Europa League
2026-08-06 - Benfica vs Hearts
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round First Leg
Thursday 6th August 2026 - Kick Off 8pm
Benfica
It has been a summer of change for Benfica who have lost manager Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid and replaced him with former Fulham manager Marco Silva. Missing out on the Champions League Qualifiers ahead of this season is a blow for Benfica and they are going to be under some pressure to make sure they earn a spot in the Europa League Group Stage.
The side reached the Knock Out Play Off Round of the Champions League last season before the controversial defeat to Real Madrid that was overshadowed by Gianluca Prestianni's dismissal for alleged racism towards Vinicius Jr. Finishing behind Porto and Sporting will have hurt Benfica all the more knowing both clubs are already secured of playing Champions League Football through to January, especially as Benfica have already had to beat St Gallen in the Europa League Second Qualifying Round.
Benfica crushed St Gallen 5-0 at home to earn a 6-2 aggregate win in the last Round and they have yet to begin domestic commitments. They are unbeaten in 7 at home in all competitions since losing to Real Madrid in the Champions League and Benfica have won 5 of those matches.
Hearts
87 minutes had ticked over the clock and Hearts looked to be completing the most memorable season for a whole generation of fans as they closed in on the Scottish Premiership title. Unfortunately for those fans, it was not to be for Hearts as they ended up slumping to a 3-1 loss at Celtic Park that handed the hosts the title and the club have had a difficult summer.
Derek McInnes left to take the vacant managerial role at Celtic and he soon had Lawrence Shankland joining him in the blue half of Glasgow. The club is run in a manner in which there will be a turnover of squad players and new manager Wouter Vrancken is already under early pressure after Hearts were crushed in the Champions League Qualifiers by Sturm Graz.
Hearts were beaten 7-0 on aggregate in the Champions League Second Qualifying Round having lost both Legs, while they were beaten 2-1 at Aberdeen in the opening fixture in the Scottish Premiership this past weekend. Those results have increased the pressure on the new manager, especially with raised expectations around Hearts, while the team has won 1 of the last 8 away games in all competitions.
Head to Head
These two clubs met in the 1960/61 European Cup and Benfica won both ties in the Preliminary Round on their way to winning the competition.
Prediction
The actual performances have not been as poor as the results may suggest, but that is not going to be enough for Hearts fans without improved results.
Wouter Vrancken has big shoes to fill and he would have preferred his Hearts team being given more comfortable European draws than the ones that have been handed to The Jambos.
Losing heavily to Sturm Graz has ended the Champions League run before it has begun, but Benfica looks a daunting test in the Europa League Qualifiers.
The key is to try and keep this tie alive before the return to Tynecastle next week, but that looks like it could be very tough night for Hearts in the Stadium of Light.
Benfica showed their power in the crushing home win over St Gallen in the previous Round and they may have too much for a Hearts team still trying to find their identity under a new manager.
The Pick :
Benfica 3-0 Hearts
