Hearts open their UEFA Europa Conference League campaign after a five-star performance in the William Hill Premiership, a display which must have registered with their opponents in Thursday’s clash at Tynecastle.
FC Nordsjaelland jet into Scotland’s Capital after taking a point in a no-score draw with OB on Friday, October 9, a side who currently sit ninth in the 12-strong Superliga.
Hearts’ opponents are fourth with 18 points from ten fixtures and they are six adrift of pace-setting Copenhagen. They have won only one of their last five games, drawing two and losing the others.
So far, they have netted only 14 goals, the lowest number posted by any team in the top seven in their division. Their defence has been solid as Nordsjaelland have only let in ten, the same as Copenhagen, who beat them 2-0 in early September, and second-placed Midtylland, who were held 2-2 by Nordsjaelland, four days later.
Only Viborg, who are third, and a side who whipped Nordsjaelland 4-1 in late September, have a meaner rearguard as they have let in eight.
There are a number of Danes in the squad but players have also been recruited from Finland, Ghana, Norway, Egypt, Mali and even England with 19-year-old Daniel Johannesson featuring among the squad’s forwards.
They qualified to meet Hearts by beating Swiss side, St Gallen, 1-0 in Denmark and 3-2 away for a 4-2 aggregate.
Hearts edged Rapid Vienna to qualify, the tie going to penalties on a never-to-be-forgotten night in Austria, after the sides were locked at 4-4 after the final whistle in the return leg. The Jambos held their nerve to win 4-3 on penalties.
Meanwhile, spirits were high during training at wind-swept and decidedly chilly Riccarton on Wednesday, and no wonder after the 5-0 thrashing of St Mirren before an ecstatic home crowd on Saturday.
Calvin Miller lead the way with two penalties, either side of the break, and Laurent Mendy, Claudio Braga and Josh McPake also shared the limelight.
Wouter Vrancken’s men are currently third in the 12-strong William Hill Premiership with 16 points from eight starts, a record which shows five wins, a draw and two defeats. Hearts are five points adrift of pace-setting Celtic with Rangers in second spot with 19 points.
Hearts currently top the league scoring charts with 19, that three ahead of Celtic and eight in front of Rangers, but the Jambos have, however, conceded 11 goals.
Kick-off is at 20.00 and, if you don’t have a ticket, the match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 4. The fixture is also on HBO Max and a Polish team will be in charge of officiating.
Belgian-born Vrancken (pictured) acknowledged that their rivals are a good side, but stressed that Hearts have fought hard to reach this stage. He added: “We have to believe and we have to be brave.”
He desperately wants the Men in Maroon to make their mark on the European stage this season and the team will be cheered on by a packed house at atmospheric Tynecastle.
The Jambos recent record in Europe does show five home matches without a win, but Hearts are determined to claim three points but Nordsjaelland travel with an encouraging recent Euro record of only one defeat in five major European fixtures.
William Hill confirmed that the betting market expects a tight game with Hearts 19/10 and punters can back the Danish side at 6/5 with the company to take the three points.
The odds are, of course, subject to change, but were at those numbers when this report was published.
FOCUSED: New Scotland international, Josh McPake, in training ahead of Hearts’ Euro tie. Picture Nigel Duncan
EURO BOUND: Tomas Magnusson (left), Jamie McCart (centre) and Calvin Miller. Picture Nigel Duncan
INTENSE: Claudio Braga during training at The Orium. Picture Nigel Duncan
