How to watch Hearts and Hibs European third round qualifier draws as possible opponents to be named
Here’s the type of challenges that could await Hearts and Hibs in the next round of European competition.
Hearts and Hibs are about to find out who comes next if they are to progress in the Champions League and Conference League.
The Jambos travel to Austria for a second round qualifier first leg at Europe’s top table versus Sturm Graz. That takes place on July 21 and the second leg at Tynecastle is a week later to see who progresses to some tasty ties in the third qualifying round. A loss though will drop them into the Europa League and it doesn’t get much easier there.
Hibs are in Kosovo as a seeded outfit to face Malisheva on July 23 and the scenario is much more simple. It’s win or bust as David Gray’s side face a tough test in the next round where they would turn into an unseeded outfit, their second leg being on July 30. These draws are available to watch and here’s all you need to know.
When are the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League third round qualifying draws?
The Champions League, Europa League and Conference League third round qualifying draws take place on Monday, July 20. It begins with the Champions League at 11am and works through to the Europe at noon and Conference at 1pm. The draws take place in Nyon, Switzerland.
Can I watch Champions League, Europa League and Conference League third round qualifying draws?
Yes. They are not broadcast on TV but can be streamed via the UEFA website or their YouTube channel.
Who could Hearts and Hibs face in Champions League and Conference League qualifying?
Seedings, groupings and the procedure will not be totally finalised until 8:30am on the morning of the draw. Looking at who Hearts could play in the event of a win against Sturm Graz, whoever comes out this tie, they are likely to be unseeded. It means Hearts could face Lyon, Bodo/Glimt, Olympiacos or Fenerbahce in the next round of the competition.
Hibs would also likely be unseeded if they are to get through their tie with Malisheva. Braga, Ajax and Copenhagen are the type of clubs that could await in the third round if they make it.
What have Wouter Vrancken and David Gray said ahead of Hearts and Hibs’ European ties?
Vrancken said: “For sure you want to see some guys standing up and taking responsibility and showing themselves. We need more players than 11 players to play all those games. For sure, I like it like this. We have watched Sturm Graz already for a few weeks, of course. Not only the friendlies, it's always been Sturm Graz also, to analyse them and to speak about them. It's going to be long days. Saturday was a free day for the players, but not for the staff.”
Gray commented “Everything you do in pre-season is all geared up to try and give you the best chance to be as strong as you can on that first competitive game. We've got a real difficult task ahead of us, but one that is the rewards for everything we earned last season, and we want to go and make sure we give a real good account of ourselves, and that starts on Thursday.”