Hearts have discovered who the next potential European opponents could be following today’s Europa League and Conference League play-off draws.
The Jambos meet Portuguese giants Benfica over two legs, with the first taking place in Lisbon this Thursday.
Regardless of the result, a play-off match for a shot at League Phase football awaits, with the winner of Hearts/Benfica remaining in the Europa League while the loser moves into the Conference League.
The Europa League play-off throws up either AGF Aarhus of Denmark or Sabah FC of Azerbaijan.
Aarhus are the reigning champions of Denmark, winning the league by seven points. Like Hearts they entered the Champions League at Q2, where they beat Polish side Lech Poznan on penalties to advance to Q3.
They take on Sabah, who won their first Azerbaijan Premier League title last season. They saw off KuPS of Finland in Q2, and the loser of this tie will move into the Europa League to face either Hearts or Benfica.
Should the Jambos lose to Benfica then the Conference League play-off and either Estonians Paide Linnameeskond or Rapid Vienna of Austria await.
Paide finished fourth in last season’s Meistriliiga to bag a Conference League Q1 spot. So far they have beaten Hegelmann of Lithuania and Azerbaijanis Zira to reach Q3.
It’s in Q3 they meet Rapid Vienna. The Austrians finished ffith in the league and won a European play-off to enter Conference League in Q2, where they saw off Santa Coloma of Andorra to reach this stage, where the winners of this tie will meet the losers of Hearts and Benfica.
Hearts have been drawn at home first in both competitions with ties due to be played on August 20th and August 27th. Fans are encouraged not to book travel until fixture details are confirmed.
