UEFA Champions League Qualifying Round 2
Sturm Graz 4 - 0 FT Heart Of Midlothian
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Futmetrix Verdict
100
FT
Sun, Oct 25
Barcelona
1-2
Real Madrid
⚡ Intensity
68
⚖️ Balance
42
🏆 Stakes
100
🎲 Upset
60
Mbappé breaks El Clásico late
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
4' J. Gorenc Stankovic (J. Mitchell)
38' Sturm Graz
HT
46' ↓ S. Seidl ↑O. Kiteishvili
Oisin McEntee 47'
50' J. Mitchell (O. Kiteishvili)
53' L. Weinhandl (J. Hodl)
59' J. Heil (L. Weinhandl)
↓ P. Kabore ↑A. Ba-Sy 59'
↓ A. Kyziridis ↑S. Guendouz 59'
↓ C. Miller ↑S. Kerjota 59'
70' ↓ J. Hodl ↑R. Fosso
70' ↓ S. Jatta ↑N. Weiper
70' ↓ S. Wlodarczyk ↑A. Kayombo
↓ B. Spittal ↑T. Renaud 75'
79' ↓ E. Soglo ↑A. Malic
↓ O. McEntee ↑T. Magnusson 84'
Amadou Ba-Sy 86'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Sturm Graz
Goalkeepers
Daniil Khudyakov 
OCTOPUS
6
Saves
6
Saves
0
Conceded
100%
Save %
Defenders
Jürgen Heil 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Albert Vallci 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
40%
Duel Win %
Jeyland Mitchell 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
1
Assists
13%
Pass Acc
Emran Soglo
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
17%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Simon Seidl 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Jon Gorenc Stankovič 
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
0
Contribution
0
Contribution
7.9
Rating
Yes
Captain
Luca Weinhandl
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Jacob Hödl
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
1
Assists
11%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Szymon Włodarczyk
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
Seedy Jatta
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
70
Entry
BENCH
Ammar Helac 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Elias Lorenz
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Petar Petrovic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Paul-Friedrich Koller
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gabriel Haider
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Arjan Malic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Otar Kiteishvili 
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
45
Minutes
8
Rating
Gizo Mamageishvili
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryan Fosso
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Belmin Beganović
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nelson Weiper
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Axel Kayombo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Heart Of Midlothian
Goalkeepers
Alexander Schwolow 
SIEVE
33%
Save %
33%
Save %
4
Conceded
2
Saves
Defenders
Christian Borchgrevink 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Malachi Fagan-Walcott 
SWEEPER
4
Cleanups
4
Cleanups
2
Interceptions
2
Blocks
Jamie McCart 
MAGNET
68
Activity
68
Activity
55
Passes
13
Duels
Harry Milne
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
45%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
Blair Spittal
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
75
Total Mins
75
Entry
Oisin McEntee
LATE SHIFT
6
Late Mins
6
Late Mins
84
Total Mins
84
Entry
Calvin Miller
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
59
Total Mins
59
Entry
Cláudio Braga 
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
10
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Alexandros Kyziridis
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Forwards
Landry Kabore
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
59
Total Mins
59
Entry
BENCH
Ryan Fulton
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Alexander Clark
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Stephen Kingsley
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Stuart Findlay
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jordi Altena
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tómas Magnússon
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
3
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Tom Renaud
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sabah Kerjota
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
31
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Amadou Ba-Sy
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
31
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Severin Guendouz
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
21%
Pass Acc
James Wilson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/21/2026 | Sturm Graz | 4 - 0 | Heart Of Midlothian | UEFA Champions League | Merkur-Arena |
07/21/2026
Sturm Graz Win
Heart Of Midlothian Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Sturm Graz
Heart Of Midlothian
Sturm Graz
Heart Of Midlothian
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Ruthless Sturm Graz Dismantle Hearts in Champions League Qualifier
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 33/100. A counter-attacking masterclass saw the Austrian side punish Scottish inefficiency to take a commanding grip on this qualifying tie.
The Early Barrage
The Champions League qualifying phase is notoriously unforgiving, and the high Stakes at Merkur-Arena dictated a fascinating tactical clash from the opening whistle. The visitors from Scotland arrived with clear intent, as Heart Of Midlothian dominated possession early on. Holding a staggering 67% of the ball, the Edinburgh outfit pushed forward aggressively, pinning their Austrian hosts back. A sustained wave of set-piece pressure resulted in 12 corners for the visitors, turning the penalty area into a battleground. Striker Lawrence Shankland tried to find spaces within the crowded defensive lines, but the early Scottish enthusiasm yielded no tangible reward. Instead of panicking, the home side absorbed the pressure, maintaining a solid shape and waiting for the inevitable gaps to appear behind the advanced Scottish full-backs.
The Tactical Pivot
The match hinged entirely on a dramatic contrast in tactical efficiency. While the Scottish side monopolised the ball, it was Sturm Graz who showcased ruthless precision on the transition. Operating with just 33% possession, the Austrians orchestrated a counter-attacking masterclass. The Intensity of the encounter was off the charts, with a combined 28 shots turning the pitch into an open shootout. Mika Biereth served as a constant menace on the break, punishing the visitors' high line. The home side generated 5 big chances from just 15 total shots, illustrating their clinical nature in the final third. Every time the Scottish side lost possession in midfield, the Austrians surged forward with devastating speed, bypassing the midfield completely and leaving the tracking defenders scrambling in their wake to deal with the overloads.
The Austrian Avalanche
Ultimately, the 4-0 scoreline paints a brutal picture of the margins in European football. Despite racking up 13 shots, the visitors could not find a way past an inspired goalkeeper, as the home shot-stopper produced 6 crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet. This exceptional display of goalkeeping heroics entirely neutralized the Scottish side's 1.68 expected goals. The heavy defeat leaves the Edinburgh club needing a miracle in the return leg, effectively erasing any potential Upset narrative before the second match even begins. The Austrians exit the Merkur-Arena knowing their surgical efficiency has all but secured their passage to the next round, having delivered a masterclass in how to win comfortably without dominating the ball.
Key Questions
Why did Heart of Midlothian lose despite 67% possession?
They failed to convert 13 shots and 12 corners into goals, while the hosts were devastatingly lethal on the counter-attack.
How many saves were made in the match?
Goalkeepers made 8 saves combined, with the Sturm Graz keeper proving crucial by denying the Scottish side with 6 stops.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
Austrian Power vs Scottish Grit in Early Qualifier
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 26/100. A heavily lopsided qualifying tie that likely ends Hearts' Champions League dreams before they even begin.
The Setup
European football returns to the Merkur-Arena on July 21, 2026, as Sturm Graz host Heart Of Midlothian in the 2nd Qualifying Round. The Austrians enter this fixture as monumental favorites. A dismal Form rating for both sides suggests early-season rust, but Sturm Graz possess the clear pedigree advantage. The Scottish side travels hoping for a miracle, yet a highly skewed Balance evaluation points to a severe mismatch on the pitch. Expect N. Weiper and O. Kiteishvili to dictate the offensive tempo, while T. Horvat pulls the strings from midfield. The sheer lack of marquee names globally results in a bottom-tier Stars metric, and the early stage of the competition delivers a modest Stakes evaluation. For the neutral, this lacks headline appeal.
Key Battle
The home midfield engine versus the away backline. Hearts must sit deep, absorb immense pressure, and pray their defensive block holds to keep the tie alive for the return leg in Edinburgh.
Our Prediction
Sturm Graz to monopolize possession and methodically break down a stubborn Scottish low block. We expect a comfortable 2-0 home victory, exploiting tired legs late in the second half.