Sturm Graz – Heart of Midlothian Tip Champions League qualification, 2nd round, first leg on Tuesday, 21.07.26 at 20:30
Now the 2026/27 season really begins – at least for the fans of the “Schwoazn”. After a fairly successful test match phase, a really tricky opponent awaits them in the Champions League qualifiers!
As part of my Sturm Graz Heart of Midlothian prediction, however, I prefer to position myself on the side of the Scots in the first leg at a betting provider without tax. The selection Double Chance X2 at odds of around 1.93 covers the two most likely game outcomes.
Hearts almost pulled off a sensation last season: becoming the first Scottish national champion since 1985 that is not Celtic or Rangers. In addition, the surprise of the past season was able to cope well with some significant departures in the summer.
Sturm Graz vs. Heart of Midlothian AI predictions:
For me, the 2026/27 season starts just after Spain’s triumph at the World Cup overseas and for our data model with an independent Sturm Graz Heart of Midlothian AI forecast, which I evaluated for you afterwards.
Draw-no-Bet: Heart of Midlothian at 2.95 may sound daring at first, but on closer inspection, even placing a free bet on Heart of Midlothian to win at a significantly higher 4.05 could be an even more sophisticated betting idea!
The Scots have what it takes to cause a surprise here. They were able to compensate well for significant personnel departures in the summer with Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Guendouz Sabri and also just defeated Rayo Vallecano 2-1 in a friendly match.
Predicted chance of winning:
| Victory Sturm Graz |
Draw |
Victory Heart of Midlothian |
| 51.3% |
25.3% |
23.4% |
Furthermore, our data model recommends a bet on the selection of 1st Gate: Heart of Midlothian at odds of about 2.60, which I like so much because it has a positive expected value in my eyes.
Because the real probability of occurrence of this option, which I suspect, is about 50%. In addition, the reigning Premiership runners-up have already scored 1-0 in three of their last four competitive games and are therefore used to putting pressure on early.
What you need to know about Sturm Graz vs. Heart of Midlothian betting
- Historical odds favourites: The average betting odds for a home win for Sturm Graz are stable at around 1.83 before kick-off.
- Scottish away misery: Heart of Midlothian has had considerable problems away from home in its entire club history on the European stage. Of 50 international away games, the “Hearts” have lost 27 and have a goal difference of 41:86.
- Austria curse of the Hearts: The Scots have only met an Austrian club once in their European Cup history. That was in the 1988/89 UEFA Cup, when they lost to the traditional Viennese club Austria Wien and were eliminated.
- The squad substance: While Sturm Graz was able to keep its core together for the most part, the Hearts had to cope with bitter setbacks on the transfer market in the current summer window and lost two absolute pillars of the team with Lawrence Shankland and Devlin.
