Hearts face uphill task against Benfica in Europa League qualifier
Heart Of Midlothian welcome Benfica to Tynecastle Park on 13 August in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie, with the Scottish side facing a daunting task after the first meeting.
Benfica won the opening encounter 6-1 on 6 August, leaving Hearts needing an extraordinary turnaround on home soil to progress in the competition.
Form guide
Hearts arrive on the back of a mixed run of results, having won two and lost three of their last five matches, including a victory in their most recent outing. Benfica, meanwhile, have looked the more consistent of the two sides, winning three of their last five with only a single defeat, and they head into this second leg with a slight edge in recent form.
That difference, allied to the scale of the advantage Benfica already hold from the first leg, means the Portuguese club will start this fixture as strong favourites to complete the job at Tynecastle.
What is at stake
For Hearts, the second leg is as much about pride and performance as it is about the tie itself, given the size of the deficit they must close. A positive display in front of their own supporters would offer some encouragement heading into the domestic season, even if progression to the next round looks unlikely on paper.
Benfica will simply look to see out the tie and secure their place in the next stage of qualifying, with the comfort of Wednesday's result behind them.