Rapid Vienna vs Hearts

Rapid Vienna welcome Hearts to the Allianz Stadion on Wednesday for the second leg of their Conference League playoff qualifying round clash.

The tie remains level following a 2-2 draw in the first-leg in Scotland, leaving everything still to play for in Austria. Match preview Rapid Vienna secured their place in the 2026-27 Conference League qualifiers thanks to winning the Europa League playoffs against SV Ried 4-2 on aggregate at the end of the 2025-26 Austrian Bundesliga season.

Johannes Thorup’s side finished fifth in the standings to book their place in the playoff fixture, and after a disappointing 2-1 first-leg defeat, Rapid Vienna secured a 3-0 win in the second leg to ensure their place in this term’s qualifiers. Rapid Vienna built on their 3-0 second-leg triumph during pre-season, winning four and drawing two of their six fixtures, and that momentum has been maintained so far this season.

Rapid Vienna have won eight and drawn one of their nine competitive fixtures at the start of 2026-27, including beating Santa Coloma 9-3 on aggregate and Paide Linnameeskond 6-1 on aggregate in the last two rounds of Conference League qualifiers.

Their 100% winning start did come to an end in Scotland last week, but Thorup will be pleased his side managed to come from behind to seal a 2-2 draw, giving Rapid Vienna the advantage as they return home for the second leg.

Hearts, meanwhile, have endured an inconsistent start to the 2026-27 season, with particular difficulties on the road.

New manager Wouter Vrancken, who was appointed after Derek McInnes’ move to Rangers, lost all of his first four competitive games at the helm, featuring Hearts’ elimination from the Champions League qualifiers.

Hearts also suffered a humiliating 6-1 first-leg defeat to Benfica in the Europa League third qualifying round, and despite drawing 1-1 in the reverse fixture, the Jambos were subsequently relegated to the Conference League. However, since that 6-1 loss Hearts have managed to improve, with two wins and two draws in their last four matches, including the 1-1 draw with Benfica and the 2-2 stalemate with Rapid Vienna.

Hearts will draw confidence from taking 17 shots to Rapid Vienna’s nine during the first leg, but the Jambos will have to overcome their miserable away form at the beginning of this term if they are to secure a place in the league phase.

Vrancken is yet to oversee an away victory as Hearts manager, with the Jambos losing all of their three matches on the road so far this term, conceding a considerable 12 goals in that time. Rapid Vienna Conference League form:

Rapid Vienna form (all competitions):

Hearts Conference League form:

Hearts form (all competitions):

Team News

Rapid Vienna are contending with five potential injury absences, including Dominic Vincze (muscle), Martin Ndzie (muscle), Daniel Nunoo (knock), Claudy M’Buyi (muscle) and Andrija Radulovic (meniscus).

Nikolaus Wurmbrand and Nicolas Bajlicz arrived from the bench and combined for the equaliser in the first-leg, and the duo could be rewarded with starts in this one. Meanwhile, Hearts will remain without the availability of Malachi Fagan-Walcott (ankle), Craig Halkett (Achilles), Stephen Kingsley (hamstring) and Ageu (thigh) due to ongoing injuries. Teenager James Wilson has scored in each of his last two substitute appearances, including in the first-leg against Rapid Vienna, and the forward could lead the line alongside Claudio Braga on Tuesday. Rapid Vienna possible starting lineup:

Hedl; Bolla, Cvetkovic, Raux-Yao, Horn; Seidl, Amane; Demir, Bajlicz, Wurmbrand; Kara

Hearts possible starting lineup:

Reus; Altena, McEntee, Findlay, McCart; Renaud, Spittal; Miller, Braga, McPake; Wilson

We say: Rapid Vienna 1-2 Hearts Hearts may have lost their three away games this term, but the Jambos were the more threatening team throughout the first leg against Rapid Vienna, and we believe they will manage to replicate that and ultimately get over the line in this one. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.