Hearts have reached the league phase of the UEFA Conference League and they will open with a Tynecastle test against Danish side Nordsjaelland on Thursday.
The Jambos were impressive 5-0 winners over St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership at the weekend and they will hope to take that momentum into this European fixture.
Hearts v Nordsjaelland Tips Summary
Best Bet - Hearts to win @ 19/10
Alternative Bet - Justin Janssen to be booked @ 11/4
Bet Builder - Hearts to win, Over 2 goals & Claudio Braga to score anytime @ 5/1
Hearts v Nordsjaelland Prediction
Best Bet: Hearts to win @ 19/10
Hearts almost fell into the league phase of the Conference League apologetically after dropping out of first the UEFA Champions League and then the Europa League, before edging past Rapid Vienna on penalties in the play-off round of this competition.
It was certainly a far from ideal start for head coach Wouter Vrancken, who succeeded Derek McInnes in the Tynecastle dugout over the summer, but results and performances have started to turn around over recent weeks.
The Edinburgh outfit have won five of their last seven games, including last Saturday's five-star showing against the Buddies.
The Jambos hit 18 efforts on goal and recorded expected goal figures of 3.43 in that 5-0 success, statistics that further underline their improvement.
Hearts are also unbeaten in their last seven Tynecastle contests, which includes European matches against Benfica and Rapid Vienna.
Nordsjaelland were held to a 0-0 draw by OB at Right to Dream Park last week, and while they were the better side for much of that contest, the stalemate followed a 4-1 loss at Viborg.
Jens Fonsskov Olsen's side conceded 20 efforts on goal and an xG of 2.60 at Viborg and they have won only one of their last four away matches.
That was a 3-0 victory over lower-league opposition in the Danish Cup and the success against Vatanspor is not enough to inspire confidence ahead of their trip to Tynecastle.
Alternative Bet: Justin Janssen to be booked @ 11/4
Nordsjaelland top the possession stats in this season’s Danish Superliga, but their 10.7 fouls per game are fairly high for a side controlling play and challenging at the top of the division.
The Tigers have been shown 19 yellow cards in 10 league matches and midfielder Justin Janssen has been booked three times.
It is likely that Nordsjaelland will have plenty of defensive work to get through at Tynecastle and Janssen could catch the attention of the referee.
The 20-year-old is averaging 3.2 fouls per league contest this term and no Nordsjaelland player is topping that number.
Hearts v Nordsjaelland Bet Builder Tip
Hearts to win
Over 2 goals
Claudio Braga to score anytime
Pays 5/1
Hearts have won five of their last seven home matches and even draws against Benfica and Rapid Vienna suggest that the Jambos are overpriced to beat Nordsjaelland at Tynecastle.
Vrancken's side have seen at least three goals scored in nine of their last 10 matches and there have been 23 strikes in their last five games at their Edinburgh base.
Nordsjaelland have seen the net bulge 19 times in their last five away matches and there should be goals on Thursday night.
Claudio Braga has scored three Scottish Premiership goals this season and the 26-year-old carries a major attacking threat.
The Portuguese forward is top of Hearts' expected goals figures and he is averaging 4.40 shots per 90 minutes in the Scottish top flight.
Braga is fancied to find the net at Tynecastle.
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Key Match Stats
Hearts have lost only one of their last 12 matches
Hearts have won five of their last seven home games
Nine of Hearts' last 10 games have gone over 2.5 goals
Nordsjaelland have won only one of their last four away games
Claudio Braga is averaging 4.40 shots per 90 minutes in the Scottish Premiership this season
There have been 19 goals in Nordsjaelland’s last five away matches
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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.
