Hearts will take on European stalwarts Viktoria Plzen or Ukraine's Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih in their crunch Europa League playoff clash. Steven Naismith's side are 180 minutes away from eight games in European football's second competition and know even a defeat will see them parachute in the Conference League. Czechs Plzen are the hot favourites to see off Kryvyi Rih – who are playing their home games in Slovakia's Kosice amid the ongoing invasion of their homeland. Meanwhile, Kilmarnock or Tromso will be up against Denmark big-hitters Copenhagen or Czech side Banik Ostrava in the playoff round of the Conference League. And soaring St Mirren believe anything is possible right now after wiping the floor with vanquished Valur and overmatched Hibs.

Source: Express August 05, 2024 09:50 UTC