København Vs Hearts

Copenhagen will welcome Hearts to Parken on Thursday evening for matchday five of the Conference League’s league phase, with both sides eager to cement their positions within the top 24 spots of the table. As the group stages progress, every match carries significant weight for these two teams, who are hoping to secure their places in the knockout rounds. Currently, Copenhagen sit 19th in the standings with five points from their first four fixtures, while Hearts are just two points ahead in 17th, with six points to their name.

Copenhagen, under the management of Jacob Neestrup, come into this match with mixed fortunes in their European campaign but are in excellent form domestically. After falling just short of the Danish Superliga title in the 2023-24 season—finishing third, a mere four points behind the champions—they began the 2024-25 campaign determined to regain their position at the top of Danish football. With the regular league season nearing its split into two phases, Copenhagen have made a strong start, sitting at the summit of the Superliga with 33 points from 17 games, although their position is only secured by a narrow goal difference over second-placed FC Midtjylland.

Despite their domestic success, Copenhagen have not been able to replicate their form in European competitions. The team’s road to the Conference League group stage was a relatively smooth one, with convincing aggregate victories over FC Bruno’s Magpies (8-1), Banik Ostrava (on penalties after a 1-1 draw on aggregate), and Kilmarnock (3-1). However, their league phase in the Conference League has been rocky. In their opening fixtures, Copenhagen lost 2-1 to Jagiellonia Bialystok, followed by two consecutive draws—1-1 against Real Betis and 2-2 against Istanbul Basaksehir. It was not until their most recent fixture, a 2-1 win over Dinamo Minsk, that they secured their first three points in the competition, temporarily lifting them to 19th place in the standings, one point ahead of 25th-placed St Gallen.

The victory over Dinamo Minsk marked a turning point in Copenhagen’s European campaign, and since then, they have continued to improve, extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to 12 matches, which includes two more wins in the domestic league. This surge in form has given the team confidence heading into the match against Hearts, as they look to maintain their momentum and push for a top-24 finish in the Conference League. With Copenhagen's recent results indicating a resurgence, they will likely be favored to secure all three points in this encounter.

On the other hand, Hearts are a club that has endured a challenging start to the 2024-25 season, both in their domestic competition and on the European stage. The Edinburgh-based club, which earned promotion to the Scottish Premiership by winning the Scottish Championship in 2020-21, has been a consistent performer since their return to the top tier. In their first three seasons back, they finished third in 2021-22, fourth in 2022-23, and again third last season, securing a European berth for the upcoming campaign.

However, Hearts’ hopes of continuing their European journey in the Europa League were dashed by a disastrous start to the new season. In their opening 10 matches across all competitions, they failed to win a single game. This dreadful run included a defeat in the Europa League playoff round to Viktoria Plzen, which saw them drop into the Conference League group stage. The poor form led to the dismissal of manager Steven Naismith, with Liam Fox briefly taking over on an interim basis. Fox’s stint saw an improvement in results, with one win, one draw, and one loss, but it wasn’t until the appointment of Neil Critchley that Hearts began to find their stride again.

Under Critchley, Hearts enjoyed a solid start, winning three, drawing one, and losing one of their first five matches. Two of those victories came in the Conference League, where they beat Dinamo Minsk and Omonia Nicosia. However, their form dipped again, as they suffered losses to FC Heidenheim and Cercle Brugge, marking a disappointing stretch that included four consecutive defeats. Despite this setback, Hearts have shown resilience in recent weeks. In their latest fixtures, they managed a commendable 1-1 draw against Aberdeen, followed by a 2-0 victory over Dundee, which has given the squad a boost in morale.

Currently, Hearts are 17th in the Conference League standings with six points—just three points behind the top eight, but only two ahead of St Gallen in 25th place. The team's mixed form, with two wins, two losses, and one draw, means that every upcoming match will be crucial in their push for qualification to the knockout rounds. A positive result against Copenhagen would not only improve their position in the table but could also serve as a springboard for a stronger finish to the group phase. Hearts will need to find consistency and build on their recent performances if they are to overcome their European struggles and avoid another disappointing campaign.

Both Copenhagen and Hearts have their work cut out for them as they face off in what promises to be a pivotal encounter in the Conference League. Copenhagen will be hoping to build on their domestic form and improve their standing in the competition, while Hearts will be aiming to bounce back from their earlier setbacks and keep their qualification hopes alive. Given Copenhagen’s strong record in the Superliga and their recent improvement in Europe, they will likely enter the match as favorites. However, Hearts, under Critchley’s guidance, have shown that they can compete at this level, and they will be determined to take something from the game.

For Copenhagen, this match represents a chance to further strengthen their position in the Conference League and continue their fine run of form across all competitions. A win would not only boost their confidence but also provide a significant advantage in their quest for a top-24 finish. With Hearts still finding their footing in Europe, Copenhagen will be keen to capitalize on their home advantage and secure another three points.

For Hearts, the stakes are equally high. A loss would likely place them in a precarious position, leaving them with little margin for error in their remaining fixtures. On the other hand, a positive result would give them renewed hope of progressing to the knockout stages, as they look to continue their resurgence under Critchley. With both teams showing signs of improvement and resilience, this promises to be an exciting and closely contested fixture, with qualification hopes on the line for both sides. 

As matchday five approaches, the significance of this game cannot be overstated. With Copenhagen in fine domestic form and Hearts seeking to recover from a difficult start to their European campaign, the outcome of this match could be crucial for their ambitions in the Conference League. Both teams will be aware of the importance of securing all three points, and the battle for a place in the top 24 will surely make for a thrilling contest at Parken.