Rapid Vienna vs Hearts Predictions

• Hearts have lost all three away matches this season
• Hearts have conceded 19 goals in eight games this season
• Rapid are unbeaten in nine fixtures this season, winning on eight occasions

Ruthless Rapid can break Hearts

Having already crashed out of qualifying in the Champions League and the Europa League, Hearts are bidding to make it third time lucky in the Conference League.

However, a 2-2 draw in the first leg with Rapid Vienna at Tynecastle has Hearts facing an uphill battle on their trip to the Austrian capital.

The Scottish Premiership side are still adjusting to life under new manager Wouter Vrancken, having seen Derek McInnes depart for Rangers, and they have won only two of his opening eight matches in charge.

Hearts have already faced Austrian opposition this season, having lost 6-0 on aggregate to Sturm Graz in the second round of Champions League qualifying, and that doesn’t bode well for a visit to a confident Rapid Vienna.

The hosts have won their first three matches to sit top of the Austrian Bundesliga, showing their attacking powers by winning 8-0 at home to Grazer AK in their last home league assignment.

Rapid have also scored eight goals across two home games in Conference League qualifying and they are hard to oppose given that Hearts were beaten 4-0 away at Sturm Graz in the Champions League before a 6-1 beating at Benfica in the Europa League.

Hearts also lost 2-1 at Aberdeen in their first away game in the Scottish Premiership, so have conceded 19 goals in eight games under Vrancken’s guidance.

Rapid Vienna should be confident of completing the job at home but Hearts had 17 shots in the first leg and can play their part in an entertaining encounter.

Both teams have scored in five of Hearts’ last six matches while there have been goals at each end in three of Rapid’s four Conference League qualifiers.

Expect goals but the hosts can stamp their authority and a 3-1 win for the Austrian side appeals as a correct-score selection.