Rapid Vienna dominate ahead of Heart of Midlothian clash
Rapid Vienna sent a warning to Heart of Midlothian with an 8-0 demolition of Grazer AK in the Austrian Bundesliga. The Austrian leaders, who face Heart of Midlothian in the Conference League play-off first leg at Tynecastle, scored eight unanswered goals, with Danish striker Tonni Adamsen netting four and Ercan Kara adding a double.
What happened in the match?
Rapid Vienna, who have won all three of their league games this season, dominated from the start. Adamsen opened the scoring early, followed by Kara’s double. Nenad Cvetkovic and Yusuf Demir also found the net in a one-sided contest at the Allianz Stadium. The win extends Rapid’s perfect start to the season, including European victories over Santa Coloma and Paide Linnameeskond.
Why it matters for Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian, who finished top of the Scottish Premiership last season with 70 points (21W-7D-5L), will face a formidable Rapid Vienna side. The Austrians have scored 58 goals and conceded just 28 in their last campaign, finishing one point clear of Rangers. This dominant performance suggests Heart of Midlothian will need to be at their best to secure a positive result at Tynecastle.
What comes next for Heart of Midlothian?
The first leg of the Conference League play-off takes place at Tynecastle on Thursday, with Heart of Midlothian aiming to build on their 6-0 win over Inverness Caley Thistle in the Premier Sports Cup. Manager Steven Naismith will be focused on containing Rapid’s attacking threat, particularly Adamsen, who has already shown his scoring prowess this season.
