- Hearts are unbeaten in 4 at home across all competitions (W4, L0), conceding just 0.75 goals per game.
- SK Sturm Graz are unbeaten in 2 away across all competitions (W1, D1), conceding just 3.00 goals.
- Hearts are slight favourites with the bookies (49/50) for Tuesday's game, with Sturm Graz 12/5 and the draw 3/1.
Home advantage gives Jambos the edge
With the home advantage this time around, Hearts Of Midlothian are given the slight edge by the bookmakers for this UEFA Champions League Qualification game, but SK Sturm Graz are a real live threat to the Jambos' ambitions on Tuesday.
Sturm Graz are in better form (W4, D1) than Hearts (W2, L3) across the last 5 games and were thoroughly dominant in the reverse fixture last time out, romping to a 4-0 victory at home to the Edinburgh side. They are also in much better form across all competitions, with 7 wins, 2 draws and just 1 defeat from the last 10.
Wouter Vrancken's Hearts have adopted a 4-2-3-1 system at the club, with man-oriented high pressing and a rapid vertical style of play. It is an attack-minded system that can yield results on the counter, but it also allows teams to hurt them if they are not at the top of their game.
SK Sturm Graz are well drilled
Fabio Ingolitsch has the Austrian Bundesliga side set up in a much more compact system, with an abundance of central concentration and some solid pressing work. They are tidy in transition and can hurt Hearts, as we saw last time out.
A clash of these two systems should make for a very interesting chess match on Tuesday, with the Jambos keen to press high and get the ball back quickly while Sturm Graz will look to stay compact and punish the spaces they force.
Hearts have enough to get the job done
While we cannot ignore the 4-0 thumping that Hearts received at the weekend, we're leaning towards the hosts to edge this one out given their home form. They are currently unbeaten in 4 at Tynecastle Park, conceding just 0.75 goals, so the home ground gives them every chance of at least holding the Austrians at bay.
Amadou Ba-Sy has been a bright spot for Hearts in the latter stages of this season, bagging 2 of their 6 goals across the last 5 matches. Jeyland Mitchell will be Sturm Graz's main goal threat, the Austrian forward having netted 1 time in 1 UEFA Champions League Qualification appearance to date.
Overall, this is likely to be a tight and lively contest, and the odds are right for the overs. Over 2.5 comes in at 13/20, and Both Teams To Score - Yes at 3/5 appeals just as much.
