Twelve months ago, Hibs lost to Kelty Hearts in the group stages of the League Cup.
Tonight they returned to European football in Denmark and came away with a respectable 1-1 draw against a strong FC Midtjylland side.
Head Coach David Gray selected Jordan Smith in goal behind a back-three of Warren O’Hora, Rocky Bushiri and Jack Iredale.
Chris Cadden started on the right-hand side with Jordan Obita occupying the left flank.
In midfield, there are competitive debuts for both Josh Mulligan and Jamie McGrath who were joined in the middle of the pitch by Dylan Levitt.
Up front, Martin Boyle starred alongside Kieron Bowie.
New signing Thibault Klidjé was named on the bench alongside Junior Hoilett and Elie Youan.
Also on the bench were goalkeepers Raphael Sallinger and Murray Johnson, Marvin Ekpiteta, Kanayo Megwa, Nicky Cadden, Alasana Manneh, Josh Campbell and Jacob MacIntyre.
Hibs started on the front foot and Boyle went close with a free-header from Levitt’s cross but his effort went just wide.
Hibs opened the scoring on the 6th minute. McGrath was fouled on the left wing and took the free-kick himself.
Goalkeeper Jonas Lossl was expecting a cross but instead McGrath perfectly curled the ball into the near post and the keeper was unable to claw the ball off the line.
The goal sparked wild scenes amongst the travelling supporters at the other end of the pitch.
Midtjylland then started to exert a bit of pressure in response to that early blow and the Hibs defence had to deal with a number of long throws and corners.
A cool bit of defending by Iredale denied Adam Buksa then the Poland striker got his head to a free-kick into the penalty box but his looping header found the top of the net.
At the other end a slack clearance under pressure landed at the feet of Bowie but his effort was blocked.
Guinea-Bissau forward Franculino Dju then went close with a powerful strike on the break from the edge of the penalty box.
Bowie then fired over the crossbar from 22 yards.
Boyle thought he had doubled Hibs advantage just before the break, but the offside flag went up and the decision was confirmed by a VAR check.
The hosts started the second half on the front foot and Colombia Under-21 midfielder Pedro Bravo, tested Smith who did well to hold his effort.
At the other end Mulligan’s powerful drive was well saved by Lossl.
On the hour mark Campbell replaced Bowie.
The home side equalised in the 71st minute with a superb free-kick from Aral Simsir which beats Smith at his front post.
With 10-minutes remaining Smith produced a tremendous point blank save to deny Kevin Mbabu.
Gray brought on veteran forward Hoilett, defender Megwa and midfielder Manneh came on for Hibs replacing McGrath, Cadden and Levitt.
Then Boyle was replaced by Klidje.
Obita and Manneh were booked for desperate challenges as Hibs fought for every ball.
Mads Bech Sorensen and O’Hora were then booked following a shoving match in the box.
Five minutes added time was awarded and Hibs finished the stronger but were unable to regain the lead.
The fans celebrated at full time singing their version of the old KC and the Sunshine Band hit, ’That’s The Way I Like It’
The second leg takes place at Easter Road next Thursday.
The winners will face a third qualifying round tie in the Europa League against Fredrikstad of Norway.
However, should they lose, Hibs will face one of two sides who finished runners-up in their domestic league – Oleksandriya or Partizan Belgrade – in the same stage of the Conference League.
Partizan won their first leg 2-0 against their Ukrainian hosts so they are likely to be the opponents.
