Hearts begin Champions League quest away to Sturm Graz
Hearts are in Graz for the first leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie against Sturm Graz, with debutants Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Calvin Miller starting under new boss Wouter Vrancken. Around 1,500 travelling fans are in Austria as the Tynecastle side chase a first European Cup path since 2006, with the return at Tynecastle next Tuesday.
Key Takeaways
- Hearts open Champions League qualifying away to Austrian runners-up Sturm Graz under new head coach Wouter Vrancken.
- Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Calvin Miller start; Harry Milne captains with Craig Halkett still injured.
- Winners face Fenerbahce or Gornik Zabrze next; losers drop into Europa League qualifying against St Gallen or Benfica.
- About 1,500 Hearts fans travelled; the club allocation is sold out and UK TV is on Premier Sports.
- Second leg is scheduled for Tynecastle next Tuesday.
Why does this Champions League night matter for Hearts?
This is Hearts' first Champions League qualifying campaign since 2006, when they beat Siroki Brijeg before falling to AEK Athens. Last season's runners-up finish in Scotland put them back on Europe's biggest stage after years of Europa and Conference League runs.
According to BBC Sport live coverage from Graz, progress here would write a new chapter after the title heartbreak at Celtic Park in May. Fail over two legs and the consolation is Europa League qualifying.
Sturm Graz finished second in Austria and featured in last season's Europa League, including games against Rangers and Celtic. For more oddball and viral sports briefs, see our Bizarre World hub.
Who starts for Hearts against Sturm Graz?
Vrancken named only two debutants despite a busy summer of arrivals. Fagan-Walcott partners Jamie McCart in central defence, while Miller joins Claudio Braga, Alexandros Kyziridis and Pierre Landry Kabore in attack.
Schwolow starts in goal behind Borchgrevink, Fagan-Walcott, McCart and Milne. Spittal and McEntee fill midfield. Substitutes include Fulton, Clark, Kingsley, Renaud, Findlay, Guendouz, Wilson, Magnusson, Altena, Kerjota and Ba-Sy.
Vrancken told BBC Scotland he is always confident with his XI and wants points and a strong result toward the second leg. He called Sturm a fast-forward side with heavy forward pressure and said Hearts must be ready from the first second.
Off the pitch, Hearts have agreed a deal for Forest Green Rovers captain Laurent Mendy, set to become their 10th summer signing.
Where can Hearts fans follow the Sturm Graz tie?
Kick-off is 20:30 local time (19:30 BST). Hearts say the away allocation is sold out and fans without tickets should not travel. Turnstiles open at 19:00 local; tram users should alight at Jauerburggasse for Sector 27.
Within the UK the match is on Premier Sports, not Hearts TV. BBC Sportsound commentary from Graz begins at 19:00 BST on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Scotland Extra.
Post-match shuttle buses will run back to the city centre. Searching is a condition of entry, and pyrotechnics and excess alcohol can lead to refusal or ejection.
What is at stake after tonight's first leg?
The second leg is at Tynecastle next Tuesday. The winners enter the third qualifying round against Fenerbahce or Gornik Zabrze. The losers drop into Europa League qualifying versus St Gallen or Benfica.
Racing Post previewers tipped Hearts to be competitive enough to frustrate Sturm Graz over the opening leg, noting a largely settled squad despite high-profile exits of Lawrence Shankland and Derek McInnes to Rangers.