Sturm Graz have won five of their last seven European home games
Hearts have not played in the Champions League since 2006
Recommended bet: Sturm Graz to win @ 17/20 with LiveScore Bet
Hearts may have agonisingly missed out on last season's Scottish Premiership title, but their second-place finish has earned them a return to the Champions League after a 20-year absence, and they will kick their season off in Austria on Tuesday.
Sturm Graz are regulars in the competition, making the League Phase just a couple of years ago and reaching the Europa League's League Phase last season.
However, both sides have seen a significant amount of changes during the transfer window, with new Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken still putting his squad together.
The latest Sturm Graz vs Hearts odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team News
Sturm Graz will be calling on the talents of playmaker Otar Kiteishvili after an excellent season last term, but Tochi Chukwuani, William Boving and Max Johnston have all left the club over the summer.
Teenage Polish attacker Filip Rozga and former Austria Vienna striker Maurice Malone could both make their debuts on Tuesday.
Four summer signings have not been named in Hearts' Champions League squad, with Beau Reus, MJ Kamson-Kamara, Josh McPake and Amadou Ba-Sy not included.
New manager Vrancken will also have to make do without the departed duo of Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin, who have both been snapped up by Rangers. Meanwhile, Craig Halkett, Finlay Pollock and Eduardo Ageu are out injured.
The stats
Sturm Graz beat Rangers at home in last season's Europa League
Hearts have lost four of their last five European away fixtures
The departed Lawrence Shankland scored 13 league goals for the Jambos last season
Hearts have failed to score in four of their last five European away games
Sturm Graz have only conceded three goals in their last seven European home fixtures
The latest Sturm Graz vs Hearts odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Hearts make a long-awaited return to the Champions League on Tuesday, but it has been all change since their enthralling Scottish Premiership title challenge last season, and several key departures could leave them struggling in Graz.
The Jambos have lost two key players in Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin, with both joining manager Derek McInnes at Rangers.
They have lost away to Copenhagen, Cercle Brugge, Viktoria Plzen, PAOK and Rosenborg in their last two continental campaigns, and they come up against European regulars in Sturm Graz.
The Austrian side made the League Phase of the Champions League two years ago and reached the same stage of the Europa League last term.
Graz have won five of their last seven home games played in the continental competitions, including a 2-1 success over Rangers last term.
They did follow that result with a defeat at Celtic, but their excellent home form in European competitions should swing the first leg their way on Tuesday.
Back Sturm Graz to win at 17/20 with LiveScore Bet
The latest Sturm Graz vs Hearts odds are available on LiveScore Bet
