Hearts vs Sturm prediction: expert analysis, possible lineups, July 28, 2026
Champions League
In the quarterfinals of the Champions League qualification on July 28, 2026, the second leg between Hearts and Sturm will take place. The visiting team has already all but secured a place in the next round.
Hearts vs Sturm: Team news and expert analysis
The club from Edinburgh surprised everyone last season after a long period of stagnation. They fell just one match short of an impressive triumph. Having led the Premiership for a long time, the players conceded the lead to Celtic in the final round, handing them the top spot in the end. Still, finishing as runners-up was an unexpected leap forward.
The team from Graz broke Red Bull Salzburg's dominance in 2024, becoming champions. They went on to win the local Bundesliga again a year later. However, in the spring, LASK collected two more points, pushing Sturm into second place. Recently, they played a cup match against modest Seerkirchen, achieving a 3-0 victory.
In Austria, the hosts scored the first goal as early as the fourth minute. At the start of the second half, they netted three more times, securing a decisive lead by the hour mark. From the 59th minute, the score remained at 4-0.
Previous matches: Hearts vs Sturm
This is the first ever encounter between these two clubs.
The Scots are expected to "go out with a bang" by winning. But they can play with nothing to lose—so we expect "over 2.5 goals" (odds – 1.60).
Hearts vs Sturm: Key statistics and trends
- Hearts have won three of their last four matches
- The club scored an average of 1.76 goals per match, conceding only 0.89
- Sturm have won five matches in a row
- The team averaged 1.59 goals scored and 1.09 conceded
Hearts vs Sturm: Probable starting lineups
Hearts use a 1-4-2-3-1 system (probable lineup): Schwolow - Milne, McCart, Fagan-Walcott, Borchgrevink - McEntee, Spittal - Kiziridis, Claudio Braga, Miller - Kabore
Sturm play in a 1-4-4-2 formation (probable lineup): Khudyakov - Soglo, Mitchell, Fallci, Heil - Hedl, Weinhadl, Gorenc-Stankovic, Seidl - Jatta, Wlodarczyk
Follow the Champions League qualification table and keep track of your team's form before placing a bet on the next match.
