Hearts and Hibs discover possible Champions League and Conference League opponents as big names await
Here’s who Hearts and Hibs may face in the next round of their respective European competitions.
Hearts and Hibs have discovered who they will face in the next phase of Champions League and Conference League qualifying if they progress out of second round ties.
Achieve victory against Sturm Graz on July 21 and July 28, and Hearts will take on Lyon (France), Bodo Glimt (Norway), Olympiacos (Greece) or the winner of Fenerbahce (Turkey) vs Gornik Zabre (Poland) in the next round of the Champions League. Lose, and the Europa League doesn’t come much easier, facing the winner of St Gallen (Switzerland) vs Benfica (Portugal), FC Twente (Netherlands) vs Ferencvaros (Hungary) or Qarabag (Azerbaijan) vs PFC CSKA Sofia (Bulgaria).
Hibs’ options are much more straightforward as they are win or bust against Kosovan side Malisheva. If they get through that tie, it’s the winner of NK Bravo (Slovenia) vs FC Noah (Armenia), Santa Colma (Andorra) vs Rapid Vienna (Austria), Rakow (Poland) vs Valletta FC (Malta), Rijeka (Croatia) vs Derry City (Ireland) or FC Polissya (Ukraine) vs Copenhagen (Denmark). Both Hearts and Hibs are unseeded in their sections.
Who are Hearts’ possible European opponents?
The Jambos face Sturm Graz on July 21 before the return leg at Tynecastle a week later. Austrian opposition will prove tricky to get past, but no matter what happens through the rest of qualification, win here and league phase football in the Conference as a minimum is secure. It gets particularly tough with the Champions League path presenting four sides with vast European experience.
Even in the Europa League, while a tie with Benfica would be one to savour, it’d make them underdogs in terms of progression. Logistically, fans may hope to avoid the possibility of a trip to Qarabag, not only for the sturdy side that would await them in such a clash. Flights can range from eight-11 hours depending on layovers and would be a gruelling match to throw into a busy start to the season.
Who are Hibs’ possible opponents?
Hibs begin their campaign in Kosovo 48 hours after Hearts get the ball rolling on Scottish teams in Europe this season. They are seeded at this stage, but the Hibees will be on their guard after Malisheva came into their first round tie with Albanian side Vilaznia slight underdogs, and thumped them 6-2 on aggregate. The searing heat will provide a challenge too but a positive scoreline brought back to Easter Road on July 30 should put Hibs in a good position.
The next round is fraught with difficult ties but it wasn’t the worst outcome. Motherwell are also in this draw and have Gent, Besiktas, FC Twente, Midtjylland, Ferencvaros as possibilites. A match-up with Copenhagen would be as tough as it gets on paper while others like Rijeka and Rapid Vienna have been pushed close by Scottish sides in recent years. Hibs themselves had matched Rijeka at Easter Road in a 1-1 draw before Darren McGregor’s red card proved costly in a 4-1 loss away from home.