Hearts v Viktoria Plzen: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Hearts will continue to be involved in European competition this season, but they need to overturn a one-goal deficit when they face Viktoria Plzen to remain in the Europa League.

The Scottish Premiership side are yet to win in five attempts across all competitions this season and they need to end that run when they entertain Plzen, otherwise they will end up in the Conference League league phase.

Hearts v Viktoria Plzen betting tips and predictions

Viktoria Plzen to win - 1/1

Hearts made a decent start to the season as they held Rangers to a goalless draw in Edinburgh, but that has been the only highlight so far.

The Jambos have lost all four of their games since that stalemate and have scored just twice, conceding nine goals themselves.

Steven Naismith’s side did compete well in Plzen and are still very much in this tie, but they did largely struggle to create chances and only two of the eight attempts they did manage were on target.

The visitors do have a few injury worries and have lost star defender Robin Hranac to Hoffenheim since the first leg, so Hearts have a chance here, but when examining the form of the two teams the visitors clearly appear the more likely victors.

The Czech outfit are unbeaten after eight games this season in all competitions and they’ve won seven of those.

Plzen have only conceded two goals in total and they’ve gone four games without being breached, so this looks a tall order for a Hearts side who have struggled in front of goal.

A draw would be enough for the visitors to secure their Europa League spot, but they should get a few chances on the break as Hearts will have to commit bodies forward and take a few risks at some stage, so backing Plzen to finish the job by winning the game appeals.

Daniel Vasulin to score anytime - 11/5

Plzen’s goal in the first leg came courtesy of an incredibly late Daniel Oyegoke own goal, but one of their own players may be able to get on the scoresheet at Tynecastle.

Forward Daniel Vasulin scored in both legs in the previous round for Viktoria against Ukrainian outfit Kryvbas, making him the visitors’ top scorer in the competition.

Vasulin has three goals in his last five appearances in all competitions and at 11/5 stands out among the Plzen side as a potential anytime scorer.

Gerald Taylor to be booked - 7/2

Milan Havel and Pavel Sulc combined well on the left for Plzen in the first leg and that resulted in bookings for Hearts pair Cameron Devlin and Kenneth Vargas in the Czech Republic.

Hearts will focus on the duo in this return leg and that may put a bit of pressure on Costa Rican right-back Gerald Taylor, so he is an interesting value pick to be booked at 7/2.

The 23-year-old has made a bright start to his time in Scotland after arriving on loan from Deportivo Saprissa, but has picked up a couple of yellow cards, with two bookings in his last four appearances.

Taylor will be tasked with keeping tabs on Havel and Sulc at various stages on Thursday and that may well see him end up in the referee’s notebook.

Read more football betting tips and predictions on site

Hearts v Viktoria Plzen odds

Hearts - 27/10
Draw - 5/2
Viktoria Plzeň - 1/1

View the full market and more odds for Hearts v Viktoria Plzen on site

Read Hearts v Viktoria Plzen how to watch, TV channel, head-to-head stats, team news and more on site

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.