Hearts to face Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih or Viktoria Plzen in Europa League play-off

Hearts will play either Ukraine’s Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih or Czech side Viktoria Plzen for a place in the Europa League.

The teams were drawn together as the play-off ties were announced by UEFA, leaving Hearts with a tough challenge in their first European tie of the season.

The Tynecastle side are aiming to reach the group stage of the competition, which has been expanded this season and would offer a series of mouth-watering ties, as well as significant prize money.

Steven Naismith and his players will now follow the outcome of the third qualifying round tie to learn exactly who will stand between them and their goal.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🆚 🇺🇦/🇨🇿 Heart of Midlothian will face either Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih or Viktoria Plzen the @EuropaLeague play-off round.

In principal, we have an away tie first, with matches due to take place on August 22nd and 29th.

We strongly encourage fans not to make any travel plans until… pic.twitter.com/8uDTJ6SQIh
— Heart of Midlothian FC (@JamTarts) August 5, 2024

Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih finished third in the Ukrainian league last season to qualify for Europe. The war in Ukraine means they are playing their home match against Viktoria in Kosice, Slovakia.

Viktoria Plzen have been European regulars in recent seasons and a third place finish in the Czech First League ensured a return this time. The team reached the quarter-finals of the EUropa LEague last season, losing to Fiorentina in the last eight.

Hearts will play the first leg away from home on Thursday, August 22, with the return match at Tynecastle a week later.

If the Scots fail to reach the Europa League, they will have the consolation of a place in the Conference League group stage.