Hearts begin their first year of European group-stage football for 18 years with a home fixture against Istanbul Basaksehir in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night.
At a time when Hearts sit in fourth position in the Scottish Premiership table, the visitors are eighth in Turkey's equivalent, albeit having played a game fewer than many of the teams above them.
Match preview
© Reuters
On the back of last season's third-placed finish in the Scottish Premiership, Hearts secured a spot in the Europa League playoff round, ensuring that they would enjoy a prolonged spell of continental football during 2022-23.
Robbie Neilson and his squad would have preferred a longer stay in the Europa League rather than losing out to Swiss champions FC Zurich.
Nevertheless, the Edinburgh-based outfit have at least been provided with a group in the Europa Conference League which provides prestige and winnable matches.
The meeting with Istanbul is somewhere in the middle, the two games with the Turkish giants likely to prove pivotal when it comes to qualification for the knockout stages.
However, Hearts have produced a poor run of form of late, losing five of their most recent six games in all competitions, although it should be noted that three of those fixtures were against FC Zurich or Celtic.
Still, three of their four goals during that run came at home to struggling St Johnstone, and Neilson knows that his players must raise their performance level on Thursday night.
In sharp contrast, Istanbul have been outstanding this season, putting together a 10-match unbeaten streak in all competitions.
Emre Belozoglu has had a remarkable impact, posting 24 wins and just five defeats in 41 games since last October, and there is a feeling that they can challenge for the Super Lig title.
The Grey Owls are also yet to concede a goal in Turkey's top flight, highlighting the size of the task awaiting Hearts at Tynecastle.
- L
- L
- L
- W
- L
- L
- D
- W
- W
- W
- D
- W
- W
- D
- D
- W
- W
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Hearts will be without Jorge Grant after he was dismissed for two yellow cards during the second leg against FC Zurich.
Peter Haring is in line to come into the side with Neilson potentially wanting to add a further defensive option in the middle of the pitch.
Lawrence Shankland should return to the attack, while Alan Forrest may also be considered for a recall in a creative role.
Belozoglu could stick with the same Istanbul XI which started the fixture against Alanyaspor on Saturday evening.
Despite scoring as a substitute, Philippe Keny is expected to remain among the replacements, as his new arrival Bertrand Traore.
Hearts possible starting lineup:
Gordon; Sibbick, Neilson, Kingsley, Cochrane; Devlin, Haring, Halliday; McKay, Shankland, Mackay-Steven
Istanbul Basaksehir possible starting lineup:
Babacan; Caicara, Duarte, Ndayishimiye, Lima; Tekdemir, Biglia, Ozcan; Gurler, Okaka, Chouiar
We say: Hearts 0-2 Istanbul Basaksehir
Having been drawn in a difficult group, Hearts must take advantage of their home fixtures if they want to have a realistic chance of progression. However, they are probably facing Istanbul at the wrong time, and we feel that the visitors will prevail in comfortable fashion.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
