Hearts' potential European opponents suffer surprise in Switzerland
Benfica lose to St Gallen in first leg in Switzerland
Hearts’ potential European opponents Benfica suffered a surprise defeat on Thursday evening in the second qualifying round of the Europa League.
The Portuguese giants are slated to come up against Hearts should the Jambos drop down from the Champions League qualifiers, which is looking likely after losing the first leg of their second round qualifier 4-0 against Sturm Graz on Tuesday.
However, Benfica suffered a poor result of their own after losing 2-1 to Swiss side St Gallen at Kybunpark and have work to do in the second leg at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon next week.
It was the first match for new Benfica boss Marco Silva, who joined from Fulham Athletic earlier this summer, and they put in an underwhelming performance in Switzerland.
St Gallen took the lead on 37 minutes through Aliou Balde, although Benfica responded just before half time when Rafa Silva levelled.
Benfica were not able to kick on in the second half and they were punished ten minutes from full-time when St Gallen defender Tom Gaal landed the winner for the hosts.
Benfica will still be favourites to progress with home advantage next Thursday, but they will need to improve on their performance in northern Switzerland.
Hearts are back in action on Tuesday when they welcome Sturm Graz to Tynecastle for the second leg of their Champions League qualifier. Should they perform a minor miracle and overturn the four-goal deficit, then they would progress into the third qualifying round at the Austrian side’s expense.
Either Turkish side Fenerbahce or Gornik Zabrze of Poland lie in wait in the next round of the Champions League. That tie is finely poised after Fenerbahce won 1-0 in Istanbul on Tuesday after an early goal by Talisca.
Hearts would be away from home first in either the Champions League or Europa League third qualifying round. The opening leg will be played over the week of August 3, with the second game on August 10.
Hearts are guaranteed at worst a Conference League play-off berth in this season’s European competitions.
Before facing Sturm Graz on Tuesday, Hearts are in action on Friday evening when head coach Wouter Vrancken takes his players to Kirkcaldy to face Raith Rovers in a friendly at Stark’s Park.
It will be an opportunity for the Belgian to get more minutes into his players ahead of the Sturm Graz match and the Premiership opener against Aberdeen a week on Saturday at Pittodrie.