Hearts struggle in Champions League qualifying loss to Sturm Graz
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 22, 2026, 12:50 PM
Last updated Jul 22, 2026
Hearts faced a challenging opener under new coach Wouter Vrancken, suffering a 3-0 defeat against Sturm Graz in the Champions League qualifying match on July 22, 2026. The Scottish Premiership runners-up were unable to capitalize on their chances, with the Austrian side scoring three times in a devastating ten-minute second-half span. Former goalkeeper Cammy Bell highlighted the team's defensive weaknesses and pointed out key missed opportunities, including a crucial chance that could have changed the match's trajectory. Hearts fans are left lamenting the recent departure of top scorer Lawrence Shankland to Rangers, a loss that may have impacted their performance this season.
- •Hearts lost 3-0 to Sturm Graz in their Champions League qualifying match.
- •The defeat marked the team's first competitive game under Wouter Vrancken.
- •Sturm Graz scored three goals within ten minutes in the second half.
- •Cammy Bell criticized Hearts' defensive errors during the match.
- •Fans are frustrated with the absence of top scorer Lawrence Shankland.
- 12:50 PMYahoo Sports — Hearts fans left ruing Shankland exit - Bell
"Tuesday's bruising Champions League qualifying defeat by Sturm Graz will not be the last time Hearts fans will be ruing top scorer Lawrence Shankland's summer departure for Rangers, former Ibrox goalkeeper Cammy Bell has predicted. In their first competitive match under new head coach Wouter Vrancken, the Scottish Premiership runners-up paid for missed chances as the Austrians scored three times in 10 second-half minutes to all but put the tie beyond the visitors. "It was always going to be a difficult tie, but it is a damaging defeat, especially the manner of the goals that they lost," Bell told the BBC Scottish Football Podcast.
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