Hearts will be looking to hit the ground running in this season’s Europa Conference League when they take on FC Nordsjaelland at Tynecastle on Thursday night.
Wouter Vrancken endured a baptism of fire as Hearts manager, with his side heavily beaten in both Champions League and Europa League qualifiers earlier this season.
However, Hearts showed plenty of fighting spirit to come through their Conference League qualifier with a penalty shootout success away to Rapid Vienna.
Since then, the Jambos have largely been on an upward trajectory and now sit third in the Scottish Premiership, having won all four of their home league games this season, including Saturday’s 5-0 win over St Mirren.
As for Nordsjaelland, they had to negotiate three qualifying rounds to reach the league phase, with Swiss side St Gallen their final hurdle.
Jens Olsen’s side sit fourth in the Danish top-flight and arrive in the Scottish capital after a goalless draw at home to Odense at the weekend.
How the bookies view it: No joy for Jambos
Despite winning all four of their Scottish Premiership home matches this season, Hearts are 23/10 outsiders with bet365, while the draw is priced at 11/4 with the same firm.
The bookmakers make Nordsjaelland favourites, with an away win available at 11/10 with bet365.
Head to head: History book blank
It will come as no surprise that Hearts and Nordsjaelland are set to meet for the first time on Thursday night.
Hearts last faced Danish opposition as recently as 2024, when they lost 2–0 away to FC Copenhagen in this competition.
Players to watch: McPake to make his mark?
Josh McPake continues to impress for Hearts, scoring one of their five goals against St Mirren on Saturday. The newly capped Scotland international looks good value at 2/1 with bet365 to score at any time.
Nordsjaelland will look to Alexander Lind for goals, with bet365 offering 7/5 on the striker to get on the scoresheet.
Predicted line-ups
Hearts will be unable to call upon the services of injured trio Blair Spittal, Craig Halkett and Tom Renaud, while Tomas Magnusson serves a suspension.
The visitors could be without Araphat Mohammed and Souleymane Alio, with both players doubtful.
Hearts: Reus; Altena, Fagan-Walcott, McCart, Milne; Ageu, Mendy; Miller, Braga, McPake; Wilson
Nordsjaelland: Hansen; Nelsson, Salquist, Markmann; Walker, Janssen, Rojkjaer, Norheim; Rasmussen, Berthelsen, Lind
Anything else catch the eye?
Given their strong home form this season, Hearts look worth siding with at a +0.75 start on the Asian handicap.
They have won all four of their top-flight games at Tynecastle and held Benfica to a draw there in a Europa League qualifier.
With Hearts averaging over six corners per game across all competitions this season, the hosts look worth backing to force at least five flag kicks at evens.
The combination of both teams to score and over 2.5 goals has landed in five of Hearts’ eight Scottish Premiership games this season, and a repeat here appeals at 4/5 with bet365.
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