Hearts vs Sturm Graz Preview

Tuesday evening at Tynecastle Park sees Hearts face the near-impossible task of overturning a four-goal deficit against Sturm Graz in the second leg of this Champions League qualifying tie. The Austrian side were dominant in the first leg, winning 4-0 at home, and Hearts will need to produce one of the greatest comebacks in Scottish club history to progress. While the tie is effectively over as a contest, the Edinburgh side will be desperate to restore some pride at a packed Tynecastle and give their supporters a performance to remember.

Hearts’ pre-qualifying form was encouraging before the first leg dealt a heavy blow. Their most recent outing was a 1-0 win away to Raith in a friendly — a composed, professional performance that showed they are capable of controlling games and seeing them out. Prior to that, the 4-0 first-leg defeat away to Sturm Graz was a chastening night and their heaviest result of the pre-season period. Before that, a 2-1 home win over Rayo Vallecano was one of their better showings of the summer. Earlier in this run, a 2-1 win away to Arbroath and a 2-1 defeat away to Livingston. Braga and Spittal provide the creative spark, McCart and Fagan-Walcott have been reliable in defence, and Schwolow brings experience behind them. Hearts will need a big performance from every player on the pitch if they are to make any impact on the aggregate scoreline.

Sturm Graz arrive in Edinburgh with the tie already won and in outstanding form across the board — five wins from five, seventeen goals scored and just two conceded, including that emphatic 4-0 first-leg victory. Their most recent outing was a 3-0 win away to Seekirchen in the Austrian Cup. Prior to that, the commanding performance against Hearts, and before that consecutive home wins over Pogon Szczecin, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and Kalsdorf. The Austrian champions are a well-organised, high-pressing side with genuine quality across the pitch. Wlodarczyk leads the line with pace and directness, Weinhandl and Jatta provide width, and Mitchell and Vallci give them solidity across the defensive line. Sturm will not sit back — their style does not allow for it — but with a four-goal cushion they can afford to manage the game and avoid unnecessary risks.

The only known head-to-head meeting between these clubs is the first leg — Sturm Graz beat Hearts 4-0 at home in the qualifying first leg on 21st July 2026.

In Austria, the match is live on ORF eins and available to stream via ORF ON. In Germany and Switzerland, ORF eins also carries the game. In the United States, it is available on ESPN Select, fuboTV, and the ESPN App. Internationally, the match streams via Hearts TV.

Possible Lineups

Hearts (4-3-3) Schwolow, Borchrevink, Fagan-Walcott, McCart, Milne, Miller, Kaboré, McEntee, Braga, Spittal, Kyziridis

Sturm Graz (4-4-2) Khudyakov, Hödl, Mitchell, Stankovic, Vallci, Weinhandl, Jatta, Wlodarczyk, Seidl, Heil, Soglo

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Hearts — Last 5 Matches

Result	Home Team	Score	Away Team	Competition	Date
✅	Raith	0–1	Hearts	Friendly	24/07/26
❌	Sturm Graz	4–0	Hearts	Champions League Qualifying	21/07/26
✅	Hearts	2–1	Rayo Vallecano	Friendly	17/07/26
✅	Arbroath	1–2	Hearts	Friendly	14/07/26
❌	Livingston	2–1	Hearts	Friendly	10/07/26

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Sturm Graz — Last 5 Matches

Result	Home Team	Score	Away Team	Competition	Date
✅	Seekirchen	0–3	Sturm Graz	Austrian Cup	24/07/26
✅	Sturm Graz	4–0	Hearts	Champions League Qualifying	21/07/26
✅	Sturm Graz	1–0	Pogon Szczecin	Friendly	15/07/26
✅	Sturm Graz	5–1	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	Friendly	11/07/26
✅	Sturm Graz	4–1	Kalsdorf	Friendly	08/07/26

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Head-to-Head

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Competition	Date
Sturm Graz	4–0	Hearts	Champions League Qualifying	21/07/26

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TV Listings / Streaming

Country	Channel
Austria	ORF eins, ORF ON
Germany	ORF eins
Switzerland	ORF eins, Sunrise TV
USA	ESPN Select, fuboTV, ESPN App
Brazil	Claro TV+, Sky+, Vivo Play, Xsports
Slovakia	Arena Sport 1 Slovakia
International	Hearts TV