Preview: Sturm Graz vs Hearts – prediction, team news, schedule

Austria’s Sturm Graz will welcome Hearts to the Merkur-Arena on Tuesday, where they will face the Scottish Premiership side in the first leg of their match. Champions League second qualifying round.

Die Schwoazn will be looking for a fourth win on the road this week, while the Jam Tarts are looking for a historic victory in Europe.

Game preview

Fabio Ingolitsch’s Sturm Graz secured a place in the second qualifying round after finishing second in the Austrian Bundesliga in 2025-26, and will be hoping to add to their upcoming league campaign with continental games.

Die Schwoazn are accustomed to playing in UEFA competitions, having appeared in the league or group stage of the Europa League or Champions League in the last five seasons.

With what’s happening in Europe, Ingolitsch’s side will go into Tuesday’s first leg as favourites, and after seeing their side lose just one of their last 20 games, fans will be optimistic.

Sturm Graz’s home campaign ended with a 2-0 win over Rapid Vienna back in mid-May, but have featured in six friendlies since then, losing once, drawing once and winning four.

Last Wednesday, Die Schwoazn beat Polish top-flight rivals Pogon Szczecin 1-0courtesy of the latest effort from Axel Kayombo.

The win marked the Ingolitsch boys’ third in a row, and fifth in seven home games, something that will please the manager, who told reporters that “Last season, we drew too many games at home.”

Meanwhile, Wouter Vrancken is expected to continue his Hearts career this week, with the first leg marking his opening match as manager.

The 47-year-old stepped into the Tynecastle dugout at the end of June after former manager Derek McInnes left to join Rangers, and he has big shoes to fill with the Jam Tarts coming within minutes of winning the Scottish Premiership title in 2025-26.

A win in Europe would be a solid foundation for the new coach to build on, especially as Tuesday’s game will be his side’s first Champions League qualifier for 20 years.

Ahead of the competition, Hearts took part in three pre-season friendlies, lost 2-1 to Livingston on July 10 before bouncing back with back-to-back victories.

At the last moment, Vrancken’s side got the better of it It won 2-1 against Rayo Vallecano of La Ligathanks to a first half brace from Amadou Ba-Sy.

However, it remains to be seen whether that success will translate into victory on the road in midweek, and fans will be wary after seeing the visitors lose five, draw two and win just two of their nine away games since the end of January.

Friendly form for Sturm Graz:

Heart friendship form:

Team News

© Consport / Ryan Fleming, Alamy Live News

Sturm Graz will be without 21-year-old striker Amady Camara for both legs of the clash, after the talented striker picked up a hamstring problem in training.

In his absence, expect to see Axel Kayombo and Seedy Jatta start up front, supported by defenders Jacob Hodl and Emran Soglo.

Even better, manager Ingolitsch said he hoped attacking midfielder Otar Kiteishvili – the man he described as the ‘heart and soul’ of his team – would be available.

As for Hearts, they will look to Portuguese striker Claudio Braga to lead the line on Tuesday, supported by attacking trio Alexandros Kyziridis, Sabri Guendouz and summer signing Calvin Miller.

Tom Renaud and Oisin McEntee are likely to operate in a pivot double at the base of Vrancken’s midfield, just in front of centre-backs Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Jamie McCart.

Sturm Graz starts with the lineup:

Khudyakov; Vallci, Mitchell, Koller; Hodl, Weinhandl, Gorenc Stankovic, Soglo; Kiteishvili; Kayombo, Jatta

Hearts of the first possible order:

Schwolow: Altena, Fagan-Walcott, McCart, Milne; McEntee, Renaud; Miller, Guendouz, Kyziridis; Braga

We say: Sturm Graz 1-1 Hearts

Sturm Graz will be confident going into this first leg, as they have more experience in Europe than their opponents, and are much stronger at home.

However, Hearts are sure to fight back considering the occasion, and the Scottish side will be cautiously optimistic after their performance at Rayo Vallecano last time out.

For data analysis of the most likely results, score lines and more for this game please click here.