Hearts drop down to Europa League

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Hearts 0 - 2 Sturm Graz (Sturm Graz won 6-0 on aggregate)

Hearts endured another painful night against Sturm Graz as their first Champions League campaign in two decades came to a swift and sobering end.

Author | Peter Grainger 

Stadium | Tynecastle

View from the stands at Hearts v Sturm Graz

Two second-half goals condemned Wouter Vrancken’s side to a 6-0 aggregate defeat against the slick Austrians in the second qualifying round, their heaviest loss over two legs in European competition.

Hearts now drop into the Europa League third qualifying round, where they will face either St Gallen or Benfica. The two sides meet in the second leg on Thursday, with St Gallen holding a 2-1 advantage.

It was a comfortable night for the Austrian side

With Sturm already four goals ahead from the first meeting, Seedy Jatta appeared to extinguish any lingering hopes of a Hearts revival after 25 minutes in Edinburgh. The forward was left unmarked in the six-yard box and tapped beyond Alexander Schwolow, only for the effort to be ruled out for a foul on Harry Milne.

Schwolow, making his final appearance for Hearts before joining Mainz, was called upon to make several fine saves during a first half in which the hosts struggled to create much of note.

Malachi Fagan-Walcott headed wide from a free-kick before Blair Spittal saw a shot from the edge of the area blocked. Spittal then sent another effort high over the crossbar from a similar position.

READ MORE | Champions League 2026/2027 news and stories

Hearts improved after the interval and came close to finding a way back into the contest when Oisin McEntee’s header was cleared off the line.

But Sturm finally delivered the decisive blow with 25 minutes remaining. Simon Seidl collected the ball just inside the area before firing an angled effort beyond Schwolow to put the tie beyond any doubt.

The visitors added another soon afterwards, cutting through the Hearts defence with a slick passing move. Emran Soglo’s initial effort was saved by Schwolow, but the rebound fell kindly for Sturm and was turned into the net.

Location: Tynecastle Park, McLeod St, Edinburgh EH11 2NL, UK

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