the right where they like to build.
Hibernian are not built to win a passing contest for its own sake. Their possession is 48.2% in the league with an 80.9% pass completion rate. That’s tidy, but it’s not an obsession. Hibs take a lot of shots, and they attack through the middle while also attacking down the left. In a 3-4-1-2 shape like the one their lineup suggests, that can mean quick vertical combinations into Youan and Klidje, with McGrath and Hoilett arriving to provide the final ball or the finish.
The pressing dynamic is fascinating because both teams are labelled non-aggressive, and both have opponents who play aggressively against them. That means the “pressure” moments tend to be selective rather than constant: a cue on a poor touch, a trap on a pass into midfield, a spring when a centre-half receives facing his own goal. In that sort of match, the first pass after the regain becomes huge.
Hibs are very strong on counter attacks and strong at creating chances using through balls. Motherwell are also strong on counter attacks and very strong at creating chances using through balls. That symmetry matters because it turns transitions into the game’s currency. When Motherwell commit bodies to possession phases, Hibs have the tools to break quickly through the centre. When Hibs push wing-backs high to join attacks, Motherwell have the patterns to find space on the right and hit runners early.
Wide areas look like the loudest battlefield. Hibernian are strong at attacking down the wings, yet weak at defending against attacks down the wings. Motherwell are strong at attacking down the wings too. Put those two together and you get a match that can swing on the quality of deliveries, the timing of overlaps, and how well the back three for Hibs slide across when the ball moves quickly from side to side.
Set pieces sit in an interesting place. Both sides are strong at defending set pieces, which raises the bar: deliveries need to be precise and second balls need to be attacked with conviction, because neither defence hands out cheap goals from dead balls as a habit.
There’s also the matter of game management. Hibernian are weak at protecting the lead. Motherwell are weak at protecting the lead as well, and they are weak at stopping opponents from creating chances. That combination makes late-game states dangerous. A one-goal cushion doesn’t feel like comfort; it feels like the start of a new problem.
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The Numbers That Support the Story
Start with the league output. Hibernian have scored 36 goals in 21 Premiership matches, while Motherwell have scored 30 in 21. That measures attacking productivity across a meaningful sample, and it matters because neither side arrives hoping to nick something; both have been producing chances and finishing enough of them to stay in the top five.
Shot volume backs that up. Hibs average 13.3 shots per match in the Premiership, Motherwell average 12.3. That tells you the ball spends a lot of time in dangerous zones for both sides. It also explains why this fixture can quickly turn into a sequence of “your turn, my turn” attacks if the midfield spacing loosens.
The passing and possession split is the clearest indicator of different approaches. Motherwell’s 58.9% possession and 85.6% pass completion rate measure control and technical security. Hibernian’s 48.2% possession and 80.9% pass completion measure a more direct balance: they can keep it, but they don’t need to keep it to hurt you.
Individual numbers illuminate the likely match-winners. Jamie McGrath has seven league goals and three assists, plus a 7.33 rating, which makes him the heartbeat of Hibs’ threat. Josh Mulligan has five assists from a deeper role, meaning Hibs can create from midfield rather than relying solely on the front two. Up top, Youan has four goals despite limited minutes, and Klidje has three, giving Hibs multiple finishing angles.
For Motherwell, Tawanda Maswanhise has nine league goals and a 7.00 rating, and Elijah Just has three goals and four assists, showing how often their attacks turn into end product from advanced midfield areas. Longelo has four league goals from the back line, which matters because it underlines how much Motherwell can threaten from wide support runs.
Then there’s the away wrinkle: Motherwell have not managed to score a goal in their three most recent away Premiership matches. That measures a short-term drop-off in away-day punch, and it matters because Hibs at Easter Road have been scoring freely at home.
Key “Moments” to Watch
Watch the first ten minutes for Motherwell’s ability to play their short passes under pressure. If Ward, Welsh and the back line get comfortable, Motherwell will move the ball into midfield and start aiming through balls into the channels. If Hibs disrupt that early, the match tilts towards transitions and counter attacks—an area where Hibernian are very strong.
Keep an eye on the right side of Motherwell’s attack. Their style leans that way, and Hibernian are weak defending against wing attacks. If Motherwell overload that flank and force Hibs’ back three to shift across repeatedly, spaces open elsewhere for runners arriving late.
At the other end, Hibernian’s finishing is the obvious threat. They are very strong at finishing scoring chances, and with Youan and Klidje both capable of scoring from limited minutes, they don’t need a flood of chances to land a punch. The key is whether Hoilett and McGrath can find the pockets to feed them quickly before Motherwell reset.
Then there’s the half-time battle. Motherwell have not been beaten at half time in their last 12 straight Premiership matches. That matters because it frames their resilience and structure: even when games get awkward, they stay alive.
What could go wrong with this read? The match could become more controlled and lower tempo than expected if both sides prioritise avoiding mistakes, especially with both teams labelled non-aggressive. A patient game with fewer transitions reduces the “chaos factor” and puts an even bigger premium on one moment of quality.
Best Bet for Hibernian vs Motherwell
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Under 2.5 Goals
Motherwell arrive at Easter Road with a defensive record that has become the benchmark for the division. They have kept eight clean sheets in their last nine league matches, a run that includes shutting out high-scoring opponents like Celtic and St Mirren in their most recent fixtures. This defensive solidity is not an accident; it is the result of a structured setup that prioritizes protection of the box and limits high-quality opportunities for opponents. When playing away from home, this approach becomes even more pronounced, as seen in their recent scoreless draws against Dundee United and Falkirk. Their ability to remain compact and disciplined for 90 minutes makes them one of the hardest teams to break down in Scotland.
Hibernian are in excellent scoring form at home, but they are coming up against a system specifically designed to nullify their strengths. While Hibs are very strong at finishing scoring chances and creating opportunities through individual skill, Motherwell are equally strong at defending set pieces and stopping the rhythm of the game. Motherwell have not been beaten at half time in any of their last 12 Premiership matches, suggesting they are experts at managing the early stages of games to prevent them from becoming expansive or high-scoring.
Furthermore, the history of this fixture earlier in the season saw a 2-0 victory for Motherwell, a game where the clinical edge was missing for the Edinburgh side. With both teams battling for European positions and separated by just two points, the tactical setup is likely to be cautious. Both managers are aware that a defeat would be significantly damaging to their top-four aspirations, which often leads to a more measured, low-risk approach in the middle third of the pitch. Motherwell have seen under 2.5 goals in seven of their last eight league outings, and their recent away form shows they have failed to score in their last three matches on the road. This combination of a resolute defense and a stuttering away attack points directly toward a low-scoring encounter.
What could go wrong?
Hibernian’s high shot volume—averaging 13.3 shots per match—always carries the risk of an early breakthrough that could force the game to open up. If the hosts find the net in the first fifteen minutes, Motherwell would be forced to abandon their defensive shape and commit more bodies forward, potentially leading to the type of transition-heavy game where Hibs thrive. Additionally, Hibernian are weak at protecting leads, meaning a 1-0 scoreline late in the game could easily invite a chaotic finish.
Correct score lean
0-0
Motherwell are the league’s clean-sheet specialists, having kept eight in their last nine games, but they are currently struggling for goals on their travels. They have failed to find the net in their three most recent away Premiership matches, often settling for disciplined draws. Hibernian, while potent at home, will find it difficult to pierce a backline that has conceded just once in over 800 minutes of football. Given both teams are labeled non-aggressive and the high stakes of the European race, a tactical stalemate where defenses dominate the attackers is the most logical outcome.
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